BBC bosses have pledged a brighter future for Birmingham broadcasting after revealing it will become the new home of BBC Three.
The director of BBC Birmingham said it had acted upon the calling for more investment in the region by relocating jobs in the youth, diversity and digital sectors – all key growth areas for the future.
Central to the latest move will be BBC Three, with commissioning, publishing, production and social media jobs for the channel moving to the city within 18 months.
READ MORE: {}
The youth and comedy channel – which was recently transformed into an online-only outlet – will also create new commissioner and assistant commissioner roles based in Birmingham for the first time in years, with budgets of more than £10 million.
The announcement, which comes as a 10-year charter is thrashed out, will also see Birmingham become the home of a new BBC News youth team, while the Mailbox will become the headquarters for the corporation’s English regions.
BBC Birmingham director Joe Godwin said the , which called for Birmingham to be at the centre of youth, diversity and digital output, was at the centre of the plans.
He said: “This is a time of austerity and a time of hard efficiencies and in that context this is a fantastic result for Birmingham.
“Very few conversations happen around the BBC without the word ‘Birmingham’ coming up and that wasn’t the case a few years ago.
Most Read
MORE:
“The manifesto changed the conversation from a slanging match about the BBC to a critical friend’s encouragement, and that has been really positive.”
The BBC has come under increasing pressure to invest more in Birmingham since the Post and Mail launched a campaign last year.
In 2004, the broadcaster reinvested just £80 million of the £942 million raised by Midland tax-payers in the region.
It has since increased investment to £125 million a year in Birmingham alone, with about 700 people based at the Mailbox, largely working in HR.
MORE:
This new announcement is a further boost – particularly as it delivers commissioning and production budgets, which are vital to the region.
Don’t miss
The final details of job creation and investment have not been disclosed as the process is still being worked up and will see roles shifted from London.
However, Mr Godwin said it puts BBC Birmingham in a strong position for further growth.
He said: “This future-proofs us. Some of the more traditional models that people have talked about, with BBC Studios, the changes to in-house production quotas, you don’t know where that would leave you.
“But after this, we will be able to say we make things for all the platforms – Radio Four, BBC One and BBC Three.
MORE:
“Based on the last year, I would say Birmingham is right at the top of the agenda.”
Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, added: “I’ve seen in Birmingham how much of a difference our extra investment in the past couple of years has made – but I’ve also said there was more to do.
“Now, we’re putting Birmingham at the heart of our innovation with BBC Three and making it home to a new youth team for BBC News.
“The city’s incredible diversity also means it’s the perfect place to lead our work to ensure we reflect the changing face of Britain.
“This package is good news for Birmingham and good news for the BBC.”