BBC names new director-general BBC names new director-general Pin it Share LONDON (AP) — The British Broadcasting Corp. named executive George Entwistle its new chief on Tuesday, giving him one of the country's top media jobs. Entwistle, 49, will replace current director-general Mark Thompson, who announced he would step down following London's 2012 Olympics after an eight year tenure that has seen him handle sweeping cuts to staff and services. "I love the BBC and it's a privilege to be asked to lead it into the next stage of its creative life," said Entwistle, who joined the BBC as a trainee in 1989 and most recently worked as head of the organization's television services. The 450,000-pound-salary ($702,000) post will come with a raft of challenges — not least the task of delivering the BBC's mix of entertainment and journalism amid a decline in funding. Each British household with access to television and radio services pays a compulsory 145.50 pounds ($227) fee each year, but any rises in the levy have been frozen until 2016.

Already, Entwistle — who takes up his role on Sept. 17. — has agreed to take a smaller salary than his predecessor. Media watchers in Britain had tipped the BBC's chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, to become the 90-year-old broadcasting organization's first ever female chief. Reblog Tony Hall appointed new BBC director general - as it happened | Media | The Guardian News blog Tony Hall appointed new BBC director general - as it happened New director general of BBC to be the current chief executive of the Royal Opera House Tony Hall News blog Tony Hall appointed new BBC director general - as it happened New director general of BBC to be the current chief executive of the Royal Opera House Tony Hall Thursday 22 November 2012 13.54 EST First published on Thursday 22 November 2012 13.54 EST And that, my friends, is a day's liveblogging in honour of our new director general. If you liked this liveblog, please give generously! We are going to the pub.

6.52pm GMT Eddie Mair tears a strip off Patten on PM Patten - who became increasingly unsurefooted as the interview wore on - was at his most hesitant when asked why the headhunters (£186,000 + VAT) who recommended George Entwistle didn't have a clause in their contract then required a refund if the candidate left the job very soon. Patten's defence of the names-up-a-chimney process was rather wobbly. We used the process we'd been through before. The first stage involves talking to people who know about the media, ex-chairmen and ex-DGs, then talking to candidates around the world. In the middle of that process I talked to Tony about whether he would throw his hat in the ring... [the first time round] he said two things - that he was committed to completing the cultural Olympiad and the second thing was that he thought it was time for a younger man. I was so much older then - I'm younger than that now, it seems. On the payoff, Patten was again rather emotional.

"It would have been easier if George's lawyers had been prepared to settle for six months" but had the case not proceeded amicably, the BBC would have faced paying more than the 12 month salary in fees. Twelve months pay is standard in constructive dismissal, Patten said. Mair pushed him - "do you feel you let him down?" It was right, on that grim Saturday night, to press him to settle for 6 months rather than 12. I owe hi a huge amount of sympathy... he's had a lot of manure heaped on him. Extra fees that were part of Entwistle's payoff: 12 months' private medical care, £10,000 to cover legal fees reated to the resignation, £25,000 to cover legal fees related to contributions to the Savile investigation and £10,000 for PR. And did Patten ever consider his own position? Only at 3 in the morning, he said. My responsibility was to steer the BBC through the crisis, and if I don't manage to, then come back and ask me the question...

6.13pm GMT 6.12pm GMT Emily Bell on Tony Hall Several people mooted Emily formerly-of-this-parish Bell to me as a potential director general. This is in the context of fantasy football-esque lineups among the tech contingent, I should add, though if the BBC were ever to split the top job and enshrine digital ingenuity to one of those roles, things would be looking very different. Either way the appointment process looks extremely outdated - a media industry version of stuffing bits of paper in a chimney and seeing who wafts out of the top. Not sure patten would agree. Here's a word from Bell: emily bell (@emilybell) 6.04pm GMT Hall's Marxism Today piece I've been repeating the headline ' Chernobyl Fallout ' to myself again and again, but still can't think of any gags. Tony Hall wrote this article on nuclear policy for Marxism Today in 1986. Photograph: Marxism Today It's on the tip of my tongue. #unsuitableanalogies Updated 5.55pm GMT Patten on PM Just chasing the audio for the Patten interview.

@skirrid on Twitter tells me Eddie Mair "went for him, proper. The word is slither." 5.47pm GMT Tony Hall - the complete backstory John Plunkett 's been hard at work digging out everything you might need to know about the BBC's new boss man. And it is a man. Again. • Hall made Huw Edwards the face of the Six O'Clock News • Hall led tributes to murdered presenter Jill Dando in April 1999 • Three days after that, Hall was moved to a safe house by police after a death threat from a Serbian activist who claimed responsibility for Dando's death • Was known as 'head prefect' because of his loyalty • Held nerve when BBC secretly prepared controversial Diana interview • Hall and John Birt proposed downgrading Newsnight and Today editors in 1997 • Hall moved radio journalists to move to White City, much to the anger of John Humphrys. He rejoins just as they move back to lavishly renovated buildings at New Broadcasting House - in central London.

Updated 5.18pm GMT Mark Damazer on Tony Hall John Plunkett has spoken to former deputy director of BBC News and Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer, who worked with Tony Hall when he was director of news: Amusing, companionable, convivial, he's a really nice guy. He's a relaxed person, but not to the point where he doesn't convey authority while being relaxed. Battle hardened by his time at the Royal Opera House and BBC News, he has a history of picking decent people. He's also an extremely good mimic when he wants to be and a big reader. He has always had an intellectual curiousity about the world. He is a very good choice and they have done very well to get him. Updated What the 'slebs think of Tony Hall A few choice quotes in this BBC summary. The Spectator's Tom Bower last week wrote: Doubters should consider his success at Covent Garden and his rescue of the Cultural Olympiad from disaster. Hall knows how to rebuild a valuable institution mired by greed, stupidity and cowardice. Every crisis produces a solution. This one should not be wasted.

Stewart Purvis, former ITV chief executive: The fact that we believe he didn't apply first time around made him a very good candidate second time around, because he wasn't in any way damaged by the first time. I would guess that perhaps the BBC Trust made it clear they would really like him to have the job - and being a BBC man at heart it was difficult to resist the temptation to come back and help at a difficult time. Former Press Complaints Commission chairman Sir Christopher Meyer : Such an effusion of praise for Tony Hall, why didn't he succeed Mark Thompson in the first place? * Admittedly this is 'celebrity' used in the media context. Kardashian wasn't talking. Sorry. Updated 4.39pm GMT Hall asked for a paycut at the ROH In this Telegraph interview last December, Hall says he asked the Royal Opera House chairman for a paycut in his £390,000 salary because of the tough climate, but was turned down. Would do the same at the BBC in a period, as the NUJ points out, where it faces yet more job cuts? Hall left shortly after losing out to Greg Dyke in the battle to be Director General.

Everyone, his wife included, thought he was mad to go to the ROH, but given that Dyke resigned in the wake of the Hutton report and Hall is now riding high at the ROH … well, look who has had the last laugh. 'Obviously I would have loved to have become the DG,' says Hall now, 'but life has a funny way of turning out.' Updated 4.34pm GMT Hall video: Lacks the stain of incompetence Charlotte Higgins again on why the Royal Opera House was crushed, shambolic and elitist when Hall joined - and how he turned it around. 4.25pm GMT National Union of Journalists asks Hall for 'moratorium on cuts' The NUJ's general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said she looked forward to a good working relationship with Hall. The corporation is going through a torrid time and needs stability and a leader who will be supporting well-funded, quality journalism. We will be asking Tony Hall to address this, particularly in the light of this week’s National Audit Organisation report which notes that the corporation is ‘failing to monitor spending against its strategic and editorial priorities’, putting at risk high-standard news coverage and programming.

I will be asking him to call a moratorium on the cuts and take the opportunity to make his mark by halting the assault on frontline journalism and put in place measures to shore up news and current affairs before it is too late. The NUJ is in the process of balloting for industrial action over compulsory jobs losses. He should step in and sort out the shambles of the redeployment system which is causing this problem and stop this dispute in its tracks. 4.21pm GMT Tony Hall wrote for Marxism Today Some clever winkling out by Tom Phillips of MSN over on Damian Kahya's Energydesk blog, who has found a piece called Nuclear Cloud over Britain Tony Hall wrote for Marxism Today in 1986. (As well as coal mining, Hall published Nuclear Politics : The History of Nuclear Power in Britain). Tom Phillips (@flashboy) Here's the 1986 edition of Marxism Today with Tony Hall's article in it: unz.org/Pub/MarxismTod… Daily Mail, put your tinfoil hats on NOW. Consider it a welcome gift from the BBC's incoming director general to the Daily Mail, with love.

Updated A feisty Patten defends Entwistle's payoff Patten was visibly rattled when talking about George Entwistle's payoff sum. "We must remember that Entwistle was a distinguished and long-serving member of staff who had taken a significant cut in salary. "This amount is entirely defensible before the Public Accounts Select Committee," Patten said. "The deal was done to resolve a difficult issue swiftly and that was in the interests of the BBC and licence-fee payers." He added that the alternative would have been to deal with lawyers in an case for unfair dismissal and that no employment lawyer has yet disagreed with the settlement that totalled £450,000 - equivalent to Entwistle's one-year salary. Cutting off the next question, Patten continued, getting increasingly animated. "If you think it was easy you're kidding yourself. I've been in public life for some time - I knew what people would say, what the headlines would be... it was the right settlement and I'm looking forward to saying that to the DCMS select committee next week if they ask me. I'll have more to say on that, too." That will, of course, be covered on MediaGuardian.

4.04pm GMT Was the recruitment process too closed and too fast? Steve Hewlett asked if Patten was happy with the openness of the DG-recruitment process - did you just phone him up? It wasn't quite like that. Patten said they interviewed each other, and that ultimately every member of the trust was involved in appointing Tony Hall. If you appoint the outstanding candidate arguments about process are by-the-by. It wouldn't have made sense for us to spend four months going through the process we went through before while we had [so many acting heads of department]. I'm delighted that in moving fast we've also found the out-and-out outstanding candidate. If we'd spent four months on this you'd all have told us we were out of our minds. Dan Sabbagh asked if Patten has under any pressure from any part of government: I've been under no pressure whatsoever except the pressure of my obligations, what I and the trust believe is in the interest of a very great institution which is to rebuild the trust people have put in it over the years.

3.55pm GMT Tim Davie's 'brave' job Hall was introduced by a very tired looking Lord Patten, who praised Hall's "formidable reputation in three decades of leadership" and an "equally distinguished record as leader of one of our greatest cultural institutions... where once of his greatest accomplishments has been opening up one of our great treasures to a bigger, wider, younger audience". Patten also praised the "terrific and brave job" being done by temporary DG Tim Davie for "some wonderful work getting the BBC back on an even keel" and said the two would be working together closely before Hall starts in March. Updated Meet Tony Hall, your new director general Introduced by BBC TRust chair Lord Patten, Tony Hall's first words as BBC DG were: It take a lot to drag me away from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, which is a place I love hugely - but the reason I'm standing before you today is because I believe passionately about the BBC and what it can do, what programme makers can do... It's an extraordinary organisation that is part of the UK, part of Britain, part of who we are. It has also had an incredible impact around world too.

It has been a really tough few weeks for this organisation but I know we can get through it, and I will be listening patiently to what you think we should be doing next. I'm absolutely committed to this news organisation as an absolute world beater, committed to ensuring that the best and brightest and most creative people in the country and the world come and want to work in this place first. No-one can do this on their own. If you're going to run a creative organisation you need a good team - I have known this from my earliest days in news through to the latter day. I know that with the right creative team. working off each other, sparking off each other, giving each other ideas, you can do extraordinary things. And that's not just the people who work here but the people who support us around the world. Hall then made his apologies and said his immediate priority as to meet staff. He'll do interviews in a few weeks' time, he said. Hands-on role – Lord Patten, left, chairman of the BBC Trust, welcomes Tony Hall, the corporation's new director general.

Photograph: Facundo Arizzabalaga/EPA Updated 3.23pm GMT Hall is 'good in a crisis' The British Council is bigging up Hall's time as trustee, saying he helped champion the arts in international relations, UK arts in China and internationalising UK higher education. Chair Sir Vernon Ellis said: “Tony Hall is a superb choice for the BBC’s new Director General. I’ve worked closely with Tony for many years, firstly at English National Opera and more recently at the British Council. He’s been passionate about our work to connect people internationally through culture and education – and he’ll bring that same passion to the BBC. He’s good in a crisis and a perfect fit for one of Britain’s great institutions, the BBC.” 3.19pm GMT Tony Hall as ROH chief Slightly mesmerising promo by the Royal Opera House in which Tony Hall makes a few fast-talking appearances. 3.12pm GMT How digitally strong will Tony Hall be as DG?

Robert Andrews on paidContent posits that Hall doesn't have a huge amount of digital progress on his CV, but that all he needs to do is follow the ambitious digital mission laid out by George Entwistle, who excited many in the tech community with his plans. He was prepared to shoot for a greater prize: 'It’s the quest for this – genuinely new forms of digital content – that represents the next profound moment of change we need to prepare for if we’re to deserve a new charter. We need to be ready to produce and create genuinely digital content for the first time.' Entwistle was prepared to tear up existing BBC structures to achieve it, promising to integrate three distinct units — Vision (TV), Audio & Music and the digital Future Media division — within two years to ensure all three were conceiving digital content from the start, not just 'obsessing only about the creation of television or radio'... No matter who is top dog at the BBC, much of online strategy thinking will come from the corporation’s future media director, currently Ralph Rivera, and not the director general. But it was from Entwistle and not from Rivera that we first heard the exciting post-iPlayer proposals in September.

Updated Pinterest close But seeing as we're in a lull ahead of the photocall (and a brief statement by Hall) at 3.30, why not? 3.00pm GMT Hall on good leadership More archive content while stuffing a late lunch (eating is cheating, livebloggers!) - this time a detailed profile from November last year. On the similarities between running an arts venue and a news organisation: Risk-taking is one – not being able to define with absolute certainty when it's working well and when it's not. Defining what is good in the art you're doing is as difficult as programme-making at the BBC. Another similarity is dealing with very devolved ways of working where you depend on teams delivering things. I remember spending some time at management school when I was at the BBC. The American view of leadership is that it's all about leaders: that they do incredible things and work endless hours. Actually I think it's quite the reverse in broadcasting and in this place; you depend absolutely on teams doing things. And on leadership to lead a good team? I felt that we needed to get over that and stress what this place is brilliant at: what people come to see on stage.

It is absolutely crucial to look outwards and see how you're perceived from the outside. So it's about people, it's about strategy and it's about knowing where you're going. The other thing is creating an environment where people can talk about what went wrong without wanting to hide anything. That latter principle is an interesting one given ongoing investigations at the BBC. Updated 2.41pm GMT Patten in the firing line? Head of media and technology at the Guardian, Dan Sabbagh, has written an article asking whether Hall will take the heat off Lord Patten. The question now is what happens to Lord Patten. Is No 10 really pleased with his performance thus far? He has struggled to respond to the Savile crisis, failing to strike a tone that is respected by the public. Nor does it help that the BBC chairman is laden with other jobs, being for example chancellor of Oxford University, which must involve some work. What now for Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust?

Photograph: Getty Images Updated Harriet Harman comment Full comment from Labour's shadow culture, media and sport secretary: Tony Hall is an excellent choice as the new director general of the BBC, with experience that includes head of news at the BBC and leadership of the Royal Opera House, one of our great cultural institutions. He is the right person to bring stability to the BBC in these difficult times and I look forward to working with him. Hall will bring 'stability' to the BBC, tweeted Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour party. Photograph: Martin Argles at the Guardian Updated 2.16pm GMT The fake Tony Hall All those BBC staff tweeting @TonyHallBBCDG to try and impress him with your social media chops - it ain't him. The profile's a bit of a giveaway: "I'm the man to take us out of this shit. Views aren't of the BBC, (although I run the bloody thing LOL?!)" Tony Hall (@TonyHallBBCDG) Text from John Humphrys: "Congrats Tony, fancy an interview this Saturday?" LOL!? MUST BE BLOODY JOKIN MATE. #notthatstupid Your thoughts? A few select comments from you, glorious readers.

BruceWhitehead isn't impressed: Another terrible choice. Hall is a Birtite who is part-and-parcel of the very establishment mesh of incompetents who are totally out of touch. We needed someone with a fresh, healthy, original take on broadcasting and the arts, who could inspire and lead. Instead we get another grey suit without charisma or talent, who has risen without trace in the goobledigook-speaking tribes of the MBA managementariat. It's all pointless without a complete audit, pay reducations and an overhaul. More Emperors, no clothes. END THE TAX. And no love for PPE from Buckster69 : People are wondering why these scandals, within political, media and commercial circles are becoming a regular occurrence. Why we continually hear the same old terms rolled out along with the usual flimflam of institutional placebos and buzzwords provided when there is a public outcry and demands for action. Well, it's no coincidence that most of those involved directly or indirectly have completed the PPE (Philosophy,Politics and Economics) degree course. It has become the byword as the entry level requirement for those to be considered for a place within elite governmental, media and banking roles.

It has been so ingrained since the 1980's within the hierarchy of this country, that it's hardly surprising that dominant spheres share the same lack of accountable morality and contempt for public sentiment... Updated Radio Times story, with added Dimbleby BBC presenter David Dimbleby. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Archive/PA The Question Time host told the Radio Times : "I think it's a very good choice and a great relief for those of us who work for the BBC. He knows the BBC and he's worked outside but, above all, he understands BBC journalism. He's a good public face for the BBC. I feel like I'm serving in the Royal Navy when the message came in: 'Winston is back.'" Dimbleby added: "I think most people will be thrilled at this choice and [we] will also get the leadership that is needed from somebody who is a creative man and a good administrator - and a calm man in a time of crisis." Updated Wondering what Jonathan Shalit thinks? Talent agent Jonathan Shalit has welcomed Hall's appointment: "At last with Tony Hall the BBC have the right man for the role of Director General.

The BBC is without doubt the greatest broadcaster in the world and needs a man of global stature to lead it. Tony has led The Royal Opera House into being globally recognised and admired. Having to deal with the current BBC problems – only an outsider can be fully objective as he will have no existing affiliations. At the same time having worked successfully in the BBC, Tony Hall has some understanding of the machinations with which he has to deal. The BBC Trust have got it right – albeit a painful journey to get there." 1.58pm GMT Best of a bad bunch? A more sceptical BBC insider from BBC tech tells me Hall is the least worst choice, and will be good at standing up for the BBC against corporates and politicians. There's also a hint of Obama second term go-for-brokeness, which we like: "He's also old enough to allow a younger generation to dream, which is good - it's not like going in there at 45 and staying for 15 years." On his part in the creation of BBC News Online, Hall apparently demanded that the team "go away and don't come back until it is done... he was willing to take a punt on something he knew was important".

That also bodes well, especially for tech. "Given the complete fucking disaster, it's better than many of us expected. I for one embrace my new operatic overlord...." 1.51pm GMT And then there's Danny Baker Baker is spewing out various 'helpful' suggestions for Hall's opening agenda... Danny Baker (@prodnose) 1st Days Agenda For BBC DG Tony Hall. 12. Make solemn vow to public that from now on all news stories will contain at least one true fact. 1.49pm GMT Dummies guide to opera Useful reading for any BBC staff who may feel they need to brush up on their opera. 1.47pm GMT Has anyone asked Ladbrokes for the odds? Ladbrokes' odds: TONY HALL is heavily odds-on to last longer at the BBC than Lord Patten according to Ladbrokes. The appointment of Hall as the new BBC Director General has seen the firm open up a market on who will last the longest at the corporation and it's the new DG who comes out on top at 1/4 with the Trust Chairman given a 3/1 chance.

It's a pick of two at even money that Hall's tenure in his new role is over or under 3 1/2 years, or for the pessimistic out there it's a 54/1 chance that Tony Hall's term is shorter than George Entwistle's stint as DG. How long will Tim Hall last as BBC Director General? Under 3.5 Years Evens / Over 3.5 Evens Term to be shorter than George Entwistle's 54/1 Who will last longer? Tony Hall 1/5 Lord Patten 3/1 1.44pm GMT Secret Trust meeting on Tuesday Head of media and technology at the Guardian, Dan Sabbagh, says it turns out that Hall was phoned late last week, and asked if he would take on the top job at the BBC. Hall then agreed to meet trustees on Tuesday, where they interviewed him and he asked them questions. Friends of Hall say that he "felt a sense of duty" to take on the job. An agreement appears to have been reached yesterday.

Updated 1.18pm GMT Tony Hall gets thumbs up from arts world Our chief arts writer Charlotte Higgins on Tony Hall : At the Royal Opera House, Tony Hall has transformed a deeply troubled organisation into a well-oiled machine. Let's hope it works for the BBC. Updated 1.13pm GMT Hall in 2004: "I'm not interested in DG role" From Broadcast , 2004. Hall said he wouldn't have taken the role even if he was approached, and then criticised the controversial "due process" investigation into the death of David Kelly which is fascinating in the context of Savile, Newsnight and McAlpine. You have got to have discipline in an organisation, and if things have gone wrong you need to know why. But those sort of things have got to be conducted and sorted out quickly, and without the feeling of blame or retribution. The BBC has been through a complete trial, where the chairman and director have left. In my view; move on, learn lessons but learn them quickly, and then move on to restoring confidence in the organisation.

We all need a strong powerful BBC committed to making programmes, committed to having news that not only reports what is going on, but also makes life difficult for politicians and organisations and others. That is very important for our British culture. Updated Audio from Robert Peston at the BBC on Tony Hall's appointment: 1.04pm GMT Memories of Tony Hall Andrew Culf, who was the Guardian’s media correspondent from between 1992 and 1997, recalls Tony Hall’s time running the BBC’s news operation: Tony Hall was head of the BBC news operation during the tumultuous period of John Birt’s leadership of the BBC, so he is used to being in the eye of the storm. He brought a “tiggerish” zeal to his job as director of news at the corporation, the post to which he was appointed in 1993.

He was responsible for a major overhaul of the BBC’s news output and oversaw the successful launch of the BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as being an early evangelist for online news coverage and the concept of “news for you”, the idea that new technology would increasingly allow viewers to access news on their own terms, rather than just through old-style television and radio news bulletins. He was also at the helm of the news operation when the BBC held its nerve and secretly prepared the controversial Panorama interview with Princess Diana to the consternation of the palace and the BBC’s chairman Marmaduke Hussey. A BBC man through and through (he was editor of the Nine O’Clock News at the age of 34), he was generally respected by his staff for his unstuffiness and approachability, even though he was also known by some as the “head prefect” because of his on message loyalty to the corporation and his more senior colleagues. Updated 1.03pm GMT And in other news... And with perfect timing, ITV has agreed to pay Lord McAlpine £125,000 damages + legal costs for Phillip Schofield's This Morning blunder.

Updated 12.57pm GMT Hall will start in early March. Tweeter Chrishdouglas helpfully asks: Is Tony Hall related to the First Lord Birkenhead who died of drink and was famous for his 'poisonous vituperation'? I do hope so. 12.52pm GMT Culture secretary Maria Miller said: I congratulate Tony Hall on his appointment as director general, he has a very strong track record in successfully leading iconic organisations. I am pleased the BBC Trust have appointed a new director general. It is important now that Tony Hall gets to grips quickly - to provide the stability and certainty that the BBC needs, and restore public confidence. Updated • He'll be paid £450,000, the same as outgoing/outgone DG George Entwistle and temporary DG Tim Davie • He'll be the 16th director general • He already claims a BBC pension • No word on whether he'll wear a tie or not. Odds very much on him wearing a tie, we think. Full biog, ending with his lordly duties: Lord Hall took up his position as Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House in April 2001.

He joined the BBC as a news trainee in 1973 and during a 28 year career at the Corporation he held roles including Senior Producer at World at One, Assistant Editor of the Nine O’Clock News, Output Editor for Newsnight, culminating as Chief Executive of BBC News from 1996 to 2001. While at the BBC he launched Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24, BBC News Online and BBC Parliament. He is Deputy Chairman of Channel 4 Television and sits on the board of The British Council and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. He is passionate about education and skills within the cultural industries. He was the founder Chair of the Creative and Cultural & Skills Council and Chairman of the Musical and Dance Scheme. He spearheaded the development of the new High House Production Park in Thurrock, Essex. With the exception of his role at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, he will be standing down from all his other current roles before taking up the post of Director-General of the BBC.

He has been Chair of Stratford East Theatre, and Honorary Visiting Fellow of Journalism at City University, a member of the Regeneration Through Heritage Steering Group, a board member of Race for Opportunity, a former non-executive director of HM Customs and Excise and was a member of the Council for Brunel University. In 2009 he was asked by the Government and the Mayor of London to set up and chair a board to direct the Cultural Olympiad and also joined the board of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. He was appointed a CBE in 2005 and in 2010 was created a life peer with the title Baron Hall of Birkenhead. He sits on the Crossbenches in the House of Lords. Updated 12.40pm GMT And Ashley Highfield , former BBC director of future media and technology, weighs in: So Tony Hall (lives in Henley) replaces Tim Davie (lives in Henley) who replaces John Smith (lives in Henley) - BBC diversity in action! Updated 12.38pm GMT Our own Jonathan Freedland retweets himself.

Ten points, Jonny: An eminent Labour figure texts to say Tony Hall of Royal Opera House is a good bet for DG: he lost out to Dyke Updated Richard Bacon points out on Twitter: "A quarter of ALL the people to hold the title 'Director General' in the BBC's 90 year history... have held that title in the last 10 weeks." Updated 12.34pm GMT There's a good backgrounder on Hall on the Royal Opera House website, which includes: He is widely credited with bringing financial stability to Britain’s largest and most complex arts institution, building the organization into a global centre of excellence for opera and ballet, and a beacon of creativity and best practice within the arts sector. 12.30pm GMT Hall said in the BBC's statement: I believe passionately in the BBC and that’s why I have accepted Lord Patten’s invitation to become Director General. This organisation is an incredibly important part of what makes the United Kingdom what it is. And of course it matters not just to people in this country – but to tens of millions around the world too. It’s been a difficult few weeks – but together we’ll get through it.

I’m committed to ensuring our news services are the best in the world. I’m committed to making this a place where creative people, the best and the brightest, want to work. And I know from my first days here as a news trainee, to my time as head of news and current affairs, to my time now at the Royal Opera House, that I can’t do it on my own. Having the right teams working together, sparking off each other, is key. And I want to build a world class team to lead a world class BBC. Updated at 12.32pm GMT 12.26pm GMT Hall was head of BBC News and Current Affairs from 1996 to 2001, and chair of the Cultural Olympiad. Hall also helped launched BBC News Online, Radio 5, BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament. He will almost certainly be required to step down from his current position as deputy chairman of Channel 4. 12.22pm GMT Lord Tony Hall, who has been chief executive of the Royal Opera House since 2001, was today announced as the new BBC director general.

In a statement, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said Hall "has been an insider and is a currently an outsider": As an ex-BBC man he understands how the Corporation’s culture and behaviour make it, at its best, the greatest broadcaster in the world. And from his vantage point outside the BBC, he understands the sometimes justified criticisms of the corporation – that it can be inward looking and on occasions too institutional. Updated BBC names new director-general BBC names new director-general Pin it Share LONDON (AP) -- The British Broadcasting Corp. named executive George Entwistle its new chief on Tuesday, giving him one of the country's top media jobs. Entwistle, 49, will replace current director-general Mark Thompson, who announced he would step down following London's 2012 Olympics after an eight year tenure that has seen him handle sweeping cuts to staff and services. "I love the BBC and it's a privilege to be asked to lead it into the next stage of its creative life," said Entwistle, who joined the BBC as a trainee in 1989 and most recently worked as head of the organization's television services.

The 450,000-pound-salary ($702,000) post will come with a raft of challenges — not least the task of delivering the BBC's mix of entertainment and journalism amid a decline in funding. Each British household with access to television and radio services pays a compulsory 145.50 pounds ($227) fee each year, but any rises in the levy have been frozen until 2016. Already, Entwistle — who takes up his role on Sept. 17. — has agreed to take a smaller salary than his predecessor. Media watchers in Britain had tipped the BBC's chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, to become the 90-year-old broadcasting organization's first ever female chief. Reblog Tony Hall, Chief Exec Of Royal Opera House, To Become BBC Director General | The Huffington Post Tony Hall, Chief Exec Of Royal Opera House, To Become BBC Director General 22/11/2012 12:11 | Updated 22 November 2012 PA/The Huffington Post UK Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House, is to be appointed director-general of the BBC, the corporation reported on Thursday.

The 61-year-old, a former director of news at the BBC, will take up his post next March, succeeding George Entwistle who resigned earlier this month after just 54 days in the job. Lord Patten, the chairman of the BBC Trust, said Lord Hall's background in news "will prove invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild both its reputation in this area and the trust of audiences". Hall collecting his CBE in 2006 He added that he was the "right person" to lead the BBC as it takes "a long, hard look at the way it operates and put in place the changes required to ensure it lives up to the standards that the public expects". Lord Hall said on Thursday: "I believe passionately in the BBC and that's why I have accepted Lord Patten's invitation to become director general." He was appointed following a direct approach from the BBC Trust, which did not contact any other candidates. He was not an applicant when the position was vacated by Mark Thompson earlier this year. Lord Hall, who was made a cross-bench peer in 2010 as Lord Hall of Birkenhead, is also deputy chairman of Channel 4.

Tim Davie will remain as the acting director-general until he is able to take up his appointment next year. Hall, then-chief executive of the Royal Opera House in London with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II watching a Royal Ballet Gala Lord Hall said today: "I believe passionately in the BBC and that's why I have accepted Lord Patten's invitation to become director general." He was appointed following a direct approach from the BBC Trust, which did not contact any other candidates. He was not an applicant when the position was vacated by Mark Thompson earlier this year. The new director general joins at a time of crisis for the corporation which was precipitated by the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, and a subsequent report on BBC2's Newsnight programme which mistakenly implicated Lord McAlpine in child abuse. That mistake led to Mr Entwistle quitting his post and also saw the BBC settling with Lord McAlpine for £185,000 last week. Public trust in the BBC is said to have been knocked by the furore and a number of inquiries are under way into the fallout from the Savile problems.

Hall, receiving a Classic FM Innovation Award in 2009 Lord Hall will be paid £450,000 in the role - the same level of salary as his predecessor - and his appointment was unanimously agreed by Trustees this morning. Lord Patten said: "While there are still very serious questions to be answered by the ongoing inquiries, it is in the interests of licence fee-payers that the BBC now starts to refocus on its main purpose - making great programmes that audiences love and trust. "In doing this, it will need to take a long, hard look at the way it operates and put in place the changes required to ensure it lives up to the standards that the public expects. Tony Hall is the right person to lead this and I am delighted that he is taking on this role. "For its part, I want to make sure that the Trust gives Tony Hall whatever help and support he needs to re-build the BBC's management around him. "Tony Hall has been an insider and is a currently an outsider. As an ex-BBC man, he understands how the corporation's culture and behaviour make it, at its best, the greatest broadcaster in the world.

And from his vantage point outside the BBC, he understands the sometimes justified criticisms of the corporation - that it can be inward-looking and on occasions too institutional. "But perhaps most importantly, given where we now find ourselves, his background in news will prove invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild both its reputation in this area and the trust of audiences." Lord Hall, who was head of BBC news and current affairs from 1996 to 2001 when he headed to the Royal Opera House, acknowledged it had been a "difficult few weeks" but said he wanted to lead a "world-class BBC". He said: This organisation is an incredibly important part of what makes the United Kingdom what it is. And, of course, it matters not just to people in this country, but to tens of millions around the world too. "It's been a difficult few weeks - but together we'll get through it. I'm committed to ensuring our news services are the best in the world. "I'm committed to making this a place where creative people, the best and the brightest, want to work.

"And I know from my first days here as a news trainee, to my time as head of news and current affairs, to my time now at the Royal Opera House, that I can't do it on my own. "Having the right teams working together, sparking off each other, is key. And I want to build a world-class team to lead a world-class BBC." Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: "I congratulate Tony Hall on his appointment as director general. He has a very strong track record in successfully leading iconic organisations. ""I am pleased the BBC Trust have appointed a new director general. It is important now that Tony Hall gets to grips quickly - to provide the stability and certainty that the BBC needs, and restore public confidence." Lord Hall's appointment was approved on the same morning BBC Trustee Anthony Fry was justifying the decision to give Mr Entwistle his full year's pay-off of £450,000 following his resignation. He was appearing before the Public Accounts Committee and insisted it was the right thing to do to avoid a protracted legal wrangle.

The direct approach for Lord Hall's recruitment is a marked contrast to the team of headhunters that was involved in drawing up the list of candidates which resulted in Mr Entwistle being given the post. Speaking about the latest appointment, Lord Patten said: "Just over four months ago the Trust completed a thorough recruitment process. Tony Hall wasn't available then but I am delighted he has agreed to come on board now. "Of course, we might have considered going through the whole lengthy recruitment process again with a new round of advertisements and another global hunt for candidates. "But I believe the approach we have taken is ultimately in the interests of the BBC and, most importantly, licence fee-payers as we have got the best candidate and he will help the organisation quickly get back on an even keel." Birkenhead-born Lord Hall, who began as a news trainee with the BBC 39 years ago, is thought to have been in the running for the director general post when Greg Dyke was appointed in 1999. The appointment will be welcomed by many at the BBC, according to respected broadcaster David Dimbleby.

He told the Press Association: "I think it's a very good choice and a great relief for those of us who work for the BBC. "He knows the BBC and he's worked outside but, above all, he understands BBC journalism. "He's a good public face for the BBC and I feel like I'm serving in the Royal Navy when the message came in: 'Winston is back'." Dimbleby went on: "I think most people will be thrilled at this choice and will also get the leadership that is needed from somebody who is a creative man and a good administrator - and a calm man in a time of crisis." Earlier, Dimbleby complained the BBC is "still over-managed and the management still speak gobbledegook", during an interview on Radio 4's Today programme in the wake of Mr Entwistle's departure.

BBC's George Entwistle resigns as director general - BBC News BBC News Media playback is unsupported on your device BBC's George Entwistle resigns as director general 10 November 2012 Last updated at 21:29 GMT George Entwistle has resigned as director general of the BBC, following controversy over the corporation's handling of Newsnight reports into child sex abuse claims. BBC Chairman Lord Patten said it was "undoubtedly one of the saddest evenings" of his public life. Earlier on Saturday Mr Entwistle said the Newsnight report should never have been broadcast, and that he had only become aware of the story after it was broadcast. BBC 2012 DG STAKES Monday 11th June: London Evening Standard Interviews for the next BBC director-general begin this week amid recriminations over the flotilla coverage. Most national newspapers have noted this but the FT has scant mention of the race to succeed Mark Thompson. Could FT editor Lionel Barber be too busy shining his own shoes for a job interview?

Steve Richards in The Independent, on the issues facing Lord Patten His main concerns are the correct ones – the level of executive remuneration, the related issue of the number of managers, and a tendency for a small, but significant, part of the output to lapse into unconvincing populism. These concerns are also expressed to him by senior figures from all political parties and from within the Beeb. When the BBC still published an in-house newspaper, Patten would circle the posts advertised that he regarded as non-jobs. There were many circles. Privately, he was telling senior managers long before the Jubilee about his worries in relation to populism. Those close to him say he is also aware that, so far, managerial cuts have been achieved largely by "tricks and mirrors". Nonetheless, he remains a devotee of the BBC, a Conservative unfazed by comically unjustified attacks from Conservative newspapers about bias. John Birt was never a popular DG internally, but the BBC could do with some Birtist rigour and sense of distinctive mission. I suspect Patten agrees. One of his last tasks in an extraordinary career is to ensure the next DG agrees, too.

Monday 4th June: Dan Sabbagh in The Guardian Ed Richards must be an optimist. The Ofcom chief executive may have made the shortlist for the top executive job at the BBC. But it would be interesting to listen to the phonecall from Lord Patten to Jeremy Hunt, who looks set to endure as secretary of state for culture, media and sport this side of the Olympics, in which the BBC Trust chairman tells him that his choice was a former political adviser to both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Hunt, whose amicable exterior belies a certain tribalism, as judged by his emails critical of "Mark Thompson/Guardian/Channel 4" thinking, might not be terribly impressed. Saturday 2 June: Variety reports Outside the company, the favorite to take over from Thompson is Ed Richards, a former BBC strategy head who's currently the CEO of U.K. media regulator Ofcom. Richards lacks creative experience, but that may not be a problem in the current environment. For the first time, the job spec of director-general prizes experience in international operations over that in programming or journalism.....

In some quarters, there is even a suggestion that the job spec was written with Richards, a former aide to ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, in mind. Patten, who served ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as the last governor of Hong Kong, is likely to favor someone who will not be reluctant to do his bidding on occasion. Still, there is astonishment that the preferred candidate could be someone lacking editorial experience. [Ray] Snoddy speaks for many in the U.K. broadcasting community when he says that considering a BBC director general without a background in journalism or production is "insane." "The reality is that almost all DGs have been either internal people or someone who has worked there recently, and who have a tried-and-tested background in program making," he says. Thursday 31st May: Dan Sabbagh in The Guardian Caroline Thomson and Tim Davie have been shortlisted to become the BBC's next director general, with first interviews due to take place in a fortnight's time for the most influential job in British television.

Insiders said that all four internal candidates have been put on the list – with the other two contenders being George Entwistle, director of vision, and BBC News director Helen Boaden, although their inclusion has not been separately verified. Candidates were told on Monday that they would be seen by Lord Patten, the BBC Trust chairman, and Diane Coyle, the trust vice chairman, in meetings scheduled to take place on the 11 and 12 June, according to those familiar with the appointment process for the post..... So far Ed Richards, the Ofcom chief executive, is the only external candidate to have been smoked out – the fact that he had been told he had been shortlisted is understood to have prompted the communications regulator to confirm that he was a candidate on Monday. Monday 28th May OFCOM statement "Given the significant level of speculation surrounding potential applicants for the BBC Director General role, Ofcom can confirm that CEO Ed Richards has applied. Robust procedures, agreed by the Ofcom Chairman and the Board, have been put in place to prevent any potential conflict of interest. Ed has already stepped aside from all discussions and communication at all levels on matters where the BBC may have an interest.

This includes Board meetings, executive meetings and policy discussions, both formal and informal". Sunday 27th May: Richard Brooks in The Sunday Times THE head of the broadcasting watchdog, who is a leading candidate for the job of running the BBC, has been accused of a potential conflict of interest by two senior Tory MPs. Ed Richards... has been running an inquiry at Ofcom into whether the corporation should be included in a new definition of the “plurality” of media organisations. This would mean considering whether the BBC’s market share should be limited by law in the same way that private-sector media companies are restricted from growing too big. “Ofcom is not only a publicly funded body but, because it and Richards are currently looking at the BBC and plurality, there is potential conflict of interest here,” said Philip Davies, MP for Shipley and a member of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee. “If Richards were to conclude that the BBC were not to be included in any definition of plurality, it might question his motives if he was in for the DG’s job.” John Whittingdale, the committee’s Tory chairman, also expressed concerns.

“While it would be unfair to exclude Richards from running as DG, if he is a live candidate, as it were, he should not be making or taking any decisions about plurality and the BBC. He must leave the room when Ofcom is discussing this issue.” Both Davies and Whittingdale believe that Ofcom should recommend the BBC is included in any definition of plurality. Thursday 24th May Stephen Glover in The Mail Lord Patten is believed to like the look of Mr [Ed] Richards. If so, one can be practically certain that the Labour man will end up as director-general since the chairman is good at getting his way, and members of the BBC Trust (they used to be called Governors) will do what he tells them............... Maybe the most damning charge that can be laid against Mr Richards is not that he is a Labour apparatchik or a bloodless technocrat who has enriched himself on the public payroll (salary nearly £400,000 a year) without ever doing what most of us would regard as a proper job. No, it is that he has never shown the slightest evidence of creativity. He has never made a programme in his life.

He is a member of the new bossy administrative class — managerial, cautious, working in the shadows, and living like a potentate despite never producing any wealth. Give me any of the internal candidates, however Leftie they may be: director of news Helen Boaden or director of vision George Entwistle — though I would draw the line at chief operating officer Caroline Thomson. At least they have made programmes, and know something about creating good television and radio rather than simply regulating it. Read more: #ixzz1vlL9IoR5 Thursday 17th May: Blogger Tradingaswdr writes.. At last, some movement in the odds at the bookies for the 2012 BBC DG Stakes - with money coming in for Ofcom boss Ed Richards. Paddy Power now make him clear favourite, at 7/4. Caroline Thomson and George Entwistle are on 3/1, and Helen Boaden on 6/1, alongside former C4 boss Michael Jackson.. Online bookies Bodog also make Ed 7/4, with George Entwistle 2/1 and Caroline Thomson on 7/2. Helen Boaden is 4/1.

Wednesday 16th May: Leviathian in The Economist damns internal candidates with faint praise.... Many are capable organisers. Some are more flexible than others. So far, no one stands out as having the kind of charisma and abilities that Lord Patten compares to the skills base of Wayne Rooney (the footballer) and Aristotle (the philosopher). Either the Trust will have to compromise on its requirements—or a dark horse needs to show a flash of innovative form. Meanwhile, the Guardian picks up comments from former Chairman Sir Michael Lyons, who echoes the line that there isn't an outstanding internal candidate... "There isn't one. I don't believe Mark has a preferred candidate either. It is important that there is as wide a search as possible... basically to look elsewhere in the public sector" Monday 14th May: Tweet from Ray Snoddy David Elstein the broadcaster's informal bookie reveals at RTS lunch Ed Richards of Ofcom is a shoo-in as next director general of the BBC Boris Johnson in The Telegraph In a short while we must appoint a new director-general, to succeed Mark Thompson.

If we are really going ahead with Lords reform (why?), then the Lib Dems should allow the Government to appoint someone to run the BBC who is free-market, pro-business and understands the depths of the problems this country faces. We need someone who knows about the work ethic, and cutting costs. We need a Tory, and no mucking around. If we can’t change the Beeb, we can’t change the country. Saturday 12th May: Quentin Letts in The Mail If you want a flutter, take the tip I had from a Cabinet minister the other day and place your shekels on George Entwistle, one of the BBC’s more impressive internal candidates. Sunday 6th May: Richard Brooks in The Sunday Times.. THE head of Britain’s broadcasting watchdog has emerged as a frontrunner for the job of leading the BBC, pitted against a long-serving corporation insider. Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, is expected to apply for the job of director-general, which will become vacant when Mark Thompson leaves in the autumn......... Richards main opponent will be George Entwistle, 49, the BBC’s director of television, who has worked for the corporation for 23 years.

A report commissioned for the BBC trustees — chaired by Lord Patten, the former Tory cabinet minister — singles out Entwistle as the best qualified internal candidate, editorially and in terms of experience. Entwistle has emerged as the favourite in the past week. He is liked by Patten, an important factor because the chairman and director-general need to work together. Thursday 3rd May: Dan Sabbagh and Tara Conlan in The Guardian.. David Abraham, Channel 4's chief executive, will not apply to become the next leader of the BBC, a path that was successfully trodden by the incumbent director general Mark Thompson eight years ago. The boss of the Homeland broadcaster has told friends he believes that it is too soon to contemplate leaving Channel 4, having only spent two years in the job and recruited most of its senior team..... It is understood that Jana Bennett, the former BBC Vision boss, now president of worldwide networks and global iPlayer at the corporation's commercial arm BBC Worldwide, is also considering applying, but that BBC North director Peter Salmon is not going to put his name forward....... Tony Hall, the well regarded Royal Opera House chief executive, who previously ran BBC News, is also not applying, despite speculation to the contrary at the corporation...

Dominic Loehnis from Egon Zehnder has been talking to a number of people within the industry to gauge opinion, including, it is understood, Channel 4's chief creative officer, Jay Hunt. Variety LONDON -- ABC Entertainment Group prexy Paul Lee is being courted for the top job at the BBC. It's understood that Beeb-affiliated execs have reached out to the Alphabet topper in recent weeks, though sources say that Lee has no intent of taking the post. Lee is coming off a strong season at ABC in which the network fielded successful new series in "Once Upon a Time," "Revenge" and "Suburgatory," plus other promising newcomers... Lee first joined the BBC in 1984 as a general trainee and in 1990 moved to drama, where he produced, directed and wrote TV movies. He ultimately served as channel editor for BBC Prime, the company's 24-hour entertainment channel. Thursday 26th April: Londoner Diary in the Evening Standard Is the BBC’s televisual rottweiler Jeremy Paxman looking for a promotion? The Londoner understands that the Newsnight presenter could be gunning to become the next director-general.

Rumour has it that Paxman has formally applied for the position, which the BBC is advertising since Mark Thompson announced his intention to step down later this year. ..... . The Londoner has left messages for Paxman all over the place but he hasn’t responded. Monday 23rd April: Londoner Diary in the Evening Standard: Last month, the Londoner noted that the upper echelons of the BBC mentioned the name of the Financial Times editor Lionel Barber as a potential successor to current director- general Mark Thompson. The BBC Trust’s chairman Lord Patten is thought to be keen to interview outside candidates as well as the big beasts within the BBC. Now a new name has entered the frame, that of English National Opera director John Berry. “Patten knows Berry and is said to have been impressed by his overhaul of the National Opera,” says Prospect magazine.

Jimmy Savile: BBC's George Entwistle appears before MPs - BBC News BBC News Key points Key points BBC director general George Entwistle appears before MPs on the Commons culture committee, where he is questioned about the Jimmy Savile affair TV presenter Jimmy Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, is accused of sexually abusing young people over a four-decade period - sometimes on BBC premises The BBC has announced inquiries into why a Newsnight investigation into Savile was dropped and another into whether the corporation's culture allowed sexual abuse to take place | Human Rights , Europe , United Kingdom Tony Hall worked for the BBC for 28 years in various positions, before quitting in 2001 to pursue private interests [AFP] A former BBC executive has been appointed to lead Britain's global broadcaster, just weeks after George Entwistle quit as director general amid a scandal over a story that wrongly accused a politician of child abuse. Tony Hall, who left the BBC in 2001 after serving in different roles for 28 years, will replace Tim Davie, acting director general, in March 2013, according to the BBC Trust, which sets the strategic direction of the broadcaster.

The BBC Trust said the appointment of Hall, who holds the title of Lord Hall of Birkenhead, was unanimously agreed by trustees at a meeting held on Thursday. It said Hall, who was head of BBC news and current affairs from 1996 to 2001, was a digital pioneer, launching BBC News Online, as well as Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament. At present he is deputy chairman of Channel 4. The role makes Hall the BBC’s editorial, operational and creative leader, with responsibility for a significant global workforce and the corporation's services across television, radio and online, said the trust. The appointment comes amid inquiries about how the BBC failed to expose its own recently deceased presenter Jimmy Savile for abusing children, despite setting out to do so. Another inquiry will examine how the BBC broadcast a story that wrongly implicated Lord McAlpine in sexual abuse of children at north Wales care homes. "While there are still very serious questions to be answered by the on-going inquiries, it is in the interests of licence fee payers that the BBC now starts to refocus on its main purpose - making great programmes that audiences love and trust," said the BBC Trust.

"In doing this it will need to take a long, hard look at the way it operates and put in place the changes required to ensure it lives up to the standards that the public expects." 'Right person to lead' The trust said "Tony Hall is the right person to lead" the BBC, which is funded through licence fees paid annually by individual TV owners. The BBC has apologised for the Newsnight report that wrongly implicated Lord McAlpine, but the scandal led to the resignation on November 10 of Entwistle who had been in the $700,000-a-year job for only months. Several BBC executives, including the director of news Helen Boaden and her deputy Steve Mitchell, have had to step aside to pave the way for the ongoing inquiries. Entwistle had worked for the BBC for 23 years, holding various senior positions with the broadcaster which employs 23,000 people. As head of the BBC he was technically holding the title of editor-in-chief, effectively making him responsible for all editorial decisions. Lord Hall's appointment, the sixteenth for director general at the BBC, was made following a direct approach from the BBC Trust.

"I believe passionately in the BBC and that's why I have accepted [BBC Trust chairman] Lord Patten's invitation to become Director General," Hall said. "This organisation is an incredibly important part of what makes the United Kingdom what it is. And of course it matters not just to people in this country – but to tens of millions around the world too. It's been a difficult few weeks [for the BBC] but together we'll get through it." Hall, who read politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University, joined the BBC in 1973 as a trainee and rose through the ranks to become chief executive of BBC news. Source: Al Jazeera BBC director general quits after saying TV report was wrong | Fox News BBC director general quits after saying TV report was wrong Published November 10, 2012 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print Oct. 23. 2012: George Entwistle, center, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Director General, talks to members of the media, as he departs Portcullis house in central London.

(AP2012) LONDON – The BBC's top executive resigned Saturday night after the prestigious broadcaster's marquee news magazine wrongly implicated a British politician in a child sex-abuse scandal, deepening the crisis that exploded after it decided not to air similar allegations against one of its own stars who police now say was one of the nation's worst pedophiles. In a brief statement outside BBC headquarters, George Entwistle said he decided to do the "honorable thing" and step down after just eight weeks in the job. "The wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader," he said. It was a rapid about-face for Entwistle, a 23-year BBC veteran who earlier Saturday had insisted he had no plans to resign despite growing questions about his leadership and the BBC's integrity in the wake of the scandals. Lawmaker John Whittingdale, who chairs a parliamentary committee on the news media, said Entwistle had no choice but to go, as the BBC's management appears to have "lost their grip" on the publicly funded organization. "I think that what has happened in the last few days has immensely weakened his authority and credibility," Whittingdale said.

"It would have been very difficult for him to continue in those circumstances." The scandal comes at a sensitive time for Britain's media establishment, struggling to recover from an ongoing phone-hacking scandal which brought down the nation's best-selling Sunday newspaper, led to the arrests of dozens of journalists and prompted a judge-led inquiry into journalistic ethics and the ties between politics and the news media. Kevin Marsh, a former senior editor of the BBC, said the resignation does little to re-establish public trust in the BBC, which is funded mainly by a tax on U.K. households that have televisions. "The BBC asks the British public to pay its bills every year, and the only way it can do that is if the British public trusts the way it is spending its money," he said. Entwistle took over as head of the BBC two months ago from Mark Thompson, who will become chief executive of The New York Times Co. this month. The broadcaster was emerging from a difficult period marked by budget cuts, job losses and mounting calls to justify its 3.5 billion pound ($5.6 billion) budget.

A month into Entwistle's leadership, the BBC was thrown into crisis with the revelation that its "Newsnight" program had shelved an investigation into allegations that Jimmy Savile, the renowned BBC TV host who died last year, had sexually abused several hundred children -- cajoling some into having sex with him in his car, his camper van, and even in dingy dressing rooms on BBC premises. The sex allegations were later aired on the rival ITV network. Since then, scores of adults have come forward to claim that their allegations of sexual assault had been ignored by authorities and the news media. The BBC's decision not to air the Savile report -- and the suggestion that managers did not investigate allegations of sexual abuse by one of their stars -- prompted deep soul-searching at the trusted broadcaster and assurances from Entwistle that he would get to the bottom of the decision. He said the broadcaster would hold an inquiry into the "culture and practices of the BBC" during the years Savile worked there. Soon after, "Newsnight" editor Peter Rippon stepped aside pending an investigation into his decision to scrap the Savile story. But the furor was reignited soon after the same program aired a Nov.

2 report about alleged sexual abuse of children in Wales in the 1970s and 1980s. During the program, victim Steve Messham claimed he had been abused by a senior Conservative Party figure. The BBC didn't name the alleged abuser, but online rumors focused on Alistair McAlpine, a Conservative Party member of the House of Lords. On Friday, McAlpine issued a fierce denial and threatened to sue. Messham then said he had been mistaken about his abuser's identity and apologized to McAlpine, prompting criticism over the BBC's decision to air the report, the suspension of investigative programs at "Newsnight" and mounting questions over Entwistle's leadership. Entwistle insisted he was not aware of the program before it was broadcast, saying in hindsight he wished the matter had been referred to him. That claim drew incredulity from politicians and media watchers who wondered how he could have allowed a second botched handling of a high-profile child sex-abuse story only weeks after the Savile scandal. When the Savile scandal broke, he had portrayed himself as a hands-off chief executive who relies on a BBC system under which issues are brought to his attention by competent editors and executives.

He pleaded the same in a combative BBC radio interview on Saturday, saying that the McAlpine report, as far as he could tell, had been referred to senior figures in the BBC's news, management and legal divisions. Marsh, the former BBC editor, said Entwistle's position became untenable after those comments and appearances made clear the executive had no idea what was going on within his own organization. "This was an absolutely catastrophic combination of events," he said. "He inherited a massive crisis over Jimmy Savile. He made some missteps in managing that. He then never corrected those missteps and that helped generate the Lord McAlpine crisis." The BBC Trust's chairman, Chris Patten, called Saturday "one of the saddest evenings of my public life" but praised Entwistle's "honor and courage" in tendering his resignation. "At the heart of the BBC is its role as a trusted global news organization, and as the editor-in-chief of this organization, George has very honorably offered us his resignation because of the unacceptable mistakes and the unacceptable shoddy journalism which has caused so much controversy," Patten said.

British Culture Secretary Maria Miller welcomed the resignation, calling it "regrettable but the right decision." "It is vital that credibility and public trust in this important national institution is restored. It is now crucial that the BBC puts the systems in place to ensure it can make first-class news and current affairs programs," she said. Media watchers say doing so could mean rethinking the management structure of the BBC, whose portfolio of radio and television channels dominate the British media landscape. "The BBC has been run by too many people who are insiders and there's no clear chain of command," said Charlie Beckett, director of the London School of Economics think tank Polis. "It has such a strong, closed-system culture that it needs an injection of fresh thinking." Beckett noted that in the past, trust in the BBC has recovered from scandals because the broadcaster "provides so much to the public as individuals." But journalists might be left in a more precarious position of lacking the confidence to do challenging investigative and critical journalism, Beckett said. "The danger is that the BBC will play safe, and it's too important in British life for it to always play safe," Beckett said.

The chief executive of BBC Worldwide, Tim Davie, will serve as acting director general until a permanent replacement for Entwistle is found. Advertisement George Entwistle faces a tricky balancing act at the BBC | Television & radio | The Guardian George Entwistle faces a tricky balancing act at the BBC Mark Lawson The new director general will need to be both a strong editor in chief, and keep licence-fee payers and critics happy The BBC's new director general, George Entwistle, must satisfy viewers while also tackling the scandals and crisis that strike the corporation. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Wednesday 4 July 2012 09.11 EDT First published on Wednesday 4 July 2012 09.11 EDT Share on Messenger Close Perhaps burned by recent experience with the appointment of an England football coach – when the un-mentioned Roy Hodgson was chosen over the journalistic favourite, Harry Redknapp – newspapers were notably restrained in trying to call the BBC director general race. As recently as the beginning of the week, there were rumours of secret candidates who had evaded the media page radars.

But, in the end, chairman Lord Patten and the BBC Trust have, in George Entwistle , appointed a candidate who has appeared in the top line of reports since Mark Thompson announced his departure. Patten has also noticeably resisted the rhetoric from the Conservative party, of which he was once chairman, that what the BBC needs at this stage of its history is a "clean skin", an outsider who will introduce to the BBC financial and management attitudes shaped by private business experience. Instead, while Patten declined to appoint Mark Thompson's closest associates in management, Caroline Thomson or Helen Boaden , the job has gone to an insider. Entwistle becomes the first DG for 25 years to have spent his entire career at the BBC after joining as a general trainee. (Alasdair Milne, sacked in 1987, followed that route; his successors Michael Checkland, John Birt, Greg Dyke and Mark Thompson had all held jobs in the commercial sector.) But Patten has made an appointment that illustrates his own priorities for the outfit, as chairs of organisations tend to. Intellect, journalism and culture matter most to him – and Entwistle's CV exactly dramatises these values.

The new DG ran Newsnight (identified by Patten as a key BBC service) before moving to run television arts. He was regarded as an inevitable future controller of BBC4 (which Patten has identified as a crucial service), until jumping to head of vision , with the larger job of controlling all of the BBC TV networks. Jeremy Vine, in his recently published memoirs, It's All News To Me, presents Entwistle, during his spell as editor of Newsnight, as someone who had always read the latest book or article containing big new ideas or theories, a trait that he shares with the chair of the BBC Trust . Patten has made clear that he wants a BBC that is unafraid of seriousness and culture and unconcerned with matching the ratings of commercial channels. Everything in Entwistle's record suggests that he was the candidate best positioned to attempt to deliver this vision. The presence in the current schedules of The Hollow Crown – an ambitious Shakespeare quartet – may have been useful during interviews. The challenge for Entwistle is that the job of director general of the BBC has two distinct parts. One – editor-in-chief of BBC services – is recognised on the contract; the other is unofficial and added to the job description by the British press.

This other function is media lightning conductor in chief for any of the scandals or crises that consume the BBC during your term of office. Few who have worked with Entwistle will question that he has the skills to be editor-in-chief. It's the other half of the task that will be the stretch. A shy and reserved man, he will have to adjust his personality to become someone who can comfortably be questioned by House of Commons select committees or quizzed on Today or Newsnight by a BBC news division that traditionally takes pleasure in giving the BBC's leaders at least as tough a time as external guests. Patten, a man well used to public life, has taken the gamble of dragging in front of the coconut shy someone who, until now, has lived and worked very privately. Entwistle will also be running the business during a period (successful DGs generally serve for eight years) when all logic suggests that budgets and staffing levels will continue to fall at the BBC, almost certainly resulting in confrontations with a demoralised workforce, furious broadcasting unions and the BBC's Westminster overlords.

As a sort of symbolic sack-cloth shirt, Entwistle will be paid considerably less than his predecessor and may even face the curious management challenge of earning less than some theoretical underlings appointed during a period of splashier salaries. An immediate personal challenge will be difficult conversations with previously senior colleagues who coveted the job, as well as the oddity of dealing with an external regulator – Ed Richards of Ofcom – who also wanted to be DG. Logic suggests that Richards will have to move on. The key word used by Patten in the global email to staff that announced the appointment was "creative". The challenge for the chair and his new appointee is to solve the paradox of delivering what serious newspapers demand from the BBC – serious and original programming – while also satisfying millions of licence-fee payers who want entertainment and sport which the corporation, competing with reduced funds against ranks of competitors swelled by digital expansion, will struggle to deliver. In attempting to manage this balancing trick, George Entwistle may come to feel that they are not, as the expression goes, paying him enough.

Former Newsnight editor and current controller of BBC Vision has pledged to return the broadcaster to its creative roots Published: 4 Jul 2012 No warm welcome for the corporation's new chief, with the Telegraph, Times and Independent all sticking the boot in. By Lisa O'Carroll Published: 5 Jul 2012 Editorial: The world's greatest programme-making enterprise has rightly been entrusted to an experienced programme-maker Published: 4 Jul 2012 Hurray! The new director-general of the BBC is another white middle-class man Published: 4 Jul 2012

Question: George Entwistle became director general of which global corporation in Sept 2012?
Answer: BBC