The search begins for new Radio 4 Controller

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Dear Tim,



Many thanks for the blog and thanks for link to the BBC usuage statistics where you rightly say Radio 4 shows an "impressive performance".



I just did a quick calculation myself on change in % in unique listeners for all your stations during the last 12 months



+50% = 6 Music

+39% = Radio 4

+33% = Asian Networl

+9% = 1 Xtra

-2% = Radio 2

-13% = Radio 7

-14% = Radio 5

-15% = Radio 1

-20% = Radio 3

-44% = 5 Extra



A 39% increase in unique listeners in a year is impressive as you say and much of the credit should go to Mark Damazer's leadership. I wish his successor all the best in continuing this trend.



Oh, and I hope you will also view the station at the top of the list with the fastest growing listenership equally "impressive".

Err ... apparently R4 has put in an impressive performance with a link to the online site usage that shows a large drop last month? Do you actually read your own statistics?

"Great creative leaders like Mark have never been lured into choices between popularity and the intellectual high ground".



I am quite astounded by that statement, Tim. Your colleague Caroline Thomson was on here a few days ago talking about how important National Events such as The Proms and the World Cup are. The BBC it appears is all about popularity. Indeed, you've cited low audience-figures in the recent Strategic Review as a reason to shut down services. That in itself is indicative of your low regard for quality.



I hope that Mark Damazer's replacement will actually have some experience in broadcasting and continue to put quality above all else. We urgently need some people at the top of the BBC hierarchy who actually know what they're doing. It's increasingly apparent that the current executive doesn't have a clue.

Laura Editor - Thanks for the message. While it's great that the senior execs "keep blogging", I would think some of the blogs would be better served by having them respond to some key and important issues raised by the blog in the first place. Tim's previous blog has almost 300 comments, which seems highly unusual. A lot of those early comments raised some intelligent and thoughtful questions, which Tim could surely try and address in some way.

Got help us if Tim Davie's involved in this process.



My vote would go to Mark Lawson or Matthew Bannister

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Radio 4 doesn't need to be mucked around with. It is fine, stop fiddling. As far as A History of the World in 100 Objects goes I bet those downloaders got sick with that intro music pretty quickly. I know I did.



In general I agree with cookingwith7

i would just like to say how i feel for the moderators who have an incredably hard job at this time having to deal with all this because of their senior management.

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Anyone, as long as they have a background in broadcasting - not marketing. When does the search for a new Director of A&M begin?

Hi Tim, I've posted my CV to you today. I'm looking for 400k pa, a lear jet (so I don't have to come into contact with those TV licence holders) and my own expense account with no questions asked.

I've never listened to 4music and I've never worked in radio, but I did used to drive a truck for Panda Cola Plc. So in someways this is a natural progression.

Please don't give the job to Aaron Lentil, he ran over my cat, twice.



Taxi!

i'll do the bosses job and even tho people like it i'll come in and then close it down (radio4) even tho it is popular,does not matter and i'll also give reasons that make no sense and then i'll spent loads of taxpayers money on silly things,also i'll ignore the people that pay my wages,laugh at them and then quaff champange with my cronies ie the thompson twins and andy pastitt(r1 "boss") so when do i start?

When interviewed about his departure on Radio 4's Today, Mark Damazer said words to the effect that when people start looking at audience figures and use that as the measure of success of a station, they are missing the point. I hope Mr Davie will ensure that anyone appointed as Controller R4 will remember that and take chances, broadcast things which are challenging, that you won't hear anywhere else, and educate, inform and entertain.



I would also hope that when the time comes, the BBC looks to its roots, and advertise for a new Director of Radio, a post held by such great broadcasting names as Frank Gillard, Ian Trethown, David Hatch, Liz Forgan, Matthew Bannister and Jenny Abramsky. "Director of Audio and Music" sounds a dumbed down position (or knowing the corporations love of acronyms, perhaps a DAMned position. I would also hope that any future incumbent also allows for challenging unique broadcasting, whether it be the wonderful aural mix on R4, or brilliant music on 6.

Will the job description for the new Controller position include a requirement to blog?

Make sure this new person has a blog

Bridget:



Just to inform you! The URL for the Radio 4 Controller seems not to be working....



(d)

How about Graham Norton for Radio 4 controller?



Seems to be where the BBC is at right now.



By the way, save 6Music - you were so, so wrong - can't wait to hear the number of complaints from the BBC Trust!

It's very important that the new controller of Radio 4 knows something about radio and is not, for instance, a jumped-up advertiser who knows nothing about creating original and distinctive content. The BBC tends to employ too many executives who are incompetent at their jobs and who have forgotten what the role of the BBC should actually be - not surprising since some of them do not have any experience of broadcasting or content and would be better suited to going back to their commercial backgrounds and selling fizzy drinks.



It's also interesting that the blog post mentions the increase in listening for Radio 4 but says nothing about the doubling of listening share at 6music. Is there any particular reason for this?