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BBC Salford's internet future






Posted by Editor on 26th July 2010 at 12:43 PM
BBC Salford's internet future
Following last week's announcement that 75 positions from BBC's Future Media & Technology Department would be moving to Salford, the BBC's Director of FMT, Erik Huggers, said: "Just as Broadcasting House is associated with the rise of radio, and Television Centre with TV, I believe that Media City will become the BBC's centre for the internet age."

Despite a nervous start for new tenants at MediaCity, in the past weeks more and more digital and creative companies are flocking to the Salford Quayside to get in on the action.

It's clear that the BBC still see Salford not only as box-ticking exercise in moving departments north but as a valuable arm of the BBC's future.

Hazel Blears, the Salford MP, has responded to Hugger's comments after it was announced that the BBC’s interactive gaming department, the majority of the BBC’s mobile team and the team responsible for overall editorial of BBC online would be moving to Salford.

She said this could be the catalyst for rapid expansion of Salford’s digital and creative sector:
“Digital media is one of our fastest growing industries and I am delighted the BBC is putting Salford at the heart of this new age,”

“Just as Salford was the cradle of the industrial revolution I am excited that we are now set to become the cradle for a new media revolution.”

Adding that the critical mass of skills and expertise is expected to encourage a major creative industries cluster, she said many local people who had previously been tempted to move to London to work in this field could now look at a fantastic career in Salford.

“This will not only change people’s perceptions of Salford," she explained, "but it will also change working life and career choices for people who live here.”

Photo: The waterfront at Salford Quays' MediaCityUK

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