Category: Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ
Date: 15.06.2006
Printable version
Board of Governors statement: "At our meeting yesterday (Wednesday 14 June) we considered detailed plans for
the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ's proposed move to the North West of England based on two short-listed
sites, one in Manchester and one in Salford.
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"The Board of Governors has authorised the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ North Project Team to treat
Salford MediaCity:UK as the leading bidder in principle and conduct discussions
with them on an exclusive basis with a view to them being confirmed as preferred
bidder, provided certain outstanding issues can be resolved within a limited
period of exclusivity.
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"Should it not be possible for Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ management to resolve the outstanding issues
to our satisfaction by the end of that period, exclusivity will end.
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"The Governors' decision yesterday marks a significant step forward in realising
a vision for a less London-centric Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ.
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"Our final decision will be based on two
key factors: whether the move represents value for money for licence fee payers,
on which work is continuing; and the affordability of the project, with a final
decision not able to be taken until the licence fee settlement is known."
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Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Governance Unit
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Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Director-General Mark Thompson said:
"I'm pleased that we have taken another step forward in our proposals to create a major new centre for network broadcasting in the North of England.
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"We remain very conscious that our proposal must still meet our stringent value for money criteria and be affordable.
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"I believe this presents a unique opportunity for other broadcasters and the independent sector to join us in a project that could bring very significant benefits for audiences and for the economy of the North of England."
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Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Press Office
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