BBC Breakfast to move to Salford?

The BBC is considering moving its Breakfast programme from its current home in London to Salford while cut backs at the news department means the BBC News Channel would see fewer presenters and programmes such as E24 axed.

 

BBC Breakfast, which airs on BBC One, may be winning the ratings battle with rivals GMTV but it still may not be immune to changes. The BBC revealed this morning to the production team behind the popular morning news programme that it could be relocated to Salford. The BBC is keen to shift emphasis away from London production and more towards Salford with departments such as Sport, Children’s and future media already being relocated to the new media village in Salford while parts of Radio Five Live will also be homed there. However, there is still space for further departments in Salford and part of the new proposals is to move Breakfast there.

 

BBC Breakfast is reportedly just one of several proposed relocations to Salford but the news comes as wider changes to the BBC News department become apparent. Budget cuts within the department could mean the BBC News Channel, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, could have fewer regular presenters while other proposals to save costs being considered is covering fewer stories, reducing guest fees and axing programmes such as E24 – the stations round up of entertainment news.

 

BBC Breakfast currently beats the struggling GMTV in the ratings with an average audience of 1.5 million viewers. In recent years, plagued by scandals and high profile departures, GMTV has seen its ratings drop to 1 million although since the start of 2010 they have reportedly dipped even lower. In September ITV are planning to re-brand GMTV as Daybreak with new presenters Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles taking over presenting duties on a more “news orientated” programme. However, despite the high profile re-launch Daybreak isn’t expected to topple Breakfast anytime soon.