The Newsroom

BBC Strike: 28 March 2013

Strike from 12pm-12am. (March 2013)

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GH
George Hill
No Focus on Africa - did that not go out last time there was a strike anyway?
SP
Steve in Pudsey
So this strike is across the BBC rather than just News? Have the nations continuity operations been affected at all? I presume RedBee aren't involved.
MI
Mike516
No Focus on Africa - did that not go out last time there was a strike anyway?


It did go on air last time, but on this occasion Focus on Africa would have clashed with the end of the BBC News Channel half-hour headlines and preparations for the BBC News at 6. Last time, output was still split between TVC and BH.
JW
JamesWorldNews
Yes, Focus on Africa was indeed on last time. Not this time though.

So, at least here on World soon, we will have the pleasure of seeing Chris Rogers doing the Six O'clock News and Ten O'clock News later. I presume Chris will also fill- in the hours between as well.

Good old Gavin Grey will be glad of a lie down, I guess!
AP
aprilj
a516 posted:
No Focus on Africa - did that not go out last time there was a strike anyway?


It did go on air last time, but on this occasion Focus on Africa would have clashed with the end of the BBC News Channel half-hour headlines and preparations for the BBC News at 6. Last time, output was still split between TVC and BH.


They have more than one studio though? It would have been interesting to see if they would playout Focus On Africa on NC instead of a pre-record. Besides, still surprised they're not opting for a full hour since in the UK they haven't been reporting on all the :30 headline stories in the first half hour.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
Last time it was just the journos who were out, this time the technical staff are out too, so while they may have several studios, they may only have sufficient technical people to run one of them.
BA
bazinga
I never even knew the strike was on today hahah! Surprised , but they seem to be coping well! , does anyone know why the BBC sports centre is never on air durung strikes , in London there was a sports presenter during the strikes? , correct me if I'm wrong? Confused
GH
George Hill
a516 posted:
No Focus on Africa - did that not go out last time there was a strike anyway?


It did go on air last time, but on this occasion Focus on Africa would have clashed with the end of the BBC News Channel half-hour headlines and preparations for the BBC News at 6. Last time, output was still split between TVC and BH.


They have more than one studio though? It would have been interesting to see if they would playout Focus On Africa on NC instead of a pre-record. Besides, still surprised they're not opting for a full hour since in the UK they haven't been reporting on all the :30 headline stories in the first half hour.


I wonder if this is because of the BECTU strike as well - they maybe can't staff two studios. April - although in theory they could repeat the content to do a full hour for the UK, I suspect the journalists who are there need to stop, sort out reports and write scripts etc. Usually there would be more people so behind the scenes prep could be done by others, but probably not during a strike.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
Look North Leeds have said on their Facebook page that they're on at 6.20 for a full half hour.
LL
London Lite Founding member
Hamish Marshall is presenting Spotlight with David Braine with the weather.
AN
Andrew Founding member
Look North Leeds have said on their Facebook page that they're on at 6.20 for a full half hour.


I'd be surprised because usual strike breakers Christa & Harry are both on holiday this week so there should be more on screen disruption than usual here.
GE
thegeek Founding member
So this strike is across the BBC rather than just News? Have the nations continuity operations been affected at all? I presume RedBee aren't involved.


The last strike was across the BBC too; it's just that most of the NUJ's members in the BBC are in News.

However, the NUJ and BECTU are only in dispute with the BBC. Staff who work at the BBC but are employed by other service providers like Red Bee, Atos and the Met Office aren't allowed to go on strike.

BECTU members working for non-BBC service providers have been issued the following advice, which is fairly standard:
Quote:
Because you have not been balloted in this dispute we cannot ask you to take industrial action and you should work normally and refuse to cover any work that would normally be carried out by a member taking strike action. If however as a matter of conscience you decide not to cross a picket line and your employer attempts to discipline you then you will have the full support of BECTU.

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