Tony Hall Outlines Plans for BBC Diversity Push

LONDON: Tony Hall, the BBC's director-general, has set out ambitious new plans to address the on- and off-screen representation of the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community at the BBC, including commissioning funding and training.

Hall is launching his own senior leadership development program for six individuals from BAME backgrounds, who will get experience working at the top of the BBC with an executive team. They will receive additional training and support from the Core Leadership Development Programme.

The BBC is establishing a new £2.1 million ($3.6 million) Diversity Creative Talent Fund. It will initially address the specific challenge around BAME portrayal in BBC programs. The fund will also support the development of ideas across all genres. Starting September 1, the money for the fund will be re-prioritized from other budgets. The BBC is also planning to launch an Assistant Commissioner Development Programme to train six "commissioners of the future" to work in comedy, drama, factual, daytime and children's programming.

Hall said that in the next three years, the BBC is aiming for on-air BAME portrayal to increase from 10.4 percent to 15 percent.

An Independent Diversity Action Group has been put in place, which Hall will chair. The panel includes paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson; actor and writer Lenny Henry CBE; Nihal, a BBC Asian Network presenter; Tanya Motie, former BBC One and BBC Three channel exec; barrister Daniel Oudkerk QC; writer and performer George Mpanga; footballer Jason Roberts; and actress, presenter and broadcaster Baroness Floella Bejamin OBE. This group will advise and support the BBC on diversity.

Hall said: “The BBC gets much right on diversity, but the simple fact is that we need to do more. I am not content for the BBC to be merely good or above average. I want a new talent-led approach that will help set the pace in the media industry. I believe in this and want our record to be beyond reproach. That won’t be achieved overnight, but the package of measures I’ve put in place, alongside the support we’ll get from leading experts, will make a tangible difference.

"We will review progress regularly, and if we need to expand our approach even more, then we will. It is something we have to get right. My aim is for the BBC to be the number one destination for talented people regardless of their background. It’s time for action.”