Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Seriously recommended: Songwriters Circle (UK BBC4)

I nearly almost mentioned John Birt, but I pre dated him so didn't see it first hand so it would have been unfair to comment Mind you, on a couple of occasions that I though about coming back, I was always reminded that it was not the place that I had left and fondly remembered. I was Bill Cotton and Paul Fox era and was personally recognised by the both of them.

Roger, we you not BBC too? I worked doing all the sports graphics systems late 80's, early 90's. The iconic Vidiprinter is mine, well at least the colour Mac based one that automatically totted up the pools results not the black and white electronic one that it replaced, nor the teletype. Murdoch was starting up at around this time, trying to get the base in Isleworth up and running.

As far as we were affected, obviously BBC sports lost many of their 'crown jewel' events. I suppose that it was a bit arrogant of us at the BBC to assume that they were ours to keep, but we had the whole nation's best interests to protect!

As well as that, Murdoch's men 'came in' and offered staff big money to defect. The guy writing the Vidiprinters graphics card driver defected and so did one of our project managers. Apart from myself having to finish off the graphics card driver for the Vidiprinter and get the rest of it finished, there was not much effect within our department - I don't think sky got the pick of the bunch there and simply paid over the odds for our natural wastage! BBC sport department lost a couple of key players and were backfilled with inexperienced staff who really came good when given their chance. It was a time of transition, and seeing the crown jewels stripped from us one after another was a bit demoralising.

But also at that time, certainly as far as the graphic design department was concerned, the beginning of the end was beginning to show and a number of highly experienced staff set up their own partnerships. Its nice to see their names still on titles even now.

I guess as far as I was concerned, possibly part of me wish that I had seen Sky for what it was going to turn into. But all the stories of difficulties with the new production suites put a number of people off.

Murdoch's approach was to throw big money in an attempt to secure everything and its probably the case now. But the reality is is that it could probably have all been done at a fraction of the cost to the end user. I suppose that it would have happened anyway given time, but it is Mr Murdoch that got my focus.