Mersey firms targeted as BBC hunts digital talent

The BBC says it wants to team up with digital producers and agencies in Merseyside and beyond to create new digital content for its children's TV websites.

The BBC is moving five departments, including BBC Children's, to MediaCityUK in Salford in 2011.

As part of its plans for MediaCity, where it will employ 2,500 people, the BBC has pledged to commission work from production companies throughout the North.

Yesterday, Peter Salmon, BBC Director North, announced an initiative called @North, aimed at helping the Corporation link up with new and established digital producers and agencies.

The BBC says @North "will support the development and delivery of interactive content for children" on its CBBC and CBeebies platforms. It has a total budget of £500,000 available for up to four projects

Mr Salmon says the project "represents a new model of engagement with independent companies and digital agencies across the North", and will serve as a blueprint for the way the BBC works with the region's independent creative firms. He said:

"This is an exciting new concept and there is real business up for grabs, with CBBC and CBeebies commissions to be won by creative organisations working on interactive media across the north of England.

"There is some great creative work going on in the digital sector across the North, and we want to work in partnership to develop new and exciting multi-platform content for our young audiences."

The BBC is now inviting expressions of interest in the project ahead of workshops in January and February. It will then accept submissions in February, while pitches to commissioning editors will be held from July to September.

Mr Salmon said @North would ultimately expand to cover other BBC departments. BBC Sport and Radio 5 Live will also be moving to Salford in 2011.

Peel Media, which is developing the MediaCity complex at Salford Quays, says that when complete the site will host 15,000 workers and generate an extra £1bn for the North West economy. In a feature in the Daily Post's LDP Business magazine in September, leading Merseyside media figures said the area's creative firms should see MediaCity as an opportunity and not a threat. Sean Marley, managing director of Hollyoaks producer Lime Pictures, said:

"We need to embrace MediaCity and become part of it."

To read September's LDP Business article on MediaCity, visit www.ldpcreative.co.uk