Why insiders fear growing ‘civil war’ at the BBC could kill off Match of the Day amid search for Lineker’s replacement – as sports chief is accused of ‘woking things up’
As a long-time viewer and admirer of Match of the Day, I find myself deeply engrossed in the ongoing saga of finding Gary Lineker’s successor. Having grown up with Lineker gracing our screens every Saturday night, it’s hard not to feel a sense of nostalgia and trepidation about who will fill those iconic boots.
On Tuesday, there was a bustle of gatherings happening at Broadcasting House, the BBC’s main office in central London. Some meetings were of great importance, attended by the corporation’s top executives. Meanwhile, other sessions were more casual, assembling teams of employees from various levels.
Regardless, the topic remained consistent in both instances: determining who will replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day (MOTD).
In the chatter among the team, Alex Kay-Jelski, the Director of Sport at the Beeb, who played a role in replacing the previous England striker, was nearly as frequently discussed as Lineker.
There’s a common understanding that the 40-year-old sports expert, Kay-Jelski, is pushing for swift changes within the Corporation.
Upon joining the position in April, hailing from US sports website The Athletic, he was given a straightforward objective: attracting a younger audience. Yet, this mission, which his senior peers now candidly label as “revitalizing things,” is not free of potential hazards.
Due to concerns circulating within the BBC, there is a growing sense of potential internal conflict, or even a ‘civil war’, regarding the future of Match of the Day (MOTD), one of the Corporation’s most recognized emblems.
Among BBC employees, there’s a sense that if Kay-Jelski has his preferred choice, the replacement for Lineker might not be a Caucasian male.
It appears that Kay-Jelski, who previously wrote an article for The Times stating that transgender women competing in women’s sports is not a major issue, may be targeting former England woman’s footballer Alex Scott as a potential replacement for Lineker. I have heard he has conversed with her on this topic multiple times.
Additionally, there are significant concerns expressed regarding the placement of Scott, aged 40, in such a prominent position, as it is believed this move could potentially jeopardize the future of MOTD. Currently, the BBC spends approximately £211 million every three years just for Premier League highlights alone.
To put it simply, if Scott’s project turns out to be a failure after being funded by the BBC (which is essentially the public through taxes), a significant amount of money will have been spent on a product that has little or no value.
According to my reliable inside source, the top-tier executives are privately concerned that they might be on the brink of an internal conflict due to this issue.
1) “MOTD (Match of the Day) remains one of BBC’s most-viewed programs, with the footage from the Premier League, which it features, being one of the priciest assets in BBC’s inventory.
‘Those rights cost so much money that it isn’t as easy as saying ‘We want our new presenter to tick the right boxes’ because that could lead to a huge drop in viewing figures, which then would call into question why so much money is being shelled out for the rights. ‘So it just isn’t as simple as ‘Hire this person, she’s great’.’
Currently, Scott serves as the host of BBC1’s Football Focus, taking over from Dan Walker three years ago following his move to Channel 5. She has been highly regarded within the higher ranks of the BBC since her retirement from football about seven years ago. Additionally, she is now a sports pundit for the BBC and hosts The One Show as well.
She hails from a blue-collar neighborhood in the East End of London, a fact that reportedly leaves top executives at the Corporation in admiration. It’s been shared with me that her technical skills are exceptional behind the scenes. A previous coworker emphasizes that she has put in an enormous amount of effort to excel as a broadcaster.
The problem is, though, says one industry insider, ‘the viewers haven’t warmed to her’.
It’s common knowledge within the BBC that this fact is well-established, and a strong reaction, even anger, erupted in the BBC press office when this was brought up by colleagues to The Sun – Lineker’s preferred newspaper. They reported that Scott felt deeply hurt when she was held accountable by the BBC for a decline in Football Focus’ viewership. In fact, she was so distraught about this article that she lodged a complaint with her superiors.
A sports industry expert commented, “It’s unusual with Alex since one might expect widespread admiration for her.” However, it seems that both men and women fail to express their affection for her in the way you’d anticipate.
Men, in general, appear uninterested when she talks about football. There seems to be something about her demeanor or communication style that isn’t appealing to them.
So who will make the decision over Lineker’s replacement?
It has been shared that Tim Davie, the head of BBC, appears eager to grant Kay-Jelski complete authority over hiring decisions. However, there are other influential figures within the corporation who may also want a role in this process. One such person is Charlotte Moore, the respected Chief Content Officer. Although she is known to be supportive of women, her responsibilities include evaluating risk and ensuring funds are allocated wisely.
According to a source from the BBC, it would significantly harm her reputation if the show’s viewership numbers decrease, as such a decline might be perceived as an unnecessary expenditure.
It’s not desirable for anyone to upset Alex Kay-Jelski or encroach on his responsibilities, as he’s being considered to manage his own domain. However, the higher-ups can’t afford to let this new venture flop since it’s their primary sports show. They understand that if the BBC invests hundreds of millions in Premier League rights and viewers don’t watch it, they’ll face significant criticism.
According to my source, there’s widespread appreciation for Alex Kay-Jelski’s work thus far, and the departure of Lineker is welcomed. However, it’s also understood that this situation extends beyond just one program and may have significant effects on the license fee as a whole.
If the substitute for Gary isn’t suitable, there’s a possibility that Match of the Day (MOTD) might cease to exist. This fact should not be overlooked or taken lightly.
‘We are talking about a war over woke here. There is a view that it just has to be a woman.’
Kay-Jelski’s decisive move is causing a bit of unease among his colleagues, but within the Corporation, he’s earned the status of a popular figure, almost like a folk hero. For two and a half decades, Lineker held significant influence at the BBC, with MOTD, and many were hesitant to challenge him.
However, within only seven months on the job, Kay-Jelski managed to accomplish what was deemed impossible before, and it was revealed earlier this week that Lineker is leaving.
He will continue hosting MOTD right up to the conclusion of this season, in addition, he is scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup and the following season’s FA Cup.
It appears that Alan Shearer, his longtime associate who previously played for England’s soccer team as a striker, has allegedly agreed to a fresh contract. Neither Shearer nor the BBC have made any official comments about this yet. However, if Shearer remains with them, it will likely bring satisfaction to viewers.
Micah Richards, a past star at Manchester City, hasn’t spoken about his plans for the future as of now. It seems he might be waiting to find out who his potential employer will be, before making any announcements.
In the multicultural environment of W1A, it might not be unexpected that the individual chosen to succeed Lineker in his role would be the one least inclined to accept the Mark Chapman, host of the late-night soccer program Match of the Day 2.
One BBC employee provided an honest assessment of the situation: “He’s a man with a solid professional background, he consistently maintains a low profile, and among all contenders, he appears to be the most level-headed choice. However, Alex Kay-Jelski seems to prefer stirring things up instead.
Maybe it’s unfortunate that the decision-makers at the BBC continue to grapple with finding a balance between promoting diversity and aligning with the preferences of their viewers in terms of programming.
Read More
- FLOKI PREDICTION. FLOKI cryptocurrency
- ONDO PREDICTION. ONDO cryptocurrency
- JPY KRW PREDICTION
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- XAI PREDICTION. XAI cryptocurrency
- GBP CAD PREDICTION
- ORBS PREDICTION. ORBS cryptocurrency
- House of the Dragon review: Seeds finally sprout in rich, emotional new episode, “Smallfolk”
- KDA PREDICTION. KDA cryptocurrency
- Top gainers and losers
2024-11-16 03:52