Former BBC technology chief to take legal action over DMI dismissal

Ex-employee accuses corporation of allowing 'inaccurate statements' to be made to MPs over failure of digital initiativeThe BBC chief technology officer dismissed over the failure of the Digital Media Initiative, the IT project scrapped last year at a cost of nearly £100m to licence fee payers, is taking legal action against the corporation.John Linwood revealed in written evidence published by the Commons public accounts committee on Tuesday that he was taking legal action, as well as accusing the BBC of allowing "inaccurate statements" to be made to MPs.It was revealed last week that Linwood's contract was terminated in July 2013 without a payoff, two months after he was suspended when the DMI project was scrapped.The ambitious DMI scheme was supposed to do away with the need for videotapes across the BBC and use digital technology to call up archive footage – but it was axed in May 2013 with £98.4m of licence fee funding written off.On Tuesday the PAC published 90 pages of written evidence ahead of a further committee hearing about the DMI debacle on Monday. Mark Thompson, the former BBC director general who is now chief executive of the New York Times, has been recalled and will give evidence along with former BBC finance chief Zarin Patel, trustee Anthony Fry, ex-chief operating officer Caroline Thomson and BBC operations director Dominic Coles.Linwood wrote in his PAC evidence: "I have issued legal proceedings against the BBC and intimated contractual claims, and am... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #steering group

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Former BBC technology chief to take legal action over DMI dismissal'

Hearst walks away from BBC Magazines deal

Hearst Corporation, parent to the National Magazine Company, has confirmed for the first time it is no longer in talks to buy BBC Magazines following its Lagardère move. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hearst corporation

Save our Libraries: a call for action

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 04/02/2011 - 17:00 Remember everyone: Saturday 5th February is Save Our Libraries day. Four hundred of our libraries up and down the UK are currently threatened with closure. Show your support for our treasured service: go to your local... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries day #local library

Trade backs library e-lending, claims Overdrive chief

Written By: Benedicte Page Overdrive c.e.o. Steve Potash has said there is enthusiastic support for library e-lending from many trade publishing houses, describing fears over remote downloading as not a real issue. Potash was visiting London this week for talks with the major publishers,... Continue reading at The Bookseller