BBC director of television Danny Cohen has asked his division to include a formal pledge on internal collaboration in their strategic plans for the coming year.

The former BBC1 controller said working together will be “key” to the future success of the corporation’s television output and insisted that collaboration must be improved across the board.

This means fostering more productive relations between programming genres, commissioning and production teams and channels, Cohen said.

He would also like to see the television division as a whole working better with radio and other areas of the BBC, such as future media.

“Some of the most creative and successful ideas come from the blurred lines between genres; some of the most exciting innovation comes from the combination of content and technology like the iPlayer,” he said in an internal email.

Cohen wants “measurable change” on this ambition and has asked every television team to include an objective on collaboration in their plans.

Each will include the following pledge in their strategies: “I will seek out specific opportunities where collaboration can improve my creativity and productivity and enhance my relationships with colleagues.”

This could be creating a “big idea” establishing an innovative partnership between divisions or simply introducing more “open and enthusiastic” conversations between colleagues.

Cohen said: “I believe that it’s this kind of approach that will enable to be as creative and successful as we can possibly be – and make it a great place to work.”

Broadcast reported last week that the BBC4 controller role may be axed as Cohen looks to foster greater collaboration between the channel and BBC2.

It chimes with the view of controller of popular music Bob Shennan that the corporation must work together to be “bigger than the sum of its parts”.

Danny Cohen will be one of the keynote speakers at the Broadcast Commissioning & Funding Forum on 2 July. Book your place here.

Danny Cohen email

Hello,

Hope everyone is well.

I’ve greatly enjoyed my opening weeks in the new role and I’ve met a fantastic range of people making original and high-impact content for our audiences.

In my opening conversations with you I have emphasised the importance of collaboration as we work to ensure that the BBC is the very best broadcaster and producer in the world.

I believe that collaboration is key to our future success. It makes us more creative, opens our minds to new ways of doing things and allows us to makes the best use of all the amazing talent we have at the BBC.

Some of the most creative and successful ideas come from the blurred lines between genres; some of the most exciting innovation comes from the combination of content and technology like the iplayer.

I want us to improve collaboration across the board: between Genres, between Commissioning and Production, between Channels, and between the Television Division and our partners in Radio, FM, Marketing and Audiences, Business, Operations and beyond.

To that end, I would like every member of the Television Division to include an Objective on collaboration in their plans for the coming year based on the following:

‘To make a step-change in the quality of collaboration with my colleagues across BBC Television and the wider BBC. I will seek out specific opportunities where collaboration can improve my creativity and productivity and enhance my relationships with colleagues.’

You may want to work with your manager to fine-tune the wording to make it as practical as possible in your particular area.

It could mean a big idea that delivers collaboration between Divisions.

Or it could refer to ever more open and enthusiastic partnership between colleagues across Production, Commissioning and Business teams on a daily basis. I believe that it’s this kind of approach that will enable to be as creative and successful as we can possibly be – and make it a great place to work.

I’ve asked our colleagues in HR to work with managers across the board to facilitate this – so that we can push for some measurable change as well as creating a new feeling of partnership that underpins the way we work with each throughout the year.

Thanks very much and have a great week.

Danny

Danny Cohen

Director of BBC Television

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