BBC Technology arm offloaded to Siemens in £2bn deal

LONDON - BBC Technology has been sold to German electronics group Siemens for £2bn after three months of fierce opposition from broadcasting trade union Bectu.

The newly named company, Siemens Business Services Media Holdings, led by managing director Tom White will take on BBC Technology's 1,400 staff.

As part of the deal, approved by culture secretary Tessa Jowell and the BBC governors, the corporation is to appoint Siemens to provide technology framework for the next 10 years.

Outsourcing its technology services is expected to save the corporation around £30m a year, which will be reinvested in the BBC.

John Smith, chief operating officer at the BBC, said: "This deal marries both our legendary broadcasting experience in making great programmes with the resource and expertise of a global IT player -- ensuring the BBC can achieve its Building Public Value vision to secure our digital future."

In July this year, when original plans for the sell-off were made public, 84% of BBC Technolgy's Bectu members voted to strike over the proposed pension scheme, terms of employment and rushed handover day of September 6 organised as part of the deal.

Bectu also planned further industrial action for August 13 and 14, the opening weekend of the Athens Olympics, which was prevented after the BBC issued a writ claiming the strike would breach industrial relations law.

Siemens has since proposed a three-year guarantee of no changes in terms and conditions, improved pension benefits for staff retiring early or being made redundant after the age of 45, and a promise that no former BBC Technology staff would be redeployed within Siemens outside the city they are currently working in.

Founded in March 2001, BBC Technology provides products and services for the BBC, other broadcasters, platform owners, content owners and government organisations.

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