±«Óãtv

46 per cent of the ±«Óãtv Breakfast team, including presenters Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid, have confirmed that they will move to Salford Quays in Spring 2012. 25 per cent of Marketing & Audiences who are in scope to move and 33 per cent staff from ±«Óãtv Connect & Create have also said "yes" to the move.

This brings the combined total confirmed as moving to Salford Quays – including staff outside scope who have volunteered to move since 2009 – to 55 per cent. In comparison, 35 per cent is considered a "strong result" for a move of similar scale and ambition in the UK.

Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid will be part of the team of presenters of Breakfast when it starts broadcasting from the ±«Óãtv's new base at MediaCityUK. Sian Williams and Chris Hollins have decided for personal reasons not to make the move, though both will continue to be involved in the programme for the foreseeable future.

"It is great news that lots of the team will be coming to Salford with the programme next year," said Alison Ford, Editor, Breakfast. "We always knew there would be those who wouldn't be able to make the move for domestic reasons, but we'll have a really strong line-up of producers and presenters working together in MediaCityUK. We're enjoying huge success at the moment and I'm confident that's going to continue for years to come."

Broadcasting over three hours of live television every day on ±«Óãtv One and the News Channel, Breakfast will be the first ±«Óãtv television network news programme produced and broadcast from outside London. It is the UK's most watched morning TV programme, with a daily reach of around seven million and a weekly reach of around 12 million.

"The move of Breakfast is another important step in marking the ±«Óãtv's commitment to expand its presence beyond London," commented Helen Boaden, Director, ±«Óãtv News. "I am delighted that so many staff have decided to make the journey with a programme that is one of the great success stories of the past 10 years. I am sure it will go from strength to strength in its new home."

±«Óãtv Breakfast and ±«Óãtv Marketing & Audiences are joining ±«Óãtv Children's, ±«Óãtv Learning, ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live and ±«Óãtv Sport, who will start their migrations from London in May 2011. The project remains on time and in budget and all staff will be on-site by April 2012.

In total there will be 2,300 ±«Óãtv posts based in Salford Quays with approximately 1,500 posts relocating from either London or Manchester.

"The ±«Óãtv's move to Salford Quays presents a unique and exciting employment opportunity for the ±«Óãtv and the North of England," added Peter Salmon, Director, ±«Óãtv North. "Alongside the ±«Óãtv staff moving to our new base at MediaCityUK, we will be employing hundreds of people new to the organisation, bringing their own experiences, creativity and fresh ideas that will enrich the output that we make from Salford Quays and broadcast to the whole of the UK."

Recently, ±«Óãtv North announced a new apprenticeship scheme. Initially open to applicants from the Greater Manchester area, over time, the scheme will be extended to include the rest of the North of England.

Together with the new employment opportunities that will be created by the ±«Óãtv's move to the area, this initiative underlines ±«Óãtv North's long-term commitment to supporting employment and training across the region.

SBV