New culture secretary James Purnell made his first RTS Cambridge convention speech yesterday and despite managing to avoid a Tessa Jowell-style meltdown, left many delegates still wondering what exactly he stood for.
Jowell, in her first appearance at Cambridge, famously fluffed her way through a question and answer session leaving those in the audience baffled and bemused. Though to be fair, at the time she was slightly distracted by 9/11.
Purnell had obviously been well briefed on the issues that might come up but seemed to also be coached in the Tony Blair-style of question answering in which you can speak for quite some time without actually saying anything.
However, some interesting points did emerge from his speech and the behind the scenes briefings that went with it.
The most important steer was that a new Communications Act could be on the cards before digital switch-over in 2012.
It was originally thought a new act was pencilled in for after switchover, maybe in 2013, but the signs seem to be pointing to a much earlier act because of the speed of media convergence. When asked directly last night if he was planning to bring a new Communications Act forward, Purnell replied: "That is something we haven't made any decision on."
However, briefings from his advisors appeared to confirm it was definitely on the table.
The announcement by Purnell that he was launching a new thinktank on convergence was also seen as being a warning shot across the bows of Ofcom, which has been accused by some of acting more as a policy maker than a regulator.
Much has been made of the close relationship between Purnell and Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, but this could be the first sign of the new media secretary attempting to show who is boss.
Another talking point at last night's opening of the Cambridge convention was the pally behaviour between Purnell and James Murdoch, chief executive of BSkyB and the chairman of the RTS advisory committee.
Normally, RTS president Sir Bob Phillis undertakes the Q & A session with the secretary of state, but not this time, with Murdoch taking to the stage.
Both Purnell and Murdoch are of similar ages, seem to have a similar outlook and have an easy way with each other. What could this mean for British broadcasting?
