The BBC's football shows have saved £2m by moving north to Salford, its new director general has revealed.

The broadcaster has managed to slash its costs since shifting some of its flagship sports programming to MediaCity in 2011.

In a speech to media insiders in Oxford, Tony Hall used the saving as an example of the corporation’s increased efficiencies.

Match of the Day, Football Focus and Radio 5 Live were among the high profile moves to Salford as part of its flagship new northern base.

The savings have been made partly through reduced rental costs.

While in London the corporation had to buy into expensive annual property contracts, but at MediaCity it ‘spot buys’ the studio space it needs when it needs it.

Meanwhile more cutting edge technology - including ‘tapeless’ digital recording - has also helped, along with more collaboration across platforms.

Much attention had focused on the potential for increased travel costs associated with the move - including ferrying famous faces such as Gary Lineker back and forth from his Surrey home.

But according to the corporation travel costs have actually dropped as a result of the relocation, with a range of pundits - including northerners - featured on its football shows.

Last year the corporation was criticised by the high-profile parliamentary public accounts committee for failing to provide a proper financial audit trail of the costs involved in its move north.

But in his speech to the Oxford Media Convention, Mr Hall said he had been ‘impressed’ by the BBC’s efficiencies upon taking up his new post last year.

Also highlighting a cut in management, smarter procurement and sharing radio bulletins, he said: “By moving BBC Sport from TV Centre in London to Salford, we saved more than £2m per year from the cost of our football programmes.”

A BBC spokesman added: “BBC Sport has been able to make significant savings as part of the move to Salford. Spot buying studio space, cheaper editing facilities and a more collaborative use of technology have all contributed to savings.”

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