BBC executives are sick of Twitter spoiling their surprises. A group of the broadcaster’s big wigs are campaigning to ban actors, writers, and other BBC talent from using the microblogging site, along with other social networking tools, to talk about their work.
The Guardian says "senior sources" within the BBC indicate executives are rallying to include more explicit clauses in contracts that would prevent those involved with BBC productions from disclosing any sort of sensitive or confidential information. The campaign is gaining steam following a few recent leaks that spoiled carefully designed marketing campaigns, show plots, and unfinished contract negotiations. For example, a recent tweet by singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor revealed her upcoming appearance with Sting on a new comedy show, ruining the broadcaster’s plan for a big reveal moment.
The move to lock down BBC collaborators’ activities on social media sites is not a new endeavor. The broadcaster already has a clause in its contracts that provides guidelines for those writing in a BBC capacity. Additionally, the company introduced guidelines for what could be posted to employees' profile pages a few years ago. The problem is resurfacing as the line between personal and business activity in the social networking sphere continues to be blurred.
