BBC Should Provide a Whole Range of Content Across Different, New and Emerging Media

Campaign For Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF) 2

The submission by the Campaign For Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF), originally formulated in response to the BBC Charter review, continues to raise issues regarding the future of the BBC. For public service television to thrive, CPBF argues, ‘there should be thorough review of the current legislation governing the regulation of communications, particularly the Communications Act 2003. The goal of regulation in this area should be three-fold: (a) to support the development of public service communications across all platforms and insulated from commercial pressure (b) the development of diverse range of commercially funded outlets with clear public service obligations and (c) a root and branch reform of the system of governance across all communications.

CPBF

Five Ideas for Democratising Television

Lazarus, Joel

As a self-proclaimed ‘industry outsider’, Joel Lazarus (Research Fellow, Warwick University) proposes five ways making current television ecology more democratic, including further breaking down boundaries between television producers and creating ‘the pedagogical website’ – safe spaces for viewers to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas’. Lazarus argues that the TV industry remains of central political significance and that in an era ‘that is dramatically opening up access to the means of cultural production, it may be that the current model of television ownership, production and distribution can ultimately no longer resist these forces for decentralisation.’

Joel Lazarus

Television Genres in Relentless Decline

Tunstall, Jeremy

According to Jeremy Tunstall (Emeritus Professor, City University) Arts, Children’s, Education, Science, Religion, National History and Current Affairs are ‘seven UK TV genres which have been, and still are, in relentless decline’ despite their traditional status as essential elements of UK public service broadcasting. As UK television has become much more market-driven and commercial, public service broadcasters are asked to do more with less money, with subscription services ‘increasingly creaming off selected high cost-and-prestige genres’ such as ‘quality popular’ drama.

Jeremy Tunstall

The importance of safeguarding the interests of Welsh viewers and citizens

Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru (TAC)

Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru (TAC), which represents the independent TV production sector in Wales, argues for ensuring that independent TV companies are distributed across the country and embedded in their respective communities, so that they can reflect to the rest of the UK the stories, perspectives and ideas from their areas. This is particularly important, according to TAC, for those audiences and in areas where there is a disconnect. ‘The BBC and ITV have Wales-based services but this has not resulted in large-scale investment in production from across Wales… There is a failure to ensure that networks commissioners are a visible presence in the nation.’

TAC

Original UK Content Investment by the PSBs is Under Pressure

ITV

ITV plc’s submission argues that the pressures on investment in original UK content is particularly acute in high-cost genres such as drama. However, public service channels in general, ITV offers, continue to play the most important part in original UK television content. Referring to Ofcom’s headline figures for 2014 about investment in original UK television content, ITV argues that the figures are even starker. While Ofcom suggests that the PSBs’ non-sport original content spend of £2.4bn accounted for 87% of spend on originated content compared to 13% of non-PSBs, ITV’s analysis suggests that at least £80m (or 23%) of the 2014 non-PSB originations spend of £350m is actually accounted for by the wider PSB channel families.

ITV evidence