Our BBC, Our Channel 4: A Future For Public Service Television?
As the BBC Charter Renewal moves into its final stages, with a White Paper due in the early summer and the possible privatisation of Channel 4 currently on the government’s agenda, the future of these public institutions is in doubt. Lord Puttnam, the inquiry chair, called for ITV to strengthen its public service remit, in order to “recapture the scale and ambition of the best of ITV’s historic reputation for flagship current affairs programming.” The event was chaired by the Guardian Media Editor,“recapture the scale and ambition of the best of ITV’s historic reputation for flagship current affairs programming”.The event was chaired by the Guardian’s media editor Jane Martinson and speakers included Ralph Lee, Head of Factual and Deputy Chief Creative Officer, Channel 4, Hugh Harris, Director of Media, International, Gambling & Creative Economy, and Patrick Holland, Head of Documentary, BBC.
Ken Loach,Phil Redmond CBE, Ruth Fox (Chair, Hansard Society) and Cat Lewis(Nine Lives Media and Nations & Regions rep for indie producers’ association Pact) discussed whether TV reflects the lifestyles and opinions of people across the UK or whether it is more of a mouthpiece for the ‘London bubble’. To what extent does TV offer a space to talk politics and how much does it feature a range of voices, perspectives and backgrounds? Come and contribute to the debate and the Inquiry and listen to leading creative voices who want to make TV relevant to people where they live.
The event was hosted by Liverpool’s Writing on the Wall festivaland also featured data from a new study into how TV has contributed to political debate in Liverpool, carried out by researchers at the Hansard Society, the Inquiry’s partners.
Ian MacKenzie(Pennaeth Cenhedloedd a Rhanbarthau, Channel 4)
Angela Graham (Sefydliad Materion Cymreig)
Rhys Evans (Pennaeth Strategaeth a Digidol BBC Cymru)
Cadeirir gan Sian Powell (Prifysgol Caerdydd)
Ymchwiliad Dyfodol Gwasanaeth Teledu Cyhoeddus
Trefnydd Dyfodol Gwasanaeth Teledu Cyhoeddus – Digwyddiad yr Ymchwiliad yng Nghymru
A Conversation with Tony Hall, Director General of the BBC
This was a unique opportunity to hear the Director General’s views about the BBC’s role in the broadcast landscape and to put questions to him about how the BBC can meet the challenges it is faced with. The film producer and Labour peer, David Puttnam, will be talking to the Director General Tony Hall on his vision for, and his time so far at, the BBC as well as inviting his thoughts about wider issues facing public service television in the UK.
From left to right: Sir Lenny Henry, Dawn Foster ,Pat Younge, and Bev Skeggs
Sir Lenny, Dawn and Pat
Sir Lenny
What is the Future for Channel 4 in the UK Media Ecology?
David Abraham(Chief Executive Channel 4)
Lord Inglewood (Former Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications 2011-2014)
Laura Mansfield(Outline Productions and Chair of PACT)
Guy Bisson(Research Director, Ampere Analysis)
chaired by Lord Puttnam
This panel discussion, chaired by Lord Puttnam, focused on the challenges facing Channel 4 in particular, and public service television more generally, at a time of great uncertainty. Channel 4 plays a central role in delivering public service broadcasting but its future is under scrutiny given ongoing discussions about a possible change of ownership. This event offered a unique opportunity to hear from key participants in these debates including Channel 4’s Chief Executive, David Abraham, Chair of PACT Laura Mansfield, as well as Lord Inglewood, former Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications, and the Research Director of media analysis Ampere Analysis, Guy Bisson.
The aim of the seminar was to present and discuss future normative principles to guide public service media in the context of the digital ecology, as well as to reflect on ideas for the institutional and regulatory design needed to deliver these principles. Watch here the interview with one of the speakers, Stuart Murphy (Formerly Director, Entertainment Channels, Sky). Other speakers include:
Baroness Helena Kennedy (Barrister, broadcaster, and Labour member of the House of Lords)
Jon Thoday(Co-Founder and Managing Director of Avalon Entertainment)
Andrew Chitty (Member of Ofcom Content Board and Founder of Digital Life Sciences)
Georgina Born: Chair (Oxford University)
Des Freedman (Goldsmiths, University of London)
What would TV look like without the BBC? Funding the future of public service television
Chaired by Lord (David) Puttnam, former Deputy Chairman of Channel 4 (2006-12)
On 31 December 2016 the BBC’s Royal Charter expires. What should the future for the BBC as a public service broadcaster look like in a fast-changing digital landscape? How should it be financially supported, and by whom? Should it continue to hold its place as the nation’s leading public service broadcaster, and benefit from a universal licence fee?
Speakers: Greg Dyke, former Director-General of the BBC (2000-4) Brian Eno, musician and producer; delivered the BBC Music John Peel Lecture 2015 Mariana Mazzucato, RM Phillips Professorship in the Economics of Innovation, University of Sussex Toby Syfret, Head of TV, Enders Analysis
The launch of our inquiry took place on Wednesday 25th November. The Guardian’s head of media Jane Martinson chaired a lively debate on whether we still need a public service TV system in the multichannel abundance, with speakers including the Inquiry chair Lord Puttnam, broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg, Channel 4’s Jay Hunt and Maker Studio’s Luke Hyams.
