The Future of the BBC

[french frank]

Relatively interesting (especially for the adoption of the possessive apostrophe in it's) on James Purnell's reaction to the Green Paper.

In particular, I liked: "One of the great things about having the BBC operating as one big bundle is people can come across programmes they would never have selected before." That policy for the Proms and Radio 3 certainly brings older audiences into contact with 'youth' music, film music, popular musicals &c.

One important thing is that no one wants their favourite programme or service to be axed (c.f. 6 Music, BBC Three); but sadly a section of the already small Radio 3 audience might well not bother to kick up a fuss over its [it's] abolition because they don't listen any longer. Supporting Radio 3 and the BBC is an act of unrequited loyalty for some.

But, in terms of PSB, I can't really understand the merit of Purnell's point about 'bringing people together' with 'Bake-Off or Strictly'. Doesn't that simply mean the BBC is still capable of producing hugely popular entertainment? Sherlock? Doctor Who? (Sometimes I feel people would kill rather than allow anyone to deprive them of their favourite entertainment )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Pied Piper of Hamelin?

- you beat me to it.

[Frances_iom]

...Supporting Radio 3 and the BBC is an act of unrequited loyalty for some...

but what R3 would I be supporting - that of 20years ago which provided me with much pleasure and a varied mix of intelligent programmes or today's post Wodger mismash of fawning presenters umbilically attached to their twitter feed - the former is I think no longer avialble whilst the latter has now taken over most if not all daytime broadcasts

[VodkaDilc]

but what R3 would I be supporting - that of 20years ago which provided me with much pleasure and a varied mix of intelligent programmes or today's post Wodger mismash of fawning presenters umbilically attached to their twitter feed - the former is I think no longer avialble whilst the latter has now taken over most if not all daytime broadcasts

When listening to the First Night of the Proms, I realised that this was the first time I had turned on R3 for over a week. This huge change since the 1970s, when I worked out my listening schedule for each day, must be significant. Apart from the Proms, I would not miss the 21st century version of R3.

(A further thought: the Prom television recording and the latest Tony Papanno programme were the only times I have watched BBC television in recent weeks. R4 is virtually the only use I make of the BBC broadcasts.)

[french frank]

but what R3 would I be supporting - that of 20years ago which provided me with much pleasure and a varied mix of intelligent programmes or today's post Wodger mismash

This is what I mean by by suggesting loyalty is strained these days. We may press for a return to similar more serious, educational standards. Supporting what no longer exists is for public show only And probably can't be relied on all the time.

The BBC - and many of those who work for it - lack courage and conviction and, in my view, take the easy way out. Taking the BBC shilling means extolling 'popular culture' (and when I hear the phrase ... I mooch off and look for interest elsewhere).

[aeolium]

I think we always come back to this difficult question of what constitutes public service broadcasting, and what should be the boundaries of the BBC's activities. It is axiomatic that the BBC should be independent of government, though that isn't unique to the BBC (commercial broadcasters should also be independent not least by virtue of their funding). But this independence is compromised by the funding model and the way in which government dictates the terms of reference for the Charter Review. The other key characteristic is that it should provide material which the commercial market could not or would not, and yet which there is a public value in providing. There is a latent tension between this obligation and the one of universality, for if material can reach a wide audience why would commercial broadcasting not be interested in it also? And so the BBC ends up providing a lot of entertainment which not only could well be provided by commercial broadcasting but is in direct competition with it, purely so that the BBC can argue that it is serving a national audience and not merely a lot of minority audiences. This also applies to the BBC's coverage of big national events and sport (though less and less in respect of the latter as it simply can't compete with the sort of money the big commercial players can use).

Personally - and I expect this to be very much a minority view - I think the days of the BBC as a national broadcaster are over. They belong to a different age when the BBC was the main source of information, drama, entertainment rather than one among many. Moreover the BBC has, in its drive to be accessible to all and offensive to none, lost what for me was most valuable about that earlier age: its courage and ambition, daring to challenge and innovate in its drama and documentaries and arts broadcasting. I'm not sure, in this age of decentralised and multiple sources of information and culture, that the old centralised model, public service broadcasting radiating out from Bush House, is appropriate. We see all kinds of what I would like to include in public service broadcasting in what several arts organisations are doing in broadcasting Greek tragedies, operas, concerts to cinemas (or on websites). We have seen even on this forum how people have increasingly deserted R3 to sample other internet arts stations. In an age of audience fragmentation and specialist interests the BBC risks, in attempting to be all things to all people, ending up as of little value to anyone.

Still, as a comparison, here is a picture of the state of PSB in a number of other countries (it doesn't look great):

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/19/public-sector-broadcasting-worldwide-bbc

[subcontrabass]

BBC Trust Survey now launched: https://consultations.external.bbc.c.../tomorrows-bbc

[french frank]

BBC Trust Survey now launched: https://consultations.external.bbc.c.../tomorrows-bbc

And the Culture, Media and Sport Committee has launched its own consultation on the Green Paper:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/bbc-charter-review-15-16/

[Russ]

Given the official Government consultation was based squarely on the CMS Select Committee final report of February 2015 (then chaired by John Whittingdale), and that Whittingdale (with his subsequent Minister's hat on) had the Government consultation ready on his launchpad within a few days of the election result being known, I'm confused as to why the CMS Select Committee should also be launching a new enquiry on the Charter Review. Or is this the CMS Select Committee merely going through what it is constitutionally required to do?

It might have been quicker to list the bodies that aren't launching a consultation exercise...

Russ

[french frank]

I'm confused as to why the DCMS should also be launching a new enquiry on the Charter Review. Or is this the DCMS merely going through what it is constitutionally required to do?

The DCMS is government, the Select Committee is parliament (as was pointed out to me last time). The committee was pretty scathing about the process of the 2010 settlement so, with people like Paul Farrelly still in place, I doubt they're any too pleased with it this time. The public gets a chance to comment on the way the whole thing was handled. I'm working on a shortened version of the questions they want to hear about. Will post them here. For interest

It might have been quicker to list the bodies that aren't launching a consultation exercise...

Russ

Even we're muscling in on the act, albeit on other people's coat-tails.

[Russ]

The DCMS is government, the Select Committee is parliament

Ah yes, I ought to go back and edit my post, if only to teach myself a lesson!

Russ

[Russ]

The committee was pretty scathing about the process of the 2010 settlement so, with people like Paul Farrelly still in place, I doubt they're any too pleased with it this time. The public gets a chance to comment on the way the whole thing was handled. I'm working on a shortened version of the questions they want to hear about. Will post them here.

Yes please.

I completed the BBC Trust Consultation thingie, but I found it a bit weird, not the least of which it is apparently only the 'first phase' of the Trust consultation, as Rona Fairhead explains in the video clip, but it shows all the signs of being cobbled together at the last minute. The Government has clearly caught the BBC on the back foot.

Russ

[french frank]

Yes please.

Herewith, below:

I completed the BBC Trust Consultation thingie, but I found it a bit weird, not the least of which it is apparently only the 'first phase' of the Trust consultation, as Rona Fairhead explains in the video clip, but it shows all the signs of being cobbled together at the last minute. The Government has clearly caught the BBC on the back foot.

BBC management are submitting in Septemeber, and my supposition is that the Trust will too, but after considering the public response - which management doesn't have to do.

I think these shortened points (what the CMSSC wants to concetrate on) pick up the main issues:

1. Should the BBC become smaller and more focused on a narrower, core set of services?

2. Are the mechanisms for consulting the public (and other organisations) on BBC services and content satisfactory?

3. Could BBC production capabilities be scaled back or would that affect overall content and free-to-air content?

4. Should the licence fee be replaced by a household levy with, longer term, a degree of subscription?

5. Views on the Perry report (which came out against decriminalising non-payment of the TV licence fee).

6. What process should be used for setting the level of funding for PSB and should other broadcasters receive funding for PSB content?

7. Views on the 2015 settlement (and the process itself!!!) so far announced (including withdrawal of the broadband top-slice and BBC liability to cover free licence fees for the over-75s.

8. Views on BBC Worldwide: should it be reformed or sold off?

9. BBC governance: what mechanisms for holding BBC management to account, in the interests of the public, for the spending of public funds .

10. Views on the BBC organisation and management

11. Balance as between national and regional investment and spending

12. BBC’s role in training, technical innovation and supporting the creative industries

13. The relationship between the BBC, the general public and Parliament.

Full version of the points here.

[Russ]

Wednesday's Media Show is worth a listen, and highlights how much the Government has cooled off on bashing the BBC too much this time around. Key remaining issues seem to be scale and scope, distinctiveness, and Governance.

Russ

[french frank]

Wednesday's Media Show is worth a listen, and highlights how much the Government has cooled off on bashing the BBC too much this time around. Key remaining issues seem to be scale and scope, distinctiveness, and Governance.

Russ

Thanks for that, Russ. I just had this impression that the Green Paper showed a … kindlier approach than the BBC had feared. They'd be wiser to pick up on that rather than their strident defence of all things populist.