DCMS interrogate BBC Dir Gen.

[DracoM]

House of Commons
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee


DCMS Committee calls in BBC senior executives to answer questions about cuts and proposed changes to the licence fee
BBC Director-General Lord Hall and Chairman Sir David Clementi will give evidence to the first hearing of the new DCMS Committee.

The decision to call in the BBC follows a number of developments including Lord Hall’s intention to step down early, plans to close 450 news journalist posts, a consultation on decriminalising non-payment of the TV licence fee, changes to the licence fee for over-75s and continued questions over equal pay.

Director of Policy Clare Sumner will also give evidence at the session which will be held at 10.00am on Thursday 12 March.

DCMS Chair Julian Knight MP said:
“The BBC has made headlines for the wrong reasons in recent months – axing hundreds of news posts, asking over-75s to pay up, and digging into budgets to settle equal pay claims. Unprecedented changes in how we watch and listen mean the broadcaster faces a fight for its future.
“We’re concerned about the BBC’s preparations to deal with these challenges, particularly when its Director-General has decided to step down at such a critical time.
“The Committee will be scrutinising the corporation’s planning as a priority to ensure that the interests of licence fee payers are at its heart and will be holding its senior leadership to account.”

[eighthobstruction]

....What naughty naughty MP's those Tories are, trying to mislead and mask their actions....Lord Hall ought to be very very strong and actually tell them that the over 75 issue was one he let past while a new DG and now "Sod it" why should the BBC pay for Tory Austerity....will he have the balls to this....i think not...

[eighthobstruction]

....A very punchy last 10 minutes of the R4 Feedback by Claire Enders....giving what would be my tack as to future/maintaining strong varied BBC....very very good....shame she has said elsewhere she would not wish the DG job on her worst enemy/poison chalice.... her firm Enders Analysis really worth a look up too + a recording of a Media Show outing of early FEB....This is a person who has facts and figures and passion.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000fx2l !&.35 mins into prog

https://vimeo.com/389554474

https://www.endersanalysis.com/

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks very much eighth - wouldn't have come across this without your bringing it to our atttention.

Enders Analysis clearly covers one aspect of the role and function of broadcasting, as the Glasgow Media group does, or did, as regards the broadcasting medias' actual compliance, or rather non-compliance, with their remit to impartiality, and as such is invaluable as another evidence-basing overseer of our propaganda diet. It's funny - I've often noticed how good ex-pat Americans are at pointing out how much better what we take for granted in this country is than what they're pumped full of back home - namely the ideological equivalent of chlorinated chicken. It makes me despair often - if only people in this country would just wake up!

[Frances_iom]

I strongly recommend listening to her contribution but in today's tribal politics supported by those who in in one earlier description on the press behave like harlots (? what is the male version ? a johny ?] together with the Beebs own failings, will I think ensure an American system over here.

[Serial_Apologist]

I strongly recommend listening to her contribution but in today's tribal politics supported by those who in in one earlier description on the press behave like harlots (? what is the male version ? a johny ?] together with the Beebs own failings, will I think ensure an American system over here.

What particularly disturbed me was the prospect of the disappearance of Freeview - hadn't realised its existence was down to the BBC. Did I hear that right?

[Frances_iom]

What particularly disturbed me was the prospect of the disappearance of Freeview - hadn't realised its existence was down to the BBC. Did I hear that right?

I don't think it does but if the BBC is forced into a subscription service it is somewhat strange for it to put its programs out on a non-encrypted channel - thus my conclusion that advertising will be the only route with a rapid plunge to the bottom for most channels with maybe a premium subscription channel on the net as per netflix - the Daily Wail readers will probably pay out more than the licence fee, R3 may possibly survive in the short term as a subscription channel tho bereft of its house orchestras (maybe they could afford a string quartet)

[LMcD]

What particularly disturbed me was the prospect of the disappearance of Freeview - hadn't realised its existence was down to the BBC. Did I hear that right?

There were a number of newspaper articles in 2014 about the threat - real or perceived - to Freeview, and it's still with us (although we have Freesat which is more reliable).
There are 5 parties involved in Freeview: the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva, so I don't imagine the BBC could shut it down without consultation.

[DracoM]

House of Commons
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee



No Government bail-out for BBC to maintain free TV licences for all over 75s

Recommendation to reach agreement with the BBC over future funding to maintain free TV licences for all over 75s is rejected by Government



DCMS Committee publishes Government Response and BBC Response to inquiry into BBC Annual Report 2018-19: TV licences for over 75s

The DCMS Committee has published responses to recommendations of its predecessor Committee’s report which focused on proposed changes to the TV licence fee.

In its response, the Government said it was “disappointed” with the BBC's decision to restrict the over 75 licence fee concession to only those in receipt of pension credit. It recognised the value of free TV licences for over 75s and believed they should be funded by the BBC.

The DCMS Committee’s report, published in October 2019, had found the 2015 funding negotiations that led to the BBC restrictions on free TV licences a process that was ‘flawed’ on all sides and one that gave no opportunity for consultation with licence fee payers.

MPs concluded that the next round of negotiations between the Government and the BBC should agree a funding formula that maintained free over 75s TV licences, specifically recommending that the Government set out proposals for how it could support this measure in future, alongside the commitment that had been made by the BBC.



DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said:



“It’s clear from the government’s response that there will be no bail-out for the BBC to maintain free TV licences for the over 75s.



“We note the government’s expression of mere disappointment at the BBC’s decision to restrict free licences. This approach struck the committee as little more than hand-wringing.

“The BBC has told us about the number of hours those over 75 spend with the BBC and how they depend on it. It’s lamentable that it should be this group of people who will quite literally pay the penalty for a flawed charter renewal deal agreed in a rush behind closed doors.”



ENDS

[Serial_Apologist]

We learned on lunchtime news that in the light of Coronovirus that in August the BBC is going to review its position on making the over 75's pay. I wonder where that will leave me, with my 75th birthday coming up in November.

[Bryn]

I heard the inauguration date had merely been moved to August:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51911065

[Serial_Apologist]

I heard the inauguration date had merely been moved to August:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51911065

I could have misheard.

[LMcD]

I could have misheard.

Bryn's right - deferred until August.