This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/oct/13/bbc-ordered-to-show-more-british-made-programmes-ofcom

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
BBC ordered to show more British-made programmes BBC ordered to show more British-made programmes
(about 1 hour later)
The BBC has been ordered to air more British-made programmes and spend the same on viewers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as it does in England under new rules for the broadcaster set by Ofcom. The BBC has been told to air more British-made programmes and spend the same on viewers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as it does in England under new rules for the broadcaster set by Ofcom.
The media regulator has said that 90% of all peaktime programming on BBC1 and BBC2 must be original productions commissioned by the BBC for UK audiences, effectively meaning a ban on foreign shows and repeats in the evening. The media regulator has said that 90% of all peaktime programming on BBC1 and BBC2 must be original productions commissioned by the corporation for UK audiences, effectively meaning a ban on foreign shows and repeats in the evening. Overall, 75% of programming must be original British content.
Ofcom said the rules would mean “more Doctor Foster, more Night Manager, more UK drama and comedy, and less acquired content”.
The BBC will also have to spend the same per head on content in each country of the UK following criticism from audiences in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that the BBC is not doing enough. At least half of the programme hours on the BBC must include content made outside London.The BBC will also have to spend the same per head on content in each country of the UK following criticism from audiences in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that the BBC is not doing enough. At least half of the programme hours on the BBC must include content made outside London.
Ofcom has also called for the BBC to provide regular and detailed updates on its progress in improving diversity. However, in a move that will disappoint campaigners such as Sir Lenny Henry, the operating licence for the BBC will not include quotas for off-screen staff. Henry has accused Ofcom of being “strangely passive” about forcing the BBC to improve its diversity. Kevin Bakhurst, content and media policy director at Ofcom, said the combination of new rules on original content, spending across the UK, and diversity would boost television production across the country.
The BBC will have to measure and publish its onscreen and on-air diversity every year, with the broadcaster forced to put measures in place to make improvements if Ofcom rules that audiences are not satisfied. Ofcom has effectively approved the BBC’s target that 15% of its staff should be from ethnic minorities and that half of all staff and leadership roles are to be held by women by 2020. However, the BBC will have to provide annual updates on its progress towards this goal. “It will make a real change in production and UK-made programmes,” he said. “It will support production across the country and improve the representation of people who don’t feel they are represented properly.”
Other new rules for the BBC include Radio 1 and Radio 2 playing a broader range of music than commercial stations, more original UK content for children rather than US imports, more news and current affairs on Radio 2, and more arts, music and religious programmes on BBC1 and BBC2. On diversity, Bakhurst said Ofcom had set “the most demanding set of criteria the BBC has ever faced”. The corporation will have to publish information about its workforce every year – including their gender, sexuality, disability, ethnic background and socioeconomic class – and will have to put in place measures to make improvements if Ofcom rules that audiences are not satisfied.
Kevin Bakhurst, Ofcom’s content and media policy director, said: “The BBC is the cornerstone of UK broadcasting. But we think it can do more to provide quality, distinctive programmes that reflect the interests and lives of people across the UK. The BBC also has to draw up a code of proactive that ensures that production companies it commissions to make programmes are taking action on diversity.
“Our rules will ensure the BBC focuses on original UK content, and invests in vital areas such as children’s programmes, music, arts and religion.” However, in a move that will disappoint campaigners including Sir Lenny Henry, Ofcom’s operating licence for the BBC will not include quotas for off-screen staff. Henry has accused the regulator of being “strangely passive” about forcing the BBC to improve its diversity.
A BBC spokesperson said: “These are a tough and challenging set of requirements which rightly demand a distinctive BBC which serves and represents all audiences throughout the whole UK. We will now get on with meeting these requirements and continuing to provide the world-class, creative BBC the public wants. Instead, Ofcom has effectively endorsed the BBC’s target that 15% of its staff should be from ethnic minorities and that half of all staff and leadership roles are to be held by women by 2020.
This is the first year that the BBC has been regulated by an external body after the BBC Trust was disbanded earlier this year. Ofcom published a draft operating licence in March and since then has been criticised for proposing fewer quotas for content than the trust.
However, Bakhurst said Ofcom was still proposing 100 different numerical targets – slightly less than the BBC – and these were “stricter and stronger in the key areas that matter to audiences”.
Other new rules for the BBC include Radio 1 and Radio 2 playing a broader range of music than commercial stations, more original UK content for children rather than US imports, more news and current affairs on Radio 2, more arts, music and religious programmes on BBC1 and BBC2, and the safeguarding of comedy on the main BBC channels.
A BBC spokesperson said the corporation was already meeting the targets on original British content, saying: “These are a tough and challenging set of requirements which rightly demand a distinctive BBC which serves and represents all audiences throughout the whole UK. We will now get on with meeting these requirements and continuing to provide the world-class, creative BBC the public wants.
“We are glad Ofcom has recognised the importance of our existing workforce diversity targets – these include 15% of staff to be from ethnic minority groups and 50% of all staff and leadership roles to be held by women by 2020.”“We are glad Ofcom has recognised the importance of our existing workforce diversity targets – these include 15% of staff to be from ethnic minority groups and 50% of all staff and leadership roles to be held by women by 2020.”