BBC changes at a glance: what the Government is looking at changing
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Version 0 of 1. The Government has released a consultation document about how the BBC could be changed in the near future. Here are the things about the BBC that are up for review. The range of services The Government notes that the range of services the BBC provides for the licence fee has grown dramatically. The review asks “whether this is the right range” or whether it should be “more focused”. This could mean radio station closures, channel closures, or a reduction in the type of programming. Licence fee The Government says the licence fee “faces challenges”. It says it is concerned about people being prosecuted for refusing to pay the charge, that the flat rate is unfair on low incomes and that new technology could confuse when it should be paid. The review will look at a reformed licence fee, a media levy, and a hybrid licence fee and subscription model for premium content. Impact on the market The review will look at how the BBC affects its commercial competitors. While the Government notes that the high quality of BBC output has driven equality in the market, it worries that the Corporation could stop businesses being profitable because it is too good and makes them uncompetitive. Audiences The charter review will consider whether the BBC is reaching different audiences adequately – looking at audience segments like ethnicity, region, gender, age, and class. Distinctiveness The Government worries that the BBC may not be striking the right balance in terms of the distinctiveness and mix of its content. This essentially means whether it is duplicating programmes that other commercial broadcasters could make. Protected funding The review will look at whether certain areas like the World Service and S4C should continue to have protected funding. This means part of the BBC’s funding must be spent on those things rather than at its own discretion. Commercial activity The BBC currently makes extra money through its commercial arm BBC Worldwide. The review will look at whether this is the correct way to do this. |