| MUMBAI:
UK media watchdog Ofcom has published a blueprint for sustaining and strengthening
public service broadcasting (PSB) for the next decade. The
new approach is set out in a series of recommendations to the Government and Parliament.
The aim
is to ensure that people are able to watch programmes they value highly, based
on what audiences told Ofcom in the largest-ever programme of opinion research
on public service broadcasting. The
aim is to also ensure that high quality content will be available on-demand on
digital television, over the internet, on mobile devices as well as in the TV
schedules. Ofcom
is in favour of keeping BBC funded by the licence fee. It rejects ‘top-slicing’
the BBC’s funding for programmes and services.
Ofcom wants to free up ITV and Five as strong commercial networks. Ofcom
is in favour of using Channel 4 to create a strong, alternative public service
voice to the BBC. Channel 4 will be at the heart, preferably though partnerships,
joint ventures or even mergers. A new remit, governance and accountability will
be essential. Ofcom
also says that it is worth considering funding for content for children and for
programmes other than news for the devolved nations, if other recommendations
do not sufficiently meet viewers’ needs and if resources can be found. Ofcom
has made these recommendations because the current system of providing PSB programmes
is broken. Rising
costs mean that commercial stations like ITV may stop making PSB programmes altogether
unless there are major changes to the way it is funded. If
action is not taken now then programmes such as regional news, current affairs,
children’s programming and some types of drama and documentaries will in
the future only be available on the BBC. Ofcom
CEO Ed Richards said, " Many people have forcefully expressed their views
in the wide-ranging debate about the future of public service broadcasting. But
there is one group whose opinions matter more than anyone else: viewers and listeners.
‘The
central challenge is how a strong and historically successful public service broadcasting
system can navigate from analogue to digital. ‘Our
proposals aim to sustain the quality and creative spirit of public service broadcasting
while capturing the opportunities of broadband distribution, mobility and interactivity.
"These
proposals set out what we believe is required to fulfil a vision of diverse, vibrant
and engaging public service broadcasting content across a range of digital media." Ofcom
has also recommended certain steps that the UK Government should take. -
To maintain the BBC’s role and funding for its programmes and services at
the heart of the overall system.
- To support investment in and wide availability
of high quality original programming and UK and international news, by positioning
the Channel 3 and Channel 5 services as commercial networks with a limited public
service commitment, with modest licence benefits balanced by appropriate obligations
on a sustainable basis.
- To plan now to ensure the supply of a choice of
high quality news alongside the BBC in the devolved nations and English regions.
This should include developing proposals for a new approach based on independently
funded news consortia.
- To ensure there is a financially robust alternative
provider of public service content alongside the BBC, with Channel 4 at its heart,
preferably based on partnerships, joint ventures or mergers, with the scale necessary
to sustain effective delivery of public purposes across digital media. A new remit,
governance and accountability will be essential.
An
Ofcom statement further states, "We recognise also the value of choice in
public service content for children and in the devolved nations. If these needs
cannot be met sufficiently by these recommendations then: "
Government should consider funding specifically for children’s content, and
the case for specific approaches in each of the devolved nations for the delivery
of public service content other than news.
"Decisions
on many of these matters are needed within the next year, as the current model
of commercial public service broadcasting is clearly no longer sustainable. "We
recognise that difficult choices will need to be made about the use of scarce
resources. These priorities will need to be considered alongside other potential
requirements to fulfil the interests of citizens and consumers in the digital
age. These include promoting the availability and take-up of broadband." | 
