BBC and the public, research of the needs and expectations.

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BBC and the public, research of the needs
and expectations Public Media in
Slovakia Khalid Hadadi
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Overview

• BBC Structure and Services
• Review of BBC Charter
• BBC Trust Consultations

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What is the BBC?

• Staff 24,000
• Public Service Channels8 x TV (plus national
  opts), 56 x Radio, BBCi, bbc.co.uk online
  biggest content site in Europe, new services
  (HDTV and iPlayer launched in 2007 Gaelic in
  2008?)
• Turnover3.8bn
• of which, Commercial 974m. 111m profit
  returned to the BBC
• Plus World Service 33 language channels on
  radio plus BBC World and BBC Prime on television

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BBC UK-wide Network Services - includes HDTV
and iPlayer
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All BBC content now available on demand
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Responsibility over Broadcasting

• The Government is responsible for the framework
  for
• UK broadcasting BBC Charter, spectrum
  policy,
• digital switchover
• Ofcom communications industry regulator
  restricted but significant role in relation to
  the BBC as set out in the Charter and Agreement,
  covering
• programme standards and fairness (but not
  accuracy/impartiality)
• programme and production quotas
• Market Impact Assessments
• competitive impact of the BBC
• radio and tv spectrum
• The Trust is the BBCs sovereign body with both
  regulatory and strategic functions

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A very lengthy Charter Review and LF process
with widespread BBC, public, policy stakeholder
engagement
2003/2004
Oct 2004
June 2004
Summer 2005
March 2006
Jan 07
July 2006
DCMS Green paper responses
Burns Seminars
DCMS White paper
OFCOM PSB REVIEW
Debate Starts
LF decision
New Charter approved
Building Public Value
Audience research, development and testing of
services plans prioritisation
BBCs vision and services plans for the next
decade
BBC LF proposals
Final CharterDecision Licence Fee Negotiation
Redefining BBC purposes
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BBC sought extensive Public Stakeholder
Engagement

• Public Engagement Research
• BBC tours, Chairman meetings in nations regions
• bbc.co.uk online links to DCMS consultations
• Building Public Value downloaded c110,000 times
  in first month
• Regional Charter Review activity
• BBC Willingness to Pay research (2003/4)
  research on licence fee proposals (2005/6)
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Detailed discussions with different groups
• Keeping EU decision makers fully briefed
• DG lunches Charter Review listening dinners
• Parliamentary Engagement
• Inquiries by Committees of both Houses including
  a special House of Lords Committee
• BBC gave evidence on at least a dozen occasions,
  in London, Glasgow, Belfast and Manchester.
• Parliamentary debates in both Houses on the Green
  Paper and on the Charter itself
• BBC events in parliament, via the All-Party BBC
  Group to gather to widest possible range of views

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DCMS put Consultation at the Centre of the Process

• Three separate periods of public industry
  consultation.
• December 2003 to March 2004 Initial consultation
  received over 5,000 responses.
• March to May 2005 Green Paper consultation
  received over 4,000 responses.
• March to April 2006 White Paper consultation
  received around 200 responses
• September 2006 DCMS Research on Willingness to
  Pay the Licence Fee

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Key public themes from first DCMS Consultation
(March 04)Services Governance

• BBC Services - 75 were generally satisfied, but
  also range of criticisms
• BBCs commercial services - 90 agree that the
  BBC should raise as much money as it can from
  selling its programmes and other products
• Funding of the BBC - Licence fee the best or
  the least worst way to pay for the BBC, the
  way it is set and collected raised issues of
  fairness
• Value for Money - 46 felt that the BBC delivered
  value for money, 33 disagree figure improved
  as people became more aware of the full range of
  BBC services
• How the BBC is run - 85 know either nothing or
  not very much
• Governance - Calls for reform on BBC governance
  and regulation

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Key Decisions of Charter Review White Paper

• 10 year charter
• Licence fee funding but subject to later review
  of prospects for wider
• PSB plurality
• Independent governance through the BBC Trust
• A triple lock system for the BBC
• Service licences all services must meet at
  least one public
• purpose
• All content must meet public service
  characteristics
• New - or significant change to existing
  services trigger a Public
• Value Test

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The Charter provides the BBC with greater
independence but in return requires more
systematic and transparent decision making

• Many principles continue but are reinforced
• Protection of the BBCs independence
• Promotion of public purposes in broadcasting
• Stewardship of public money the licence fee
• New duties on the Trust
• Represent the licence fee payer
• Ensure openness and transparency
• Adopt specific rigorous procedures for
  authorising new services to ensure they generate
  public value

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New cross platform public purposes for the
digital era

• Sustaining citizenship and civil society
• Promoting education and learning
• Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence
• Representing the UK, its nations, regions and
  communities
• Bringing the UK to the world - and the world to
  the UK
• Building digital Britain

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The Trust

• The Trust is the BBCs sovereign body with both
  regulatory and strategic functions
• As an internal regulator the Trust, not Ofcom, is
  responsible for the BBCs impartiality and
  independence
• As a supervisory strategic Board the Trust sets
  the BBCs strategic direction and the budgets for
  its services, assesses performance and holds the
  Executive to account

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How are the Chairman and Trustees appointed?

• Chairman and Trustee appointments follow the same
  pattern
• Open advertisement in the national press
• Candidates with relevant experience short listed
  interviewed by panel including senior DCMS
  civil servant and independent representative of
  Office of the Commissioner for Public Appts
• Panel's recommendations go forward to the
  Secretary of State, Prime Minister and finally to
  Her Majesty the Queen
• Under the Charter Trustees may be appointed for
  up to five years and serve for up to two terms
• The Chairman is appointed for one five year term

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The Trusts role is now clearly distinguished
from that of the Executive
The Trust has responsibility for
Executive Board has responsibility for
delivering the BBCs services in accordance
with the priorities set by the Trust and for all
aspects of operational management, except that of
the Trusts resources.
BBC Royal Charter
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The BBC Trust Statement of Purpose

• Summary
• The Trust works for the public who own and pay
  for the BBC. We listen to a wide range of
  voices, seeking to understand all opinions and
  expectations to inform our judgements. We ensure
  the BBC is independent, innovative and efficient
  a creative and economic force for good in the UK,
  and for the UK internationally.
• We are the sovereign body of the BBC, its
  independent trustees acting in the public
  interest. We aim to ensure
• that the BBC remains independent, resisting
  pressure and influence from any source
• that the BBCs management delivers public value
  by providing distinctive services of the highest
  quality to all the people and all the communities
  across the United Kingdom
• that the BBC contributes to the standing of the
  United Kingdom in the world, to the economy and
  to British culture
• Our tasks are to make sure
• that the BBC meets its mission to inform, educate
  and entertain with ambition and fulfils the
  public purposes laid down in its Royal Charter.
• that the BBCs management has clear priorities
  and is using its resources well, providing
  quality, value for money and efficiency and
  reaching all audiences.
• that the BBC stays at the forefront of developing
  new services for the public, encouraging choice
  and innovation in the media marketplace without
  stifling private enterprise or initiative.
• that the BBCs journalism meet the highest
  standards of accuracy and impartiality to sustain
  public trust.
• that the BBC promotes its reputation and values
  around the world.
• We will achieve this
• by listening to the public and inviting their
  views in all their diversity
• by prizing the professionalism, innovation and
  creativity of BBC staff and everyone who
  contributes to the BBC
• by vigorously defending the independence of the
  BBC
• by making judgements that will safeguard the
  BBCs high quality, audience reach and
  independence over the long-term
• by making sure our own processes are open and
  transparent

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The Trust now has new tools to ensure the BBC is
more accountable to audiences
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Extract from An Agreement between Her Majestys
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
and the British Broadcasting Corporation

• 103. The meaning of obligations for the Trust to
  consult publicly
• (1) This clause explains what is meant where
  this Agreement expressly imposes an obligation on
  the Trust to consult
• publicly (however expressed, for
  example clause (3)(b)).
• (2) The Trust must do so in ways which are
  appropriate to the subject matter of the
  consultation and to the issues which
• the Trust considers to be raised
  by its proposals.
• (3) The Trust must consider the extent to which,
  in the circumstances, it should specifically
  request an input from
• particular persons, classes of
  persons or groups.
• (4) In particular, the Trust must consider who
  is likely to be affected by the subject matter of
  the consultation and how
• best to ascertain their views.
• (5) The Trust must consider whether, in relation
  to matters relevant to the subject matter of the
  consultation, it should
• undertake research of its own,
• obtain an expert or professional input, with or
  without payment.
• (6) The Trust must publish at least an analysis
  of all inputs received in connection with the
  public consultation.
• (7) The Trust must give reasons for all
  decisions which have been subject to a
  requirement to consult publicly.
• (8) In addition, the nuance of how any
  particular public consultation obligation is
  expressed must be taken into account
• (for example, clause 5(5)).
• (9) In any particular context, the fact that an
  obligation to consult publicly has not been
  imposed expressly should not
• be assumed to imply that no such
  consultation will ever occur, merely that it is a
  matter for the judgment of the