'Public service broadcasting

 Ofcom review of PSB in Britain

In 2020 Ofcom published its findings from a five year review of public service broadcasting in Britain. Read the introduction to their report - pages 3-7. You'll need your Greenford Google login to view the document.

1) Look at page 3. Why is it a critical time for public service broadcasting? 

Audience viewing habits continue to change rapidly and competition from global content providers is ever-increasing.

2) Read page 4. How has TV viewing changed in recent years? Live broadcast

viewing has declined, as audiences increasingly choose to view content at a time that suits them

on global online and on-demand content services. These trends are affecting all broadcasters,

including the PSB channels.

3) Still on page 4, what aspects of PSB do audiences value and enjoy? including trustworthy

news and programmes that show different aspects of UK life and culture. The PSB channels have

generally fulfilled the statutory PSB remit but maintaining the current level and range of

programmes is challenging.

4) Look at pages 4-5. Find and note down the statistics in this section on how much TV audiences tend to watch and how they watch it. 

they provide audiences with approximately 32,000 hours of new UK content in a wide range of subjects, including news, current affairs, drama and children’s programmes.

5) Read the section on page 5 discussing the importance of PSB. Again, find the statistics and explain the value of public service broadcasting in Britain.

Audiences still have generally positive views on the PSB channels but viewing continues to decline.

This decline is particularly pronounced amongst younger viewers. Use of the broadcasters’ on-

demand services, like the BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub, has significantly increased but not fully substituted for the loss in live broadcast viewing. During our five-year review period, viewer requests

for programmes from these services increased by 65% to 6.3 billion.

6) Look at the section on commercial challenges. How have revenues fallen for PSB channels?

Between 2014 and 2018, net advertising revenue for the advertising-funded PSB channels has fallen

by an average rate of 3.8% per year (compound annual growth rate or CAGR2) equivalent to

approximately £325m. In the same period, the BBC’s revenues from the license fee have fallen by an

average of 4% each year.

7) Read page 6. What services increasingly play a role in our media lives in the digital age? 

A range of other media services, including commercial broadcasters like Sky and on-demand services

like Netflix, extend the choice of content available to audiences. Some have increased their

investment in original UK content and so made a valuable contribution to a thriving UK media

industry. Notably, Sky has increased spend on original UK drama and has renewed its commitment

to its news service, provided on a free-to-air basis.

Goldsmiths report on Public Service TV

Read this report from Goldsmiths University - A future for public service television: content and platforms in a digital world.

1) What does the report state has changed in the UK television market in the last 20 years?

New technology has facilitated on-demand access to television content, and created new services and platforms, while consumer behavior has started to change rapidly, particularly among the young. The very definition of television needs to be refined accordingly.

2) Look at page 4. What are the principles that the report suggests need to be embedded in regulation of public service broadcasting in future?

Principles of independence, universality, citizenship, quality and diversity need to be embedded into the regulation and funding of an emerging digital media landscape.  

1. In return for public service broadcasters meeting the obligations of their license's, their content should be guaranteed prominence on electronic programmes guides, smart TVs and on the interfaces of on-demand players as they emerge. 

2. Retransmission fees should be paid by pay-tv platforms to public service television operators to address the current undervaluation of public service content by these distributors. 

3. Ofcom should supplement its occasional reviews of public service broadcasting with a regular qualitative audit of public service content in order to ensure that audiences are being served with high-quality and diverse programming. This should include detailed data on the representation and employment of minority groups and a comprehensive account of the changing consumption patterns of younger audiences.

 4. Ofcom should continue to monitor the independent production sector and take action, where necessary, if consolidation continues to increase and if diversity of supply is affected.

3) What does the report say about the BBC?

The BBC The BBC is the most important part of the television ecology, but the model of universality underpinning its public service credentials is under threat. and that their license fee is under direct attack's due to modern Technology and streaming services 

4) According to the report, how should the BBC be funded in future?

The government should replace the license fee as soon as is practically possible with a more progressive funding mechanism such as a tiered platform-neutral household fee, a supplement to Council Tax or funding via general taxation with appropriate parliamentary safeguards. The government should hand over decision-making concerning the funding of the BBC to an independent advisory body that works on fixed settlement periods.

5) What does the report say about Channel 4? The report says that channel 4 holds important place within the independent production senator

6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?

. Channel 4 should not be privatized – neither in full or in part – and we believe that the government should clarify its view on Channel 4’s future as soon as possible. 

Channel 4 should significantly increase its provision for older children and young adults and restore some of the arts programming that has been in decline in recent years.

7) Look at page 10 - new kids on the block. What does the report say about new digital content providers and their link to public service broadcasting?
Television with the characteristics of public service broadcasting now appears outside the public service system: from Sky and other commercial broadcasters, on subscription video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon, and through the new Local TV services. Meanwhile, a broad range of cultural institutions

Final questions - YOUR opinion on public service broadcasting

1) Should the BBC retain its position as the UK’s public service broadcaster? 

I think that the BBC shouldn't  retain its position and power this is because I think it's best that their other voices and opinions within the industry  and currently the BBC  are the main ones controlling it but it would be better if they did not as  they aren't using that power in a good way and are very single minded and pander to what ever agenda they want without  doing what they promised which is to be different with their thinking and show different perspective.

2) Is there a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world?

3) Should the BBC funding model (licence fee) change? How?