Public service broadcasting

 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? 

Public service broadcasting (PSB) is at a crucial juncture. 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? 

Significant changes have occurred in the way people watch television. 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? 

Audiences continue to value PSB's purposes and objectives highly, 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. People are watching the PSB channels less, as they are no longer the only or necessarily the audiences’ preferred source of content that ‘informs, educates and entertains’

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. 

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 the five-year review period, viewer requests for programmes from these services increased by 65% to 6.3 billion but the strongest drivers for online viewing are SVoD and YouTube. Recent and planned changes to the BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5, such as more box sets, extending the length of time programmes are available and improved functionality, including greater personalisation, may help extend or at least protect the popularity of these services with the audience.

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.

PSB channels are still distinctive in the amount and range of first-run, original UK programmes they broadcast. Collectively, 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. This far outweighs what is available on other commercial broadcast channels and global streaming services.

In addition to being valued by audiences, new UK programmes are also vital in supporting a thriving UK media industry. Investment by the PSB channels still represents the majority of total UK production revenues and regulation ensures that investment is spread across the nations and regions. However, maintaining the PSB channels’ current levels of investment and diversity of programming will come under pressure as audiences’ viewing habits continue to change and competition from large global players increases.

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. 

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?

The television industry has experienced significant changes over the past generation. The expansion of available channels has diminished the market share of public service broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, though they have maintained their prominence and introduced portfolio services. Sky has become a dominant player, driving the growth of pay TV. Advances in technology have enabled on-demand access to content and introduced new services and platforms, while consumer habits, especially among younger audiences, have shifted rapidly.

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?

1. In return for public service broadcasters meeting the obligations of their licences, their content should be guaranteed prominence on electronic programme 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 is the most important part of the television ecology, but the model of universality underpinning its public service credentials is under threat. 

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

The government should replace the licence 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. Additionally, 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?

Channel 4 occupies a critical place in the public service ecology – supporting the independent production sector and airing content aimed specifically at diverse audiences. 

6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?

Channel 4 should not be privatised – 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.

Channel 4 should continue to innovate and experiment across different platforms and it should aim to arrest the fall in the number of independent suppliers that it works with. I

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 – including museums, performing arts institutions and community organisations – are now producing video content of public service character. We believe that the growing contribution to a digital media ecology made by these cultural institutions should be boosted by a specific public intervention.

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

   • Yes, the BBC should retain its position because it provides trusted news, UK-focused programming, and cultural representation that private companies may not prioritize.

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

   •  The BBC can play a vital role in offering free, accessible, and diverse content in an era dominated by paid streaming services. 

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

   • The licence fee model should be reviewed to ensure it’s fair and sustainable. This can be done through public fundings like taxation.