Press Release
Licence Payers say "Yes" to
Proposals for new BBC Public Services
Licence payers have given strong support to
BBC proposals for new and enhanced free-to-air public services,
the Corporation said today (Tuesday 23 November).
Eighty-six per cent of respondents to the BBC's
biggest ever consultation exercise said it was very or extremely
important for the BBC to maintain its current breadth of programming
in the digital age; and there was also strong support for new
and enhanced services from the BBC.
A programme of on-air trails on TV and radio,
together with direct mail and online, drew the consultation to
the attention of a potential audience of 34 million people. There
were 5,378 responses. Nearly twice as many people responded online
as by questionnaire; but there was a high level of consistency
in the responses, irrespective of the means of delivery or whether
they came from individuals or organisations.
BBC Chairman Sir Christopher Bland said: "This
is a strong and welcome endorsement of the BBC's proposals to
provide licence payers with imaginative and distinctive services
in the new millennium.
"The Board of Governors, as trustees of
the licence payer, are determined to ensure that these new services
will reflect the BBC's public purposes, offering a distinct and
valuable alternative to commercial digital services, while maintaining
the BBC's reputation for public service broadcasting of the highest
quality.
"These proposals include increasing the
number of high quality landmark programmes; a step change in our
education provision; an improved service for children offering
a distinct alternative to commercial children's services; using
the new technologies to give much greater access to BBC programmes
and services, including true interactivity; and encouraging and
supporting active citizenship."
The BBC's plans for enhanced digital services
for licence payers include:
— Developing interactive content for
the BBC's digital TV channels, beginning with BBC Knowledge;
— A new BBC channel for young children;
— An online news service for schools,
reflecting the school curriculum;
— New digital radio services to appeal
to a wider range of cultures and interests;
— Bespoke digital and online services
for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland;
— More coverage of the devolved assemblies
and the European Parliament on BBC Parliament;
— Services that bring together the
best of the BBC's recent output in certain subjects (eg Natural
History) providing further opportunities to watch key programmes;
— News, travel and information services
for people when they are on the move; and
— A new on-screen guide to help people
find their way through the BBC's portfolio of services.
Viewers and listeners also made clear that the
existing established services should not be starved of funds or
lessened in quality. A number of detailed comments and suggestions
are being evaluated for incorporation into the BBC's plans.
Results of Consultation
The formal consultation began on Wednesday 15
September and closed on Friday 29 October 1999. It was the largest
ever BBC consultation. The consultation process was drawn to the
public's attention via direct mail, television, radio and online.
This resulted in 5,378 individuals and organisations,
including a broad spectrum of consumer and interest groups, giving
the BBC their views on new public service propositions.
Importance of Maintaining Breadth of Programming
Eighty-six per cent (six out of seven people)
believe it is either extremely or very important for the BBC to
maintain its current breadth of programming. Sixty per cent of
respondents said that it was extremely important.
A strong BBC is seen to be as valuable to digital
homes as to analogue homes. Support for a breadth of services
remains as strong amongst those who use new technology, such as
digital television, mobile phones or the Internet, as those who
do not.
Serving a Learning Society
The BBC proposed: "developing BBC Knowledge
. . . into a truly interactive learning resource for the whole
family, available through digital TV and online. Extending the
availability of BBC television programming for young children
through a dedicated children's channel, broadcasting throughout
the day. Providing an online news service for schools, specifically
designed to connect to the school curriculum. Providing an online
educational introduction to music, using the BBC's vast musical
archive."
There was strong support for the BBC's learning
proposals:
— 79 per cent of respondents support
development and increasing interactivity of BBC Knowledge.
— 65 per cent in those homes with children
support a children's channel (57 per cent supported it overall).
Serving a Diverse Society
The BBC proposed: "Extending the reach
and range of our news, music and information services to ethnic
minorities, through digital radio and online. Providing greater
access to programming and information that reflects the interests
of particular groups, through digital radio and online".
— 74 per cent support for the personalisation
of content via BBC Online.
Licence payers were receptive to the idea that
there should be greater access via online and digital radio to
a range of genres:
— 75 per cent strongly agreed or agreed
with drama/comedy/reading archive.
— 75 per cent support for news coverage.
— 74 per cent support for music archive.
— 40 per cent support for sport.
— 40 per cent support for the extension
of news, music and information services for ethnic minorities.
The BBC notes, however, that both for ethnic
services and sport on radio/online, a high proportion of respondents
(30 per cent plus) were neither for nor against the proposals.
Serving a Devolved Society
The BBC proposed: "political, cultural
and social coverage dedicated television and online services for
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Extending the coverage of
BBC Parliament on digital television to include the devolved assemblies
and the European Parliament."
— 79 per cent of respondents saw the
BBC's ability to "reflect the interests of" and "serve
people" in all parts of the UK as important.
— 55 per cent overall strongly agreed
or agreed with UK wide coverage through BBC Parliament.
Serving a Busy Society
The BBC proposed: "enabling people who
have missed recent BBC TV programmes to see them at a later date
on themed services, which will bring together recent output in
drama, science, natural history and other programme types. Providing
a comprehensive news, information and travel service where and
when people want it, using digital radio and the next generation
of mobile phones. Making it easy for people to find BBC programmes
and content through a BBC navigation system both on TV and online".
There is also strong support for services which
enable more access to BBC output:
— 77 per cent strongly agreed or agreed
using technology to enable viewers to "catch up" with
programming.
— 84 per cent support for a navigator
through BBC content.
— 67 per cent support for travel, news
and information via mobile receivers.
Sir Christopher concluded: "Taken together,
these plans offer the prospect of the BBC having the same beneficial
impact on the life of the UK in the next century as it has in
this, as we aim to serve a learning society, a diverse society,
a devolved society and a busy society better than we have ever
done before."
Editors' notes
It is part of the BBC's Charter obligations
to undergo public consultation in advance of the launch of new
services. This was the third major public consultation of the
BBC's new services. It parallels the Government's own consultation
on the Davies' Panel's Report on BBC funding arrangements.
The BBC consulted on its digital television
services in 1997 and its online services in 1998.
To ensure as wide a range of opinions as possible,
the BBC sought views in a variety of ways: direct mail of both
the full document and a summary leaflet; television, radio and
online trails, demonstrations for MPs and their staff; opinion
formers, Broadcasting and Regional Advisory Councils, and the
press.
All responses were collected and assessed independently
by Southbank Consulting Ltd.
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