Industries - 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.

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

They highly value the purposes and objectives of PSB, including trustworthy news and programmes that show different aspects of UK life and culture.

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. 

The average viewer spends an hour on average watching services like YouTube and Netflix. Traditional TV is declining. The BBC’s revenues from the licence fee have fallen by an average of 4% each year.

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.

Viewer requests for programmes from PSBs increased by 65% to 6.3 billion in 5 years.

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 which is equivalent to approximately £325m.

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

On demand services like Netflix

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?

The proliferation of channels has reduced the market share of the public service broadcasters.

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.

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 ASAP with a more progressive funding mechanism like a tiered platform-neutral household fee, a supplement to Council Tax or funding via general taxation with appropriate parliamentary safeguards.

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. 

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?

They should be intervened as they're destroying public service broadcasting.

Final questions - YOUR opinion on public service broadcasting

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

Yes, it should. The BBC provides valuable and trustworthy information to the British public that would otherwise not be there if it weren't for them.

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

There IS a role for the BBC in the 21st century, it just needs to adapt more to the current climate. Evidently, the funding model and how they show their content has aged poorly in today's world and needs to be updated and/or adapted to fit modern standards. Other than that, they can stay in the 21st century, and arguably, I would say that they need to.

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

It should change from a licence fee from a tier-based subscription model that allows households to choose which services they want; for example, audiences could choose whether they'd want specific content like sports, or pay more to access all the BBC has to offer.