Broadcasting Experts Give Advice to the Beleaguered BBC
Peter Crumpler reports on a special panel debate organised by the Royal Television Society
What’s on top of the bulging in-tray for the BBC’s new Director General when they take up their post next year? What will influence the future of the Corporation, and what strategies could a new DG adopt to ensure the BBC survives and thrives?
These were three of the questions tackled by a panel of broadcasting experts meeting in London last night, at a forum organised by the London branch of the Royal Television Society.
The panel was Alice Enders, head of research at Enders Analysis, David Elstein, former ITV, BBC, Sky and Channel 5 executive, and Patrick Barwise, emeritus professor of management and marketing at London Business School.
The discussion was chaired by Roger Bolton, former BBC executive, journalist and presenter of BBC Radio Four’s Feedback programme.
It’s hard to sum up 90 minutes of feisty, insightful and well-informed discussion in a few sentences, but here’s some points I picked up from the evening.
The challenges are massive. They range from the changing ways that people, especially young people, consume media, to the possible decriminalization of non-payment of the TV Licence. From the withdrawal of free TV licences for the over-75s, to a Government that seems hostile to the Corporation. From challenges brought by Brexit, to US companies seeking a bigger share of the UK media market in any trade deal.
Plus many of the 22,000 employees of the BBC feeling demoralized and under attack.
Advice for the new DG coming from the experts included:
Don’t panic. Get on the front foot. Propose a wide-ranging review of how public service broadcasting is financed in the UK. What is the demand for it, and how can this be met?
Openly explore the options for introducing funding methods other than the TV licence, including subscription. How can these be made to work? The technological challenges are major – can they be overcome? And what about funding radio? How would this work?
Promote all that the BBC provides by way of services and conduct evidence-based comprehensive research into how people feel about the BBC and what they value about it. Ensure that MPs are aware of how their constituents will respond to cuts to those services. Leverage public opinion.
Make sure the independence of the BBC is upheld, and ensure British content is protected.
For Church groups and Christians, the issue facing us is how far we value the BBC as an independent, publicly-funded source of largely British-made entertainment and news.
Some Christians have questioned the BBC’s perceived stance on moral or religious questions.
But the potential loss of this major part of British cultural life would be a massive blow to our democracy and society.
See also:
Christian Today: Will Christians miss the BBC when it’s gone?
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/will-christians-miss-the-bbc-when-its-gone/134160.htm
Blog Author
Rev Peter Crumpler
Priest, Author & Former Communications Director with the Church of England.
