Recommendations & Conclusions
30 items
2
Recommendation
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC has a high-level plan in place for its £500 million of annual savings and reinvestment into digital, but it is unclear whether this will cover its new ambition to transition to an internet-only future in the 2030s. Following its January 2022 licence fee settlement with government, the BBC …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, which includes this recommendation addressed to the BBC.
HM Treasury
3
Recommendation
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC faces a significant challenge in a very competitive market to recruit and retain staff with the right digital skills. The BBC had a 23% staff turnover rate in its digital product group as of June 2022. Shortages of digital skills are an economy-wide challenge that is not unique …
Government response. The government acknowledges the report and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations, implicitly passing responsibility to the BBC for this recommendation.
HM Treasury
4
Recommendation
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC’s approach to how it will develop personalised services for audiences is not yet well developed. The BBC wants to personalise its products and services such that audiences can access content that is of interest to them, while also fulfilling its public service obligations. The BBC sees this as …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendation to develop a personalization strategy and report on its progress.
HM Treasury
5
Recommendation
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
The BBC has developed its approach to data security since 2019 but is not yet doing enough to manage the risks arising from increased access to users’ personal data. The BBC needs to collect and hold some audience data to help it to compete in the digital space, and crucial …
Government response. The government response provided addresses a recommendation to the Department for Business and Trade regarding fraud and error in COVID-19 grant schemes, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's recommendation concerning the BBC's data collection and storage policies.
HM Treasury
1
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the BBC about its plans for digital transformation.1
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the committee taking evidence.
HM Treasury
6
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
In December 2022, the BBC’s Director-General followed up on the May announcement, describing the BBC’s vision for where it should aim to be by the 2030s and setting out plans to move to an internet future with greater urgency.6 He stated that the BBC would be active in future in …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's planning for switching off traditional broadcasting.
HM Treasury
7
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
At our evidence session in January 2023, the Director-General reiterated to us the need for urgency and how, by any forecast of the future, the vast majority of media consumption will be via the internet.8 However, he also told us that, in his December speech, he had been deliberately provocative, …
Government response. The government notes the report's publication and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the report's recommendations.
HM Treasury
8
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
BBC Three was taken off air as a traditional linear broadcast channel and was made an internet-only channel in 2016. Six years later that decision was reversed on the grounds of it having reduced the BBC’s impact with younger audiences, particularly those who still watched broadcast TV.11 We raised this, …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about BBC Three.
HM Treasury
9
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC also acknowledged the four recommendations in the NAO report, one of which was to build on its December 2022 announcement and plan scenarios for how it could move between broadcast and internet services in the future. It said that those recommendations were extremely helpful, appropriately challenging, and that …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
10
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
We raised the question of education for people, typically older people, who are not familiar or confident with adopting what may be new technology to them. The BBC stressed its universality obligation to ensure that content is accessible. It also said it was critical that there was focus and prioritisation …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
11
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
Good quality access to online services will rely of course on the roll-out of broadband, overseen by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. We noted that the BBC’s universal service commitments could not be met with current broadband provision.16 The BBC highlighted that with a perfect broadband service, …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
12
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
Following its January 2022 licence fee settlement with government, the BBC estimated that it would have a funding gap of £285 million a year by 2027–28, and that it needs to deliver £500 million of annual savings and reinvestment to achieve its digital- first ambitions. This funding gap was calculated …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
13
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC’s spending on its product development has also declined, from £109 million in 2018–19 to £98 million in 2021–22 (in 2021–22 prices). However, due to the renewed focus on the growth of its digital products, the BBC has budgeted £116 million to spend within its product group in 2022–23 …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
14
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC’s spending on digital product development is far lower than many other media organisations, many of which are digital-only, though direct spending comparisons are problematic. Additionally, the BBC has a range of universal service obligations that other media firms do not, and provides a range of services that its …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
15
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
In May 2022, the BBC announced a £500 million investment plan, in support of its digital-first ambitions. The BBC plans for this to come from £200 million a year in spending reductions as well as £300 million a year from redistributing money within the organisation and increased commercial income.24
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's £500 million investment plan.
HM Treasury
16
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
We asked whether the BBC considered £500 million would be enough for its investment plan. The BBC said that pressure on the £500 million had increased and it would have to “box very clever”.25 It said it had already taken some tough decisions, it would have to focus, and stop …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the sufficiency of the BBC's investment plan.
HM Treasury
17
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
On financial plans, the BBC also said it thought it would have to find ways of attracting more capital into its technology investment.28 But it made clear that there is no plan in the UK to add subscription services, as people have already paid the licence fee.29
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's financial plans and subscription services.
HM Treasury
18
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
We raised a concern about the lack of sufficient detail to support the BBC’s digital investment plan, for example around how savings will be achieved, what happens if savings targets are not met, or whether additional borrowing would be required.30 The BBC said it was helpful to have had those …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the detail of the BBC's digital investment plan.
HM Treasury
19
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
Although the BBC has managed to successfully recruit and retain a number of highly skilled individuals to lead its digital teams, overall it has a shortage of specialist digital staff. In common with other organisations, the BBC has experienced technology staffing shortages and high turnover of staff. This is partly …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's shortage of specialist digital staff.
HM Treasury
20
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
The product group in the BBC—responsible for developing and delivering the BBC’s audience-facing digital products—accounts for 5.7% of the total BBC public service pay bill.35 In its product group the BBC had 23% staff turnover as of June 2022. This high number of vacancies has slowed technical development. The number …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about staff turnover in the BBC's product group.
HM Treasury
21
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC told us that last year had been really difficult for attracting people. It cited the particular consequences of the covid pandemic for the technology market, with international organisations starting to offer remote working contracts, giving potential employees, for example in the Salford area, more options, with salaries rising …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
22
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC considered there may be an increasing sense developing of people wanting to ‘reconnect with purpose’ and of that being a material consideration for people when choosing who they wished to work for; implying that the BBC could benefit from that sort of preference.38 The BBC stressed how it …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
23
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
Over the past nine years, the BBC has signalled that it sees offering a more personalised experience as important to its future plans and key to this is sign-in, whereby users register for and use a BBC account to access digital services. In September 2021, it produced a sign-in strategy, …
Government response. The government notes the report's publication and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the report's recommendations.
HM Treasury
24
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
Through sign-in, the BBC can collect personal information about its users to understand their preferences. When used alongside recommendation algorithms, this should provide a user experience tailored to their individual preferences. The BBC does not believe that it is possible to compete digitally without knowing users’ viewing habits. However, while …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
25
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC told us that it tried to make the sign-up process as simple as possible, while at the same time giving the user control, and was very conscious of accessibility and different digital familiarity levels.45 The BBC described to us how it was vital to help users find what …
Government response. The government acknowledges the report's publication and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
26
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
The BBC also told us that it needed to build something different to a commercial algorithm, saying that there are many commercial models that lead you to where you do not want to be. Whereas, the BBC also has its public service values, and wants to educate and entertain. “We …
Government response. The government's response states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing the substance of the committee's conclusion.
HM Treasury
27
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
To build a more personalised experience for its users, the BBC will need to increase its use of their personal data. The BBC plans to use these data to support commissioning decisions and to make tailored content recommendations, and needs to meet best practice and transparency in data-handling. There is …
Government response. The government's response states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing the substance of the committee's conclusion.
HM Treasury
28
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Not Addressed
The BBC told us it had no plans to commercialise the data it holds on viewers, assuring us categorically that it had no plans to use or sell UK subscriber data to any other party for commercial purposes. It said that it collected the least amount of personal data that …
Government response. The government's response states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing the substance of the committee's conclusion.
HM Treasury
29
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC welcomed the recommendations made by the NAO which included on managing potential data risk and said it was taking action on oversight and policy. It outlined some actions taken in recent years to improve its approach, stressed that these things were key parts of the organisation, and that …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
30
Conclusion
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Deferred
The BBC told us it has had no data breaches that it has had to report to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) this financial year. It has reported 27 data breaches since April 2020 and told us that the ICO had not taken any enforcement action against the BBC in …
Government response. The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury