Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
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 …
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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 to this is sign-in, where audiences register for and use a BBC account to access its digital services. The BBC has a sign-in strategy, with a target for 72% of digital product views to come from signed-in users by 2023. It also has an overall goal of 23.5 million signed-in users by 2023. The BBC tries not to collect or hold more data about audiences than is necessary and reassured us that it has no plans to commercialise the data that it collects. That makes it distinct from BBC Digital 7 other digital providers. The BBC appointed a data protection officer in 2019 and also set up a central data protection team. However, the increased use of personal data exposes the BBC to more potential risks and it has not shown clearly that its active management of those risks is yet sufficiently embedded. The BBC has assured us that there have been no significant data breaches in the current financial year. Recommendation 5: The BBC should review its data collection and storage policies and work out the minimum amount of data that is needed to achieve its goals, what will be sufficient for its personalisation strategy, and how it will keep that data safe. 8 BBC Digital 1 Planning and funding
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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 AI summary
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.
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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 …
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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 planning for the switching off traditional broadcasting. However, as reported by the National Audit Office, also last December, the BBC has only conducted limited work planning out scenarios in which it could potentially move away from traditional broadcasting at a more wholesale, strategic level. Nor had it set out those older services which it will protect, or the wider implications of removing certain broadcast channels for access by disabled audiences and other groups at risk of being digitally excluded.7
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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, …
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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, and the BBC acknowledged that “We went a bit early” and that while it might be easy to go to digital, “you can go to digital and be a lot smaller quite fast”.12
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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
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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
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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 …
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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 things that are less effective. For example, it was making 12,000 hours of content now compared to 13,000 a few years ago.26 But the BBC acknowledged that “we do not know if it is enough” and that it would be “incredibly difficult”. The BBC commented that it would have to find ways of attracting more capital from its commercial arm, and also agreed that it did not want to find savings by doing things that would be acts of self- harm, such as closing lots of radio stations. The BBC also said that the strategic technology review had enabled it to pull departments together, realising economies of scale and also improving performance.27
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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
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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
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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 …
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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 points highlighted. It told us that it was working through the budgeting process and building detailed budget plans, and that the budget process it was currently in would refine the detail.31 The BBC also highlighted that it did not have the same ability as its commercial competitors to raise debt to fund its digital ambitions. On the other hand, it did have the security and stability of the licence fee, at least to the end of the charter period.32 23 C&AG’s Report, paras 10, 2.5 24 C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 25 Q 51 26 Qq 37, 51, 52 27 Qq 52, 53 28 Q 38 29 Qq 41, 42 30 Q 55; C&AG’s Report, paras 11, 20 31 Qq 43, 55 32 Q 55 12 BBC Digital 2 People and data Staff recruitment and retention
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Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
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 …
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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 due to the BBC’s pay levels being lower than some other potential employers for technology professionals. This is despite the BBC keeping its pay ranges under regular review, including by benchmarking these against wider industry pay levels.33 The BBC told us that it had increased the pay ranges for some of its digital jobs by more than the standard pay rise agreed last year for the majority of its employees.34
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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 …
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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 of vacancies in the search team, for example, has hindered the BBC’s ability to develop its search function further.36
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Government response AI summary
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.
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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 …
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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 are going to have to get a very careful balance, and this is a very interesting challenge. It is different … and no one in the world has done it, by the way.”48 Data security
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Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
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 …
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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 potential for reputational damage if the BBC does not meet best practice in acquiring, storing and securing personal data, and being transparent about its use. In 2019, a BBC-commissioned report found it was only in the early stages of maturity in compliance with data protection legislation in its use of 43 C&AG’s Report, paras 8, 1.14 44 C&AG’s Report, paras 8, 1.14 45 Q 75 46 Q 59 47 Q 63 48 Q 62 14 BBC Digital audience data. The BBC has since improved its approach to users’ data and data protection, including appointing a data protection officer and creating a central Data Protection Office team in 2019.49
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Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
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 …
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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 it could on sign-up, and that it did then collect data at an aggregated level and on an anonymised basis as people used products, so that it could see what was being used and to what extent. But that it does not share or sell that data or have any plans to.50 The BBC acknowledged that it would be collecting a lot more information from a lot more people as it expanded its digital output.51
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Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
HM Treasury