Recommendation 19

The BBC indicated that, in general, it will also need to make tough choices on programming, making less content but ensuring that the impact is high.34 The BBC has 27 C&AG’s report, para 12 28 Qq 32, 68, 71, 73, 74 29 Qq 72 to 74 30 C&AG’s report, para 1.5 31 Qq 34, 35 32 Qq 39, 46, 69, 74 33 Qq 67, 69 34 Q 39 BBC strategic financial management 13 previously announced plans to examine what it would do if it could only make 80% of its current content hours, in order to identify and prioritise content that is most likely to appeal to its various audiences.35 We pressed the BBC to provide specific examples of what content is going to be cut and the timeframe for these decisions. The BBC said that it had reduced the volume of factual programming in order to focus on big documentaries, but did not name any specific programmes or timescales.36 When asked about how it decided the trade-offs between universal content aimed at everyone and distinct content for a more discrete audience, the BBC said that it prioritises programmes of some scale but that are also delivering what is clearly special and what no-one else would do, with a deep connection to audiences.37