Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Acknowledged
BBC’s 'Across the UK' programme aims to strengthen connections with regional audiences.
Conclusion
We heard that the BBC is widely trusted, with the Chair highlighting the World Service as a clear illustration of the BBC’s global reach and reputation.65 At the same time, the BBC is also focused on strengthening its connection with audiences at home; it described its Across the UK programme as an initiative to move jobs, investment, and creative output beyond London to better serve and represent audiences across all regions and nations of the UK.66 In its Annual Report and Accounts, the BBC framed the programme under “Delivering across the UK” and “Our audiences,” positioning Across the UK as a corporate priority for audience engagement across the nations and regions.67 The BBC 59 BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25, p. 113 60 Q 75 61 Q 76 62 Qq 76, 78, 79 63 Q 76 64 Q 79 65 Q 86 66 Qq 72, 73 67 BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25, p. 46, 52 16 described the purpose of Across the UK as to “level out our appeal and usage through the UK” ensuring its services remain relevant to audiences in all regions and nations.68
Government Response Summary
The BBC agrees to communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
6. PAC conclusion: The BBC is a trusted institution but its relevance across the UK is under pressure. 6. PAC recommendation: As part of its response to this report, and in its Annual Report and Accounts, the BBC should clearly communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities, to sustain trust and relevance in the future. 6.1 The BBC agrees with the recommendation. Target implementation date: 2026 aligned with BBC Annual Report and Accounts publication, and to expand further in subsequent years. 6.2 The BBC welcomes the view of the Committee that it has responded to its past recommendations and that the key benefits of the programme are now clearly quantified. The BBC has responded in full to the Committee’s previous recommendations. 6.3 Improving the audience portrayal is one of the key driving forces and benefits of the Across the UK programme. To date, the BBC has moved significant network programming and commissioning to the devolved nations and regions of England. The BBC believes that this has led to a greater diversity of voice and perspective in its content, representing more regions from across the UK, as well as investment in regional creative economies. The BBC intends to build on this as it develops its future plans. 6.4 The BBC has also increased the level of content commissioning from the Nations and Regions for Network services which has ensured greater representation of all parts of the UK on BBC services. In December 2025, the BBC announced it will reprioritise its budget to double investment in portrayal content from 2027/28. Improving audience portrayal and relevance is a long-term process, but the BBC is encouraged by early improvements in the Midlands and across the North of England as noted by the Committee. It has seen audiences to Nations’ content grow as the portrayal commissioning builds in its impact and value. 6.5 However, there is further work to do to ensure that the BBC increases its relevance, reach and impact across every Nation and Region in the UK. The BBC will use audience measurement developed as part of the Across the UK programme to inform future 47 commissioning priorities and decision-making, as well as the BBC’s corporate priorities in the longer-term. The BBC has also announced in December 2025 that it plans to move more Commissioners to bases across the UK. 6.6 The BBC can commit to sharing further information on an annual basis as part of the BBC Annual Report and Accounts which identifies the level of investment in its content from the Nations and Regions of the UK as well as audience data. 6.7 The BBC notes the Committee’s comments on changes within BBC Local and the importance of smaller communities staying connected to the BBC. While the BBC Local strategy differs from Across the UK: Local Value for All, both share the goal of improving audience performance and ensuring BBC content remains relevant to all licence fee payers. 6.8 The BBC recognises that change can be challenging, particularly as content evolves to meet shifting audience habits in a digital world. All Local Radio stations continue to provide bespoke weekday Breakfast and Mid-Morning programmes - where audiences are strongest - alongside local news bulletins and sports coverage. The BBC remains fully committed to serving local communities and strengthening the performance of its services.