Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
BBC met many Phase 1 targets but missed overall expenditure transfer and audio relocation goals.
Conclusion
The BBC met many, but not all, of the specific targets that it set for phase one of Across the UK to the end of March 2023. By March 2023, the BBC had already commissioned 110 new and returning drama and comedy programmes reflecting communities outside London, against a target of 100 commissions by March 2028. Of these, 68 programmes have already been aired on television, 29 of which specifically portray the devolved nations, including Sherwood, Happy Valley, Control Room, Bloodlands, Two Doors Down, and The Outlaws. The BBC achieved its phase one target for transferring employment outside London, moving jobs equivalent to 291 full-time posts against a target of 288.5. It also agreed two published memoranda of understanding (with West Midlands Combined Authority and Create Central) setting out how to better serve local audiences and creative economies.20 The BBC described its transfer of TV production expenditure as “a good result”, increasing the percentage of its budget spent outside London from 50% in March 2021 to 58% by March 2023, against a target of 60% by December 2027. However, the BBC missed its interim target for its key measure for the programme of transferring £700 million outside London. The BBC planned to transfer £87.5 million outside London by the end of March 2023, transferring £67.5 million by this date.21
Government Response Summary
The response states that because of the £700 million financial benefit created by the programme, Licence Fee payers have seen significant changes to programming, and 60% of network television spend is already outside London.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.4 As a result of the £700 million of financial benefit created by the programme, Licence Fee payers have seen significant changes to programming broadcast by the BBC, all designed to better reflect and represent audiences across the UK. 60% of network television spread is already spent outside London, and by the end of the current Charter 50% of radio and music spend will be invested outside the capital.