Recommendations & Conclusions
30 items
1
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
For public service broadcasting to prosper in the future the Government will need to act—changes that require ministerial authority are needed in order to ensure that the public service broadcasting system remains sustainable in the context of today’s greatly expanded and increasingly global media market. (Paragraph 12) Public service broadcasting: …
Government response. The Government welcomes the publication of the Committee’s report and is grateful for the Committee’s comprehensive inquiry into ‘The Future of Public Service Broadcasting’. The Government wholeheartedly agrees with the Committee’s assessment that the need for public service broadcasting remains …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
Despite the long-term decline in viewing, we recognise that linear television remains crucial to certain audiences.
Government response. The Government agrees that universality is a core tenet of public service broadcasting and is committed to ensuring this remains the case. This means that PSB content should be delivered via technologies that are commonly available, familiar to audiences, and …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
3
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
Universality is at the heart of public service broadcasting and should remain so. Linear broadcast television by PSBs remains important and with delays to full fibre broadband rollout, a wholly online public service broadcasting system allowing for universal access is not yet viable. During the current period of transition, whilst …
Government response. The Government agrees that universality is a core tenet of public service broadcasting and is committed to ensuring this remains the case. This means that PSB content should be delivered via technologies that are commonly available, familiar to audiences, and …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
4
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the role that PSB content can play in bringing the country together creating shared national experiences and providing access to topical, UK-specific information and entertainment.
Government response. The Government welcomes the publication of the Committee’s report and is grateful for the Committee’s comprehensive inquiry into ‘The Future of Public Service Broadcasting’. The Government wholeheartedly agrees with the Committee’s assessment that the need for public service broadcasting remains …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
5
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
The pandemic has reinforced the critical importance of free and easy access to trusted news sources. At a time of crisis, audiences have shown that they value the PSBs. PSBs have played a role in tackling the spread of misinformation online, and broadcast news specials have played a crucial role …
Government response. The Government welcomes the publication of the Committee’s report and is grateful for the Committee’s comprehensive inquiry into ‘The Future of Public Service Broadcasting’. The Government wholeheartedly agrees with the Committee’s assessment that the need for public service broadcasting remains …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
6
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
The pandemic has reinforced the importance of local and regional-specific news provision. The provision of news to Nations and Regions should not suffer further as a result of budgetary restraints. We perceive a real risk to the provision of regional- specific news programming, and we are adamant that the quality, …
Government response. PSBs deliver substantial cultural, economic and democratic benefits thanks to their respective remits which help ensure audiences can enjoy a wide range of high-quality programmes that meet people’s needs as citizens and their interests as individuals. The Government, through its …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
7
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
Reaching younger audiences now, and building relationships with them, is of the utmost importance if PSBs are going to remain popular and sustainable in the long- term. They way in which people access content, particularly those under the age of 35, is rapidly changing and the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated …
Government response. The Government is supportive of a modern system of public service broadcasting that remains relevant and can continue to meet the needs of UK audiences in the future. Research from Ofcom shows that young audiences continue to value the UK’s …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
8
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We are pleased that Ofcom highlighted the deficits in children’s programming across the PSB portfolios in 2018 and consider it vitally important that it continues to keep PSB performance in this area under regular review. We recommend that the Government evaluate the success of the Young Audiences Content Fund against …
Government response. High quality children’s programming is an essential source of entertainment and learning for young people in the UK. The Government is committed to ensuring young audiences have access to engaging and relevant content that reflects UK society and their own …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
9
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We recognise that the BBC has provided a record amount of educational resources during the Covid-19 pandemic, and particularly during the periods that schools across the country have been closed. Whilst this is a key example of the value the BBC provides, it took too long for the BBC to …
Government response. We recognise that the BBC has provided a record amount of educational resources during the Covid-19 pandemic, and particularly during the periods that schools across the country have been closed. Whilst this is a key example of the value the …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
10
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
It took the Government almost 10 months to respond to the consultation on decriminalisation of TV licence fee evasion. Delays of this nature by DCMS in reforming other areas of broadcasting, such as prominence, would be of significant concern. Of more concern was that the long-delayed response simply provided further …
Government response. The Government is considering decriminalisation of TV licence evasion and other possible reforms to the licence fee system to increase fairness and proportionality within the broader context of the ongoing licence fee settlement. There were over 150,000 responses to the …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
11
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
The continued rise in TV licence non-payment in the UK is a cause for concern, as is the fact that the BBC’s target of a 5.9% evasion rate by March 2021 will be missed by a significant margin. We are also concerned that the failure to resolve definitively speculation about …
Government response. The Government is considering decriminalisation of TV licence evasion and other possible reforms to the licence fee system to increase fairness and proportionality within the broader context of the ongoing licence fee settlement. There were over 150,000 responses to the …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
12
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We recognise the problems associated with the licence fee and, in the annex to this Report, explore the existing alternatives. None of these are sufficiently attractive to justify recommending, for the next Charter period, that they replace the current 52 The future of public service broadcasting licence fee model, not …
Government response. The Government notes the Committee’s view of the issues surrounding the current licence fee model and its assessment of alternative models. However, we do not agree with the Committee’s assessment and recommendation that a decision on the future of funding …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
13
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
Current requirements on PSBs have generated a thriving production economy that has attracted the attention of streaming services, but the rise of video on demand is putting pressure on the Terms of Trade. Subscription video on demand services should invest in the production ecology as well as benefit from it, …
Government response. As the Committee’s report demonstrates, the relationship between PSBs and subscription video on demand services (SVoDs) is not straightforward, particularly where PSB content is hosted on streaming services. It is the Government’s view that the issues the Committee has identified …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
14
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We are not persuaded by arguments that prominence can be left to the market simply because PSB content is popular and if an organisation such as Freeview, which represents the interests of over 70 TV channels, finds it difficult to negotiate with global platforms and TV manufacturers, it is unlikely …
Government response. As set out previously in our written submission to the Committee, the Government recognises the importance of high-quality PSB content being discoverable and widely accessible to UK audiences as far as possible. That is why the Government required Ofcom to …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
15
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
The Government has been too slow to act on Ofcom’s 2019 recommendations to update prominence legislation. We are frustrated that the Government expects the process to take a further two years; new primary legislation is urgently needed and the media ecology advances far too quickly for the Government to delay …
Government response. As set out previously in our written submission to the Committee, the Government recognises the importance of high-quality PSB content being discoverable and widely accessible to UK audiences as far as possible. That is why the Government required Ofcom to …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
16
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We acknowledge that some of the programmes have a small print acknowledgement of the original producers, but question whether this is quite within the spirit of accrediting everyone involved with the right branding. We believe that it is important that PSB originated content is clearly identifiable as such.
Government response. As the Committee’s report demonstrates, the relationship between PSBs and subscription video on demand services (SVoDs) is not straightforward, particularly where PSB content is hosted on streaming services. It is the Government’s view that the issues the Committee has identified …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
17
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We do not believe that sharing top line viewer data about PSB-originated content with Ofcom and the relevant the PSB would be commercially sensitive. Streaming services are an important ‘second window’ for PSB content but without viewer data, it is difficult to fully assess the reach of PSBs.
Government response. Ofcom’s PSB review and the Government’s strategic review of public service broadcasting are considering a range of issues including the relationship between PSBs and platform providers and how the public service broadcasting system can continue to deliver effectively for audiences …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
18
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We recommend the Government impose two specific requirements in relation to PSB content hosted on other streaming services in new media legislation. First, PSB content The future of public service broadcasting 53 should be clearly labelled as such and branded with the logo of the PSB from which the content …
Government response. Ofcom’s PSB review and the Government’s strategic review of public service broadcasting are considering a range of issues including the relationship between PSBs and platform providers and how the public service broadcasting system can continue to deliver effectively for audiences …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
19
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We are concerned that the full potential of the Digital Markets Unit is not being realised under its current proposed remit. We recommend that the Government should broaden the Digital Markets Unit’s remit to consider whether the dominance of online platforms gives them undue influence over the ability of consumers …
Government response. The Government announced the introduction of a new pro-competition regime for digital markets in November 2020. In April this year a new regulator, the Digital Markets Unit (DMU), was launched to ensure digital firms with substantial and enduring market power …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
20
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
Where an established media brand is providing programming, it is not right to make the default assumption that YouTube’s contribution to the viewer deciding to watch that programme, and therefore its share of the value chain, is the same as where content is user-generated. For news, this approach would, if …
Government response. The Government announced the introduction of a new pro-competition regime for digital markets in November 2020. In April this year a new regulator, the Digital Markets Unit (DMU), was launched to ensure digital firms with substantial and enduring market power …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
21
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
That reluctance should not be allowed to relegate the UK PSBs to a less prominent position on hardware than non-PSB commercial content providers who purchase prominence. There is little point in requiring a PSB regime if it can be hidden from view by the actions of hardware providers. We recommend …
Government response. As set out previously in our written submission to the Committee, the Government recognises the importance of high-quality PSB content being discoverable and widely accessible to UK audiences as far as possible. That is why the Government required Ofcom to …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
22
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
The findings of the Competition Commission in 2009 are now outdated, given the rate at which the market has changed and the dominance of global streaming services, and PSBs should be allowed to collaborate so that they have a better chance of competing in the now crowded video on demand …
Government response. The findings of the Competition Commission in 2009 are now outdated, given the rate at which the market has changed and the dominance of global streaming services, and PSBs should be allowed to collaborate so that they have a better …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
23
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
The lack of workforce data collected and shared by streaming services in the UK is of great concern. The Government must ensure that regulators have access to top line data, in line with that provided by traditional broadcasters, to enable accurate 54 The future of public service broadcasting analysis of …
Government response. The media plays a vital role in UK society and therefore has an important responsibility to reflect 21st Century Britain. The Government is committed to supporting the sector to ensure it is representative of the country in which we live …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
24
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
PSBs should be leading by example. The current gaps in employment data supplied to Ofcom are of significant concern. We recommend that Ofcom place minimum requirement obligations on PSBs, in terms of the employment data they provide, in order to drive down the industry-wide gaps in data that currently exist. …
Government response. The media plays a vital role in UK society and therefore has an important responsibility to reflect 21st Century Britain. The Government is committed to supporting the sector to ensure it is representative of the country in which we live …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
25
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We are concerned that, without monitoring, there is no way to tell whether transgender people are being fairly represented in the workplace. Whilst there should be no requirement for someone to declare to their employer that they are transgender, we would encourage the Government to work with Ofcom and broadcasters …
Government response. The media plays a vital role in UK society and therefore has an important responsibility to reflect 21st Century Britain. The Government is committed to supporting the sector to ensure it is representative of the country in which we live …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
26
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We find it hard to accept the excuse that diversity of production crew is out of the control of commissioners and broadcasters. We are pleased to hear that domestic broadcasters prioritise diversity within production and we do not believe that it is beyond the power of powerful commissioners such as …
Government response. The media plays a vital role in UK society and therefore has an important responsibility to reflect 21st Century Britain. The Government is committed to supporting the sector to ensure it is representative of the country in which we live …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
27
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
Diversity within the industry has improved in recent years—for example, there is a better gender balance—but progress continues to be too slow. It is taking too long to address inequality within the industry and much more needs to be done to increase diversity, notably disabled people and BAME representation and …
Government response. The media plays a vital role in UK society and therefore has an important responsibility to reflect 21st Century Britain. The Government is committed to supporting the sector to ensure it is representative of the country in which we live …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
28
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We recognise the importance of regional diversity in commissioning roles and we welcome Ofcom’s previous decision to strengthen the criteria for regional and national production. We recommend that Ofcom’s guidelines for regional and national production should be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that the commissioning of authentic regional …
Government response. Broadcasters play a vital role in ensuring the reality of modern life across the whole of the UK is adequately reflected. We continue to work with the British Film Institute (BFI), in their role as the Government’s arm’s length body …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
29
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
Increasing diversity in commissioning and production roles is crucial for improving on-screen diversity. We recommend that Ofcom introduce requirements for the number of BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled people in commissioning and senior production roles to improve authentic on-screen representation of the UK’s diverse communities.
Government response. The media plays a vital role in UK society and therefore has an important responsibility to reflect 21st Century Britain. The Government is committed to supporting the sector to ensure it is representative of the country in which we live …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
30
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The future of public ser…
We welcome the recent promotion of S4C in Wales to channel 104 on Virgin Media but we are concerned about the lack of discoverability for minority language content in this increasingly digital market. The role that minority language broadcasters play is an important one and confirms the need for updated …
Government response. PSBs play an important role in ensuring the broadcasting system provides for the whole of the UK. The Government agrees that minority language broadcasting organisations, including S4C and MG Alba, play a critical role in reflecting the culture and communities …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport