UK communications regulator Ofcom has again called on the BBC to provide more details about its plans to help rival Public Service (PSB) broadcasters. Last month the BBC suggested it could help commercial PSBs such as ITV by working in partnership with them. Ofcom says the current system of funding PSB programmes is failing and it no longer makes economic sense for commercial broadcasters to deliver the range and volume of PSB programmes that they delivered in the past.
Earlier this month Ofcom Deputy Chairman Philip Graf welcomed the overall idea but said Ofcom needed to see more details in its proposals. Today Ofcom Content and Standards Partner Stewart Purvis reiterated that call, adding that Ofcom awaits the details with great interest.
Speaking at the PSB Conference for English Regions, he said that any BBC proposal would need to be capable of meeting the PSB funding gap. Stewart added that any future partnership should also promote competition and not restrict others from providing PSB programmes. He also explained that some potentially exciting new ideas were now emerging from Ofcom’s three models for the future of PSB.
For example, he said that if ITV did not want to continue producing regional programmes, it could create slots within its schedule for others who could bid for funds to make the content instead. Independent Television News (ITN), the Press Association and Reuters have already been suggested as possible programme producers for these slots. But Stewart said that he knew that regional newspapers were also interested, while others such as regional development agencies, community media groups and the national parliaments could also play a part.
He also dismissed recent claims by BBC Director General Mark Thompson that Ofcom’s latest PSB review document was ‘defeatist’. Stewart said: ‘It is not defeatist to recognise that times have changed. It is realistic, especially when the effects of digital switchover are exactly what Ofcom forecast in our previous PSB review.’ He added: ‘At Ofcom we are more interested in digital opportunities and digital solutions than digital defeatism.’
Ofcom’s PSB consultation closes on 4 December 2008 and Ofcom expects to publish a final statement in early 2009. The UK Government and Parliament will then make a final decision on the future funding of PSBs and, if appropriate, legislation by 2011.
(Source: Ofcom)
