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05|01|05

Minutes Of The Twenty-Second Meeting Of The Ofcom Content Board Held At Riverside House On 5 January 2005

Present

Richard Hooper Chairman

Sara Nathan Deputy Chairman

Sue Balsom Member

Floella Benjamin Member

Kevin Carey Member

Jonathan Edwards Member

Pam Giddy Member

Rosemary Kelly Member

Matthew MacIver Member

Adam Singer Member

Kath Worrall Member

Kip Meek Senior Partner, Competition and Content (Ofcom)

Tim Suter Partner, Content and Standards (Ofcom)

In Attendance

[Withheld from published minutes]

Chairman’s Introduction

1. The Chairman welcomed all present to the meeting.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 & 16 November 2004 ( Content Board Minutes 20(04) and Matters Arising

2. The minutes of the Content Board meeting held on 15/16 November 2004 were AGREED.

PSTB: Issues and Options for Phase 3 Proposals

3. [Withheld from published minutes] presented a number of papers, which set out the issues and options for Phase 3 of the Public Service Television Broadcasting Review and sought the Content Board ’s advice to the Ofcom Board . It was NOTED that Phase 3 was the culmination of the PSTB Review and as such would set out Ofcom’s final proposals. Content Board members had previously received a summary of the responses received to Phase 2 and had received copies of several of the key responses.

a) Nations and Regions

4. It was NOTED that most respondents to the PSTB Review Phase 2 had agreed with the analysis of the longer-term outlook, but there had been disagreements about the need for change at the current time. There had been opposition to immediate reductions in regional non-news programming, both in English Regions and in Nations. There was also specific concern about the potential impact on jobs and regional production centres.

5. [Withheld from published minutes] presented the preliminary views of the Executive in relation to the Nations and Regions as follows:

It was recommended that an increase in the quota for ITV1 network production outside of London be required, and that steps be taken to improve the spread of network production across the Nations and Regions, with an aim of a greater dispersal of network production over time.
In order to assist with transition to switchover, a major regional partnership fund was proposed to ensure that ITV could meet the above targets, which would be a ring-fenced fund, to finance programme development for innovative and risk-taking network commissions from non-ITV plc producers outside London.
It was recommended that Phase 3 should propose some immediate standardisation of non-news hours across the Nations, and reduce non-news requirement to 3 hours per week when the first region switches to digital (probably 2008). No further reductions in hours were planned during the upcoming licence period.
[Withheld from published minutes]

6. [Withheld from published minutes]

7. Following consideration of all the issues the Content Board BELIEVED that the ultimate aim of the recommendations in relation to the Nations and Regions were acceptable; however concern was expressed at the speed of transition. [Withheld from published minutes]

8. The Content Board AGREED that the Partnership Fund would help the transitional issues but that the proposal lacked clarity regarding timescale for implementation and detail of spending plans. [Withheld from published minutes]

9. The recommendation for some immediate standardisation of non-news regional programming and common scheduling across the Nations was welcomed by most members. However, it was also felt that the differences in programmes betweeen regions were important regional distinctions which should not be reduced through common scheduling. Concern was NOTED that research appeared to show that English regional programmes were valued by viewers as much as in the Nations, yet regional programming was being cut more than Nations programmes, which seemed unfair.

10. A proposal to create a Scottish national and international 22.30 hours news bulletin was welcomed. [Withheld from published minutes]

11. [Withheld from published minutes]

12. It was RECOMMENDED that the principle of requiring reflection of cultural diversity in TV production outlined in the paper, be reinforced throughout the paper.

b) Channel 4

13. [Withheld from published minutes]

14. [Withheld from published minutes] [Withheld from published minutes]

15. The Content Board AGREED with the recommendations for Channel 4; no funding should be made on the basis of currently available data predictions. It was AGREED that this situation should be reconsidered in three or four year’s time. [Withheld from published minutes]

c) Public Service Publisher

16. It was NOTED that in response to PSTB Phase 2 t here had been widespread praise from respondents for Ofcom’s creative thinking, but mixed views on the specifics of the proposal. Supporters of the PSP welcomed the proposal as a source of innovation and ensuring public service provision on wider digital platforms.

17. [Withheld from published minutes] [Withheld from published minutes]

18. The Content Board AGREED with the proposals for the PSP with three qualifications:

[Withheld from published minutes]
[Withheld from published minutes]
[Withheld from published minutes]

19. [Withheld from published minutes] outlined the views of the Executive in relation to the integration of Channel 4 with the PSP. [Withheld from published minutes]

20. [Withheld from published minutes]

Any other business

a) Internet Watch Foundation

21. Members were advised that the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) was hosting a Corridor Exhibition in the House of Commons for a week commencing 31 January 2005 , demonstrating its work and initiatives in relation to online content. It was NOTED that attendees from Ofcom were welcomed and any member wishing to attend should inform [Withheld from published minutes] or [Withheld from published minutes] so that an invitation could be issued.

b) Future events/dinners

22. It was AGREED that a note would be circulated shortly, to the Content Board , with details of future events and dinners.

23. Content Board members were provided with details regarding the reception planned for the evening of 17 January 2005 .

24. Content Board members were requested to keep the afternoon and evening of 13 September 2005 free by the Chairman.

c) Content Board Review

25. The Chairman advised members that [Withheld from published minutes] had produced a report which would be circulated to members and discussed at the next Content Board meeting.

Date of next meeting

26. It was NOTED that the next meeting would be held on Monday 17 January 2005 at Riverside House at 3.30pm .