Home > Consultations > Consultation Documents > PSB > Ofcom review of PSB > 2. Current effectiveness

Overview

26. On consumers' behalf, the Communications Act asks the designated public service broadcasters to offer a wide range of programmes, catering for a variety of tastes and interests and sustaining high quality, original and innovative programming. On behalf of citizens, the Act requires the terrestrial channels to provide a range of socially beneficial programming - education, news, information and content which reflects different UK communities and cultures.

27. The four basic objectives that the Act identifies for PSB can be summarised as:

• social values: education, cultural identity, informing the democratic process, supporting a tolerant and inclusive society;
• quality: production values, standards, innovation;
• range and balance: treatment of a range of subject matters across different genres, sub-genres and formats at all times; and
• diversity: catering for different/minority audiences and communities.
  

These are set out in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Core objectives and components of PSB

Click here to view large scale

28. It is a core part of our remit to test the efficacy of the existing PSB system, whereby the five main terrestrial channels are together asked to deliver these objectives as well as delivering more commercial programmes. We have assessed the effectiveness of the current model by asking questions in three areas:

• Output: what are the main terrestrial channels providing? Is it in line with their current remit?
• Impact: what are viewers watching on those channels? How effective are the broadcasters at reaching target audiences?
• Value: what do viewers and broadcasting professionals think it is important for television to provide? How well do they think the broadcasters are delivering these objectives?

29. Our initial finding is that broadcasting on the main terrestrial TV channels has partially, but not completely, fulfilled the requirements of the Communications Act. There are some important shortcomings in effectiveness, partly driven by the
actions of broadcasters, and partly because viewers have drifted away from the more challenging types of programming, traditionally thought to be at the heart
of UK television.

30. This section summarises our findings in each area. More detail is available in the report's supporting documents: The effectiveness of the current system examines output; What people watch: television viewing behaviour analyses impact; and Audience opinions and perceptions is a study of the viewers' opinions about value. (These annexes are available on CD, on request.)

next

• Output: what do the existing terrestrial channels provide?
• Impact: viewing trends (-30-)
• Value - viewers' opinions and perceptions
• Conclusions on the effectiveness of current delivery
• Areas of concern

Back to top