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21|01|09

Nations and regions

Nations and regions

Ofcom is committed to ensuring people in the UK’s nations and regions continue to enjoy quality PSB programming.

Our extensive research has already underlined how people value television from their own area, especially news programmes.

Our recommendations look in detail at the future provision of PSB programmes in the UK nations and regions.

Delivering news in the devolved nations and English regions

The BBC has offered to share its regional news infrastructure and picture access with ITV – this represents an important development.

Ofcom will consider whether this raises editorial or competition issues and whether it would put regional news on a sustainable footing in the in the long-term.

However, given the risks and uncertainties, Ofcom believes that the Government should plan for an alternative way of securing regional news for the devolved nations and English regions from 2011.

This could be delivered by independent news consortia, funded through competitive tender, and with a broadcast programme slot preferably on Channel 3. Total funding required could be £30-£50 million a year.

The Newspaper Society – which represents Britain’s local and regional media – welcomed Ofcom’s PSB report.

It says it wants to explore with Ofcom the opportunities that will be made available for regional and local newspaper companies to expand their footprint into local television services.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

If resources and competing priorities allow, the UK Government should consider bespoke solutions for the devolved nations, if the other recommendations do not sufficiently meet viewers’ needs.

A new dedicated channel has been recommended by the Scottish Broadcasting Commission. Alternatively, the UK and Scottish Governments and Parliaments could consider setting up a competitive fund to support initiatives in Scotland-wide television, local television, online and radio.

S4C should continue delivering Welsh-language programming with secure funding from the UK Government. Competitive funding could be used for extra English-language programmes.

Ofcom’s consultation also identified emerging support for competitive funding to support greater provision in Northern Ireland.

Local areas

Ofcom is creating more opportunities for local television than have ever existed before by releasing geographically targeted spectrum to the market.

In addition, extra spectrum capacity could be reserved to support local media specifically.

Ofcom will be conducting new work to explore the provision of local content across television, radio, broadband and online.

 

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