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21|04|04

Ofcom publishes Phase 1 Report of the Public Service Broadcasting Review

Ofcom today published its report setting out the findings of Phase 1 of its Review of Public Service Television Broadcasting. The report, the first of its kind, draws on a broad range of audience research including a large-scale survey of television viewers across the UK, extensive consultation with broadcasting professionals, comprehensive data on the main channels' schedules and trends in viewing habits over the past five years.

The consultation is available in Related Items.

The Review is structured in three phases and will complete in December. A requirement set out in the Communications Act 2003, the Review examines the effectiveness of the main terrestrial channels - BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 Channel 4 and Five - in the delivery of their public service obligations. It will also make proposals for maintaining and strengthening public service broadcasting in the digital age.

Findings on the current effectiveness of broadcasting

Ofcom's initial finding is that broadcasting on the main terrestrial television channels has partially, but not completely, fulfilled the requirements of the Communications Act.

Based on data from the period between 1998-2003, the findings show:

• Expenditure on programming across the five main terrestrial television channels (excluding films and sport) increased by 8%.
• A wide range of programmes continued to be shown at peak times.
• The proportion of UK-originated programming increased slightly.
• Spending on news and drama rose by 13% and 16% respectively.
• Spending on arts, children's, religion and educational programmes fell.
• There has been a narrowing of range within genres such as drama and factual programming.
• Specialist programmes on topics such as arts and current affairs were pushed to the edges of peak viewing hours.
• Innovative approaches to programme formats were developed, but the number of new titles launched each year fell.

The main television channels have seen their viewing share erode over time, and audiences for more challenging types of programming fell sharply in multichannel homes between 1998-2003:

• The channels' audience share declined from 87% to 76% of total viewing.
• In multichannel homes their audience share started lower and declined from 63% to 57% during the period.
• The channels began to lose ground amongst 16-34 year olds, with share declining to 69%.
• In 2003 audience share among ethnic minorities was 56%.
• Programmes such as Horizon, Newsnight and The South Bank show, had at least 50% lower viewing shares in multichannel-homes compared with homes with access to the main terrestrial channels only.

Viewers supported the wider responsibilities of broadcasters to society, but were also concerned about some aspects of existing output:

• Viewers thought that the main function of television was to provide entertainment, but that it should also support wider social purposes.
• High quality news and information was consistently seen by viewers as being both important and well delivered by broadcasters.
• Audiences believe that television should do more to provide a safe environment for children watching programmes on the main terrestrial channels.
• Current provision of some specialist areas, such as arts, religion and some types of regional programming, is less widely valued.
• Viewers preferred minority interests to be represented within mainstream programming rather than through programmes specifically for those minority interests.
• Audiences felt that there was a lack of innovation and originality on the main terrestrial channels.
• The public strongly supported the need for competition between the main terrestrial channels to provide quality programming.

Ed Richards, the Ofcom Senior Partner leading the Review, said: "Viewers have made it clear that public service broadcasting matters. But there are also real issues to overcome, both today and in the future. Public service broadcasting will only be sustainable if it produces challenging and popular programming which reaches a significant audience in the digital age."

Recommendations for maintaining and strengthening public service broadcasting for the future

In the report Ofcom makes proposals for maintaining and strengthening public service broadcasting in the immediate future and puts forward propositions for the transition to a fully digital world.

Key immediate proposals include:

1. Achieving digital switchover should be of high priority and given preference over more marginal public service broadcasting obligations.
2. A recommendation that the BBC needs to reaffirm its position as the standard setter for delivering the highest quality public service broadcasting.
3. The central components of public service broadcasting on ITV1 and Five should be news, regional news and original production.
4. Channel 4's role remains critical, given the public desire for originality and innovation.
5. A detailed evaluation of how to guarantee a safe environment for younger viewers and different approaches to the nations and regions.

In the longer term, as the UK moves into a fully digital world, public service broadcasting faces even greater challenges: consumers will have access to much greater choice, and audiences for the main terrestrial television channels are likely to fall further.

To maintain and strengthen public service broadcasting in the digital age Ofcom's initial propositions include:

1. Maintaining competition among suppliers of public service broadcasting.
2. Examining different means of sharing existing funding, including allowing broadcasters to bid for public service broadcasting funding.
3. Exploring how much public service broadcasting programming the market could produce without regulation.
4. Supporting a strong BBC but reviewing its wide range of activities against core purposes.
5. Exploring ways in which Channel 4 can continue to maintain its distinctive role.
6. Increasing the role of independent producers in making public service broadcasting programming.

Finally, Ofcom suggests that public funding for public service broadcasting will only be sustainable in the long term if it produces programming which reaches a significant audience and which would not be guaranteed by the market alone.

Ofcom Chief Executive Stephen Carter said: "This review makes it clear that television in this country is thriving and changing. We and the broadcasters must prepare our public service broadcasting for the digital future."

Ends

NOTES FOR EDITORS AND CSEs

1. Ofcom has a duty under the Communications Act 2003 (Clause 264) to undertake a review of public service broadcasting television which will include preparation for maintaining and strengthening public service broadcasting.
2. Ofcom has published Phase 1 of its 12 month review today. Phases 2 and 3 will be published in the summer and late autumn respectively. Our final recommendations will feed into the Government's review of the BBC's Charter.
3. Ofcom is seeking responses to the proposals and ideas set out in its Phase 1 report by TUESDAY 15 JUNE.
4. Ofcom is the independent regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

Our duties include:

• The promotion of choice, quality and value in electronic communications services, where appropriate by encouraging competition between the providers of those services
• Ensuring the most efficient use of the radiocommunications spectrum - the airwaves used for the transmission of all non-military wireless communications services
• Ensuring a wide range of electronic communications services, including broadband, is available across the UK
• Ensuring a wide range of TV and radio programmes of high quality and wide appeal
• Maintaining plurality in the media by ensuring a sufficiently broad range of ownership
• The protection of audiences against offensive or harmful material, unfairness or the infringement of privacy on TV and radio

For further details please visit www.ofcom.org.uk.

CONTACT

Ofcom Media Office
mediaoffice@ofcom.org.uk
(+44) (0)20 7981 3033

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