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11|06|08

Convergence Think Tank Seminar

Peter Phillips

Over the last year we have undertaken the largest ever programme of research into what audiences want from their public service broadcasting system in the UK .

Four areas have emerged as being critical.

First, audiences continue to want a wide range of high quality content that meets the purposes of public service broadcasting: to inform ourselves, stimulate knowledge and learning, reflect UK, national and regional cultural identities and make us aware of different cultures and viewpoints.

Secondly, UK origination is crucial. Although international content has a role to play, content reflecting UK perspectives and originated in the UK is essential to meeting all these purposes.

Thirdly, audiences value the variety of perspectives and approaches that a range of different providers bring to PSB. And that is true in almost every area, not just news.

Finally, audiences expect content to be available across all platforms – particularly online. TV will remain central; but it’s going to be increasingly difficult to predict how media usage and technologies will develop over the next ten years. That’s why we have argued that the statutory framework for PSB needs much greater flexibility in the future.

So what will the current model deliver?

On TV, some areas are already under pressure – UK children’s programming, especially for older children, and programmes for the nations and regions. In future, provision of a wider range of content could be threatened: in particular, commercial business models may not support original programming that is innovative and risky, for example in drama, comedy or serious factual programming. And as competition intensifies and audiences fragment, our modelling suggests we may see less investment by commercial broadcasters in UK content in general.

Online presents many new opportunities. Barriers to entry are lower, the opportunity for innovation is much greater and a huge range of providers are providing content that meets the purposes of PSB. We expect this will increase in future.

But it is not yet at least a true substitute for traditional TV programming – indeed much of the most popular video content online is itself originated by the public service broadcasters.

In our first phase consultation on Public Service Broadcasting, we have set out four very different models for the future delivery of public service content.

In our view all of those options are credible and worthy of serious consideration and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Government, the CTT and others to resolve these complex questions over the coming months.

Thank you.

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