MIGRAIN: Industries - Public service broadcast

 

Ofcom review of PSB in Britain

1) Look at page 3. Why is it a critical time for public service broadcasting? 

Due to audience viewing habits rapidly changing and the competition from the global content providers, the public service broadcasting is facing a critical time  

2) Read page 4. How has TV viewing changed in recent years? 

Live broadcast viewing has decreased, so audiences are only viewing the TV when they have time - so they view on demand. 

3) Still on page 4, what aspects of PSB do audiences value and enjoy? 

PSB audiences enjoy and value "high quality, original UK content including impartial news"  

4) Look at pages 4-5. Find and note down the statistics in this section on how much TV audiences tend to watch and how they watch it. 

During the five years the viewing for these programmes increased by 65% to 6.3 billion. These were viewed on demand services.

5) Read the section on page 5 discussing the importance of PSB. Again, find the statistics and explain the value of public service broadcasting in Britain.

Purposes and objectives of PSBs have remained important to audiences. They provide "32,000" hours of new content. This outweighs the availability of other services due to the PSBs content being all rounded rather than focusing on just entertainment.

6) Look at the section on commercial challenges. How have revenues fallen for PSB channels?

Revenues have dipped due to the increase in private broadcasters. People tend to stream rather than watch live TV, such as BBC, so due to the decreased popularity profits have dipped.

7) Read page 6. What services increasingly play a role in our media lives in the digital age? 

Commercial service broadcasters such as Sky and on-demand services such as Netflix.

Goldsmiths report on Public Service TV

1) What does the report state has changed in the UK television market in the last 20 years?

PSB channels have reduced market share over the years. Private streaming broadcasters such as Sky have become more dominant, as well as online streaming services and demand channels.

2) Look at page 4. What are the principles that the report suggests need to be embedded in regulation of public service broadcasting in future?

• Ofcom should continue to monitor private streaming services
• Ofcom should have a detailed audit on what channels should offer and ensure it is of high quality
• PSB content should be guaranteed
• Re-transmission fees

The principles of independence, universality, citizenship, quality and diversity need to be embedded into the regulation and funding of an emerging digital media landscape.

3) What does the report say about the BBC?

The BBC is the most important in television ecology. Due to the model of universality reinforcement, its credentials are under threat. The license fee is exposed due to the advance in technology and the way it is being consumed.

4) According to the report, how should the BBC be funded in future?

According to the report, the BBC should be funded by a tiered platform-neutral household fee, a supplement to Council Tax or a funding via general taxation.

5) What does the report say about Channel 4?

Channel 4 has a critical place in the public service ecology as it supports the independent production sector and airing content for their target audience. Their remit has fluctuated over time. They have cut some funding on programme spending. They have neglected the arts and has been critcised for not doing enough for the older children. They have been threatened to be privatised which would put their remit under threat.

6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?

They should not be privatised as they are a PSB so should be available to the public and be governed by the government. If they did become private, they wouldn't have many shows for a wide range of audiences.

7) Look at page 10 - new kids on the block. What does the report say about new digital content providers and their link to public service broadcasting?

That more PSB's are becoming more involved in producing digital content as the audiences are more engaged and involved in these ways of consuming media.

Final questions - YOUR opinion on public service broadcasting

1) Should the BBC retain its position as the UK’s public service broadcaster?

I think the BBC should retain its position as the UK's PSB as they are a channel which produce and distribute TV shows for everyone for all ages and for a long time they have maintained their remit and abided by it. They are a channel which puts on national events and brings the nation together. 

2) Is there a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world?

In my opinion, I think there is a place for the BBC in the 21st centaury digital world. This is because they can put their shows on an on demand website (BBC IPlayer), they give the news - which is something everyone needs. They also show sports events which viewers of sports (large target audience) would watch.  

3) Should the BBC funding model (licence fee) change? How?

I think the BBC should still have the licence fee model, but the fee should decrease. This would still allow the BBC to still gain revenue and also make it easier for audiences to watch and view all the different TV channels.