MIGRAIN: Industries - Public broadcasting Service

 Ofcom review of PSB in Britain

In 2020 Ofcom published its findings from a five year review of public service broadcasting in Britain. Read the introduction to their report - pages 3-7. You'll need your Greenford Google login to view the document.

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

Audiences are watching public broadcasting services less as audience viewing habits constantly change. Nowadays, more people skip watching live TV and PSB in order to watch shows from their preferred streaming service.

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

Live Television is viewed less and less and the number of audience watching shows that are on-demand or from their preferred streaming service has increased.

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

The informing, educating and entertaining aspects.

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. 

They watch on average over three hours of live broadcasting TV each day and over half of that is to the PSB  channels.

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.

The PSB channels are still prominent in terms of original British Television. They also provide audiences with approximately  32,000 hours of new diverse UK content, including news, current affairs, drama and children’s programmes. 

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

They have fallen at an average rate of 3.8% per year, mainly due to younger audiences no longer finding an interest in PSB channels.

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

On-demand and streaming services are becoming increasingly popular as younger audiences and older audiences as well have been viewing streaming and on-demand services before viewing live television.

Goldsmiths report on Public Service TV

Read this report from Goldsmiths University - A future for public service television: content and platforms in a digital world.

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

The market share of the UK's main PSB's is slowly decreasing even though they still have large prominence and recognisability throughout the entirety of the UK.

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?

Principles of independence, universality, citizenship, quality and diversity.

3) What does the report say about the BBC?

That the model of universality underpinning its public service credentials is under threat, also it has been contracting real terms and it is hard to sustain the case that it is damaging competitors as audiences can go to the BBC to watch news or entertainment that they would otherwise have to pay for.

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

 With a more progressive funding mechanism such as tiered platform-neutral household fee.

5) What does the report say about Channel 4?

It supports the independent production sector and creates content that is diverse and goes against the norm of mainstream content. It's remit has changed as time has moved but Channel 4 has cut programme spending as it has left art programmes 'out to dry'.

6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?

It should increase its provision for young adults and older children and restore programming that has been in decline.

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 the growing contribution to a digital media ecology made by these cultural institutions should be boosted by a specific public intervention.


Final questions - YOUR opinion on public service broadcasting

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

Yes as for 100 years, they have been providing the UK with free news, entertainment and education and changing it's position as the UK's favourable broadcaster would cause more damage than good.

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

Yes as even though there has been a reduction in views and revenue, it is still globally recognised as the UK's best public service provider.

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

No as changing it would just cause more problems than good.