[CMA TV] Government to speed up PSB review

[Editor, Airflash Magazine]

Government to speed up PSB review
David Rose
10:00am

Chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown is to sanction an earlier- 
than-expected review into whether broadcasters other than the BBC  
should receive taxpayers' money.

The review, first proposed in a government white paper in March 2005,  
was to have taken place "towards the end" of the switchover from  
analogue to digital television in 2012 or 2013.

The study will examine whether there is a case for wider use of  
public funding, including licence fee money, to fund public service  
broadcasting "beyond the BBC".

The government's move follows lobbying by broadcasters hit by falling  
revenues from television advertising.

MPs on the media select committee have been warned that ITV may be  
forced to cut back on regional programming and regional news. And  
that the BBC could become the only UK broadcaster producing  
children's programmes within a few years.
+ Top sliced licence fee

The BBC, however, has made it clear that it will be opposed to any of  
its licence fee being top-sliced and redistributed to other  
broadcasters at a time when it is being forced to make cutbacks.

Director General Mark Thompson has told Parliament that, because of  
the lower-than-expected licence fee settlement, the BBC will have to  
think again about plans to establish 60 local television stations.

He also said that in the future the BBC will buy fewer programmes  
from the US.

Thompson went on to admit that a further round of redundancies among  
BBC staff is on the way. The BBC management is currently identifying  
where cuts can be made before presenting its recommendations to the  
BBC Trust.

+ Short term support

Meanwhile, broadcasting minister Shaun Woodward has told the media  
select committee that the government is examining whether short-term  
financial support can be given to Channel 4 as the broadcaster is  
expected to face funding problems because of digital switchover.

Channel 4 receives taxpayers' support through the free use of  
spectrum but it will lose this when the analogue signal is switched off.

Another decision Gordon Brown will have to make is whether to auction  
off spectrum released by digital switchover or yield up some to  
broadcasters to help them meet the demand for high definition  
television.

Ofcom has suggested spectrum should be auctioned and broadcasters  
should in future have to pay for the spectrum they use.



Source: Broadcastnow

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcastnowArticle.aspx?intStoryID=169564

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Michelle McGuire
Editor, Airflash Magazine

Community Media Association
http://www.commedia.org.uk

"Access to the media for people and communities"