Straitened times

Even Donald J Trump might have clocked a recurring issue with the Straits of Hormuz. If he has the control he claims, why can't US forces move in and allow oil and gas shipping to continue ?

Swiss support for licence

Swiss voters rejected further cuts to public service media in the weekend's referendum. The right-wing Swiss People's Party had proposed reducing the annual fee from 335 Swiss Francs (around £320), to 200 Francs, with businesses. 62% opposed the plan, on a turn-out of 56%. 

The governing coalition had already decided to cut it to 300 Francs by 2029 and cost-cutting measures announced before the referendum will lead to the loss of 900 full-time position

The Borrowers

As well as trying to find a new DG, BBC Board chairman Samir Shah is looking for a new non-executive to chair BBC Studios. 

Sir Damon Buffini has decided not to take a second term, but quietly extended his current run by six months, to leave in June. (He has, however, extended his term as Chair of the National Theatre, where he started in 2016, to mid 2027). He was brought in under 'old friend' Richard Sharp's tenure as BBC Chairman, and rewarded with the title 'deputy', which other non-execs sought to define as 'honorary'. His challenge was to wring more profits out of Studios, and whilst they have met targets, some critics are convinced that this, the biggest element of the BBC's commercial side, is still underperforming.   In the recent BBC submission to the DCMS, it says it needs to borrow more to make more....

Mmm. Matt Brittin has NED experience...

Tax me

Whilst still pushing the idea of partially funding the BBC from a broadband charge, I'm still firmly convinced there's a case for taking the money from either a) council tax, or b) general taxation. 

The case for council tax would require syncrhonisation with a much-needed revaluation. Bands are still based on figures from 1991. 

The case for taking it from general taxation might give a sensible kickstart to some easy partnerships. For example, in black and white days, the BBC was not averse to the odd public service information film. The NHS is coy about how much it spends on advertising; a recent promotion of pharmacy services cost £2.5m alone. BBC Bitesize continues to be pivotal to any small improvements there may be in GCSE results. I could stomach a few promotions for online energy monitoring or insulation as a price for keeping the BBC going.  Many of the Government's national emergency strategies rely on the BBC, in terms of communicating online, via tv and radio. Put a price on that lot, and sit harder on the advertising budgets of a whole range of Government departments.   

Evasion disappears once the BBC's funding comes from taxation; so the annual costs of collection (c£166m last year) 'come back' to Auntie; and, presuming the new funding algorithm is based on numbers of households, up to £1bn 'comes back' suppressing the growing evasion rate, currently somewhere around 12.5%.  

In the old days, the licence fee was tied in with broadcasting spectrum; in the digital world, it would not be unreasonable to say the Government makes big decisions about frequency availability, and, as we now have 97% of households with 'superfast broadband', and costs, in real terms, dropping since 2019, a wee surchage would not difficult to contemplate. 

Controls ?  We currently have at least 8 independent pay review bodies. Build on that mechanism to set a PSB income strategy every five years in advance. At least a bit better than being at the whim of whoever sits in No 11 Downing Street.  

Alternatives

A number of correspondents suggest a new guideline for the besieged toilers in the Temple of Doom. If you're thinking of leading a bulletin on a Trump Truth Social tweet, think again. Even the staid Radio 4 bulletins fell into the trap again this morning. How about reporting on the US bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles at RAF Fairford ?  Is that a 'defensive' deployment ?   How about Trump watching the bodies of six army reservists coming back from Kuwait, killed while working in a makeshift operations centre - a trailer, 'fortified' with concrete barriers ?  Or what's the strategy behind bombing oil depots around Tehran ?  Or... 

Show me

Can I make a plea for more-explainers with maps to report on Trump & Bibi v Iran on the BBC main bulletin ?  It's complicated, and needs a guide of Peter Snow quality, and a credible military expert, to explain both sides' 'strategy'.  Where's Ros Atkins ?  

Swiss vote

Keep half an eye on today's Swiss referendum, on a proposal to limit the annual licence fee paid to SRG/SSR to 200 Swiss Francs (£190) and to exempt most businesses. It's currently charged at 335 francs per household (£320). 

The broadcaster, which runs 17 radio stations and seven TV channels in four languages, says slashing its 1.5 billion franc annual budget would be "the end of the SRG" in its current form.

In 2018, there was a referendum to end the licence fee (then 451 francs/£358) altogether. 71% opposed the move, on a turn-out of 54%. 

Thin

The BBC has handed in its homework in on Charter Review, and gets a B-. 100 pages of fine words (jeopardy x 4) buttering very few parsnips. 

Actual new things ? A plan to pilot 'citizen assemblies' to see what audiences want. More worryingly "The Board could also have a bigger role in commissioning or providing oversight to this work, ensuring that we are open about our decision making and how we have taken on board audience feedback."    Still, an improvement on the distinctively half-hearted current engagement of the Board in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. 

On complaints, "we propose that the DirectorGeneral, as Editor in Chief, should retain the ability to fast-track significant editorial issues and ensure that editorial breaches are resolved expeditiously".  Usually in response to a social media storm followed by a newspaper-pile-on. "However, editorial complaints are an area where we seek continuous improvement, and we want to have an open debate about whether further changes are needed as part of this Charter Review"

On a long-term future, "The next Charter should remove a fixed expiry date but also recognise the fact that the BBC has no innate right to exist. Any decision on the future existence of the BBC should be supported by a public mandate and be subject to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny"

On a new process for determining the level of public funding; issue ducked. "There are several ways the funding process could be reformed in the UK to make it more transparent and independent, whilst also ensuring government has appropriate oversight over what is a significant amount of public funding..... We want to engage openly on these options and listen to others’ views." 

Bald on the World Service, with the implication that unless Government pays for it, it's over: "Funding of the World Service should move back to the UK government and include safeguards so that future funding is secure and stable to allow long term planning. Similarly, we think the UK government should revert to paying directly for the open-source intelligence services it receives from BBC Monitoring. A new funding model would give us the stability to stay ahead of fast-moving information threats. "

On platforms, "We are proposing that iPlayer could be opened to other PSBs (and their commercial services), with support for their business models (i.e. advertising or subscription), whilst keeping BBC public service content advertising-free. This could help ensure the UK retains a streaming platform that competes with global services and remains a first choice for audiences."

On money-making, they want explore integrating the "UK channels" of BBC Studios into iPlayer. And the paper warns that simply putting more archive onto YouTube won't bring in major funding. 

And the biggest duck of all ?  Wanting a new means of universal funding, but not making any positive suggestions.... "The current model cannot maintain the BBC’s public service mission for the future. When 94% of people use the BBC each month yet fewer than 80% of households contribute, reform is needed to deliver sufficient funding in a way that is sustainable and fair for all.

"It is right that the government is consulting widely on options, recognising the pressures on both the BBC and household budgets. But the Charter must present a solution. The BBC does not have a fixed view on the model, but it does on the principle"

Low bar

 An unsigned piece that appeared yesterday on the BBC News site.  News ?

Both sides

Trump and the BBC have agreed on one thing - the mediation services of J W Thornton, 72, a Florida Judge for 13 years, now working out of a tower block overlooking Miami Beach. J W received his B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1974 (American Studies) and his J.D. degree from the University of Miami in 1977 (he met wife Mindy there, and took her to a Stephen Stills concert).  He started out as an assistant state attorney, before setting up Thornton & Rothman, until his appointment to the circuit court in 2007.  As a judge, he received the Miami Catholic Lawyers Guild 2017 Lex Christi, Lex Amoris award.