"In addition to its licence fee budget, BBC World Service should seek non-licence fee sources of funding (including commercial funding) where appropriate and within regulatory requirements. (See Annex II for a policy statement on alternative finance, which has been agreed with the Secretary of State for DCMS, as per the requirements of the Charter and Agreement)."
There are some "conditions". BBC World Service should ensure that news, current affairs and information programming represents 75% of output, except for Persian TV where the commitment is 50% (they love Top Gear in Iran).
And there are targets, to be delivered by 31 Dec 2016:
Target 1: To rate higher than its international competitors for 'helps to keep me informed'
Target 2: To rate higher than its international competitors for ‘most trusted international news’
Target 3: To reach an estimated weekly global audience of at least 200 million adults across all platforms, including its core radio service. (2013 claim is 192m)
Target 4: To reach 60 million weekly viewers to its television services.
Target 5: To reach 25 million weekly users to its online content.
The element I struggle with is that, under this deal, the Foreign Office defines and approves "languages of particular need" - "services combining the BBC’s global news with a specific tailored offer that meets the needs of audiences with the least access to high quality, impartial news". If the BBC doesn't (and it shouldn't) want to be seen as an arm of Government, that link should be broken firmly as the funding risk transfers to the licence fee. The BBC should decide the services it offers, based on its own judgements of need and financial viability. If the Foreign Office wants a new service, to serve some political aim, find someone else to do it. There, I've said it.
No comments:
Post a Comment