The year ahead

Ofcom has published its plan of work for 2021/22. It's keen to keep tight reins on the tearaway toddler that is the BBC. Three tasks.  

1: Brucie's bureaucracy bonus. Sitting in meetings trying to work out if the BBC is pulling a fast one with BBC Studios. I'm pretty sure it isn't.

Continuing our review of the interaction between BBC Studios and the BBC Public Service. We are reviewing the evolution of the BBC’s commercial subsidiary, BBC Studios, including how it has implemented our trading and separation requirements.

2: Sitting at the periodic table with coffee and sandwiches

Beginning our first periodic review of the BBC, ahead of the Government’s mid-term review of the charter. We are required to carry out at least two periodic reviews during the charter period, the first of which must be published in sufficient time to inform the Government’s mid-term review. We must assess in our periodic review the extent to which the BBC is fulfilling its mission and promoting each of its public purposes. We also expect it to pick up on key themes and issues for the future regulation of the BBC, including for example how the BBC demonstrates that it is delivering services that audiences value.

3: On the operating table, counting the vital organs of the BBC, and demanding more gall bladders of religious broadcasting and small intestines of high culture.

Considering how the BBC operating licence should evolve to reflect changing audience habits and expectations in a digital world. The BBC’s current operating Licence includes a range of requirements across its public services, the majority of which relate to linear, broadcast services such as BBC One or Radio 1. As audiences increasingly watch and listen to content online, via BBC iPlayer or other streaming services, we will consider how the operating licence should evolve to reflect this