U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Tuesday launched the once-in-a-decade review of the BBC’s royal charter, which governs its operations and priorities, with the aim of “bolstering trust in the broadcaster and putting it on a sustainable financial footing.”
As part of the charter renewal process, the government of Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is considering options to ensure the BBC is sustainably funded for decades to come, commands the public’s trust – being independent and accountable to the public it serves, represents all communities across the U.K. and drives growth, opportunity and good jobs.
In the decade since the last charter review, “technological change has led to shifts in how and where people consume content, with audiences moving away from traditional broadcasting to online content,” the government said. As such, the latest review is “an opportunity to futureproof the BBC to make sure it not only survives, but thrives” for decades to come. “It will seek to ensure that audiences continue to have access to high-quality British drama, entertainment and educational content, as well as the corporation’s world-class journalism.”
Said Nandy: “We want the BBC to continue to enrich people’s lives, tell Britain’s story and showcase our values and culture at home and overseas, long into the future. My aims for the charter review are clear. The BBC must remain fiercely independent, accountable and be able to command public trust. It must reflect the whole of the UK, remain an engine for economic growth and be funded in a way that is sustainable and fair for audiences. “
She concluded: “As a government, we will ensure that this charter review is the catalyst that helps the BBC adapt to a rapidly changing media landscape and secures its role at the heart of national life.”
Nandy outlined three priorities. The first is ensuring that the BBC “commands the public’s trust, is independent and accountable to the public it serves, and represents all communities across the U.K.” Among changes under consideration by the government, on which it will seek input, are changes to the government’s role in board appointments, an update to the BBC’s Mission and Public Purposes to give accuracy equal importance alongside impartiality, improvements to the transparency of editorial decision-making, “new responsibilities to counter mis/disinformation, potentially alongside additional requirements on media literacy to help the public navigate technological change and develop digital skills, including around AI,” and the introduction of “specific duties around workplace conduct to ensure BBC staff are protected, and the organization sets the standard for the rest of the sector to follow – including new responsibilities for the BBC board to ensure action is taken against workplace misconduct.”
Priority number 2 is ensuring that the BBC is “sustainably funded for decades to come to support its vital public service role.” Options that the government is considering and seeking views on in this area include a reform of the license fee and “options for the BBC to generate more commercial revenue,” as well as options for funding the World Service and supporting the funding of minority language services, such as Welsh broadcaster S4C.
The third priority is a BBC that “drives growth, opportunity and good jobs across the nations and regions of the U.K.” Options that the government is considering here include placing a “new obligation on the BBC to drive economic growth, build skills and support the creative economy across the U.K.,” “empowering the BBC to be an ethical and economic leader in adapting to new digital technologies,” as well as “encouraging the BBC to deliver more through collaborations and partnerships for growth and public value outcomes, including with organizations across the creative economy, and with local news outlets.”
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