15) Public service broadcasting

 Ofcom review of PSB in Britain

In 2020 Ofcom published its findings from a five year review of public service broadcasting in Britain. Read the introduction to their report - pages 3-7. 

1) Look at page 3. Why is it a critical time for public service broadcasting?

Now is a crucial time for PSB as audience viewing habits are rapidly changing and there's been a huge increase in competition from global content providers such as Netflix and Disney.

2) How has TV viewing changed in recent years?

TV viewing has changed in recent years due to the rise in online on demand streaming services which allow viewers to watch content at a time that suits them best which is much more practical than TV which only shows shows at certain times. 

3) What aspects of PSB do audiences value and enjoy?

Audiences value and enjoy the trustworthy news and programmes that show different aspects of UK life/culture.

4) Find and note down the statistics in this section on how much TV audiences tend to watch and how they watch it.

PSB's provide 32,000 hours of new UK content which outweighs commercial broadcasters.
Between 2014 and 2018, net advertising revenue for the advertising-funded PSB channels has fallen by an average rate of 3.8% per year, equivalent to approximately £325m. In the same period, the BBC’s revenues from the licence fee have fallen by an average of 4% each year.Arts, religion, children’s and formal education programmes on the PSB channels continued to be relatively low over the review period. In 2014, there were 1,234 hours of these genres, falling to 1,148 in 2018.

5) Read the section on page 5 discussing the importance of PSB. Again, find the statistics and explain the value of public service broadcasting in Britain.

6) Look at the section on commercial challenges. How have revenues fallen for PSB channels?

There was a loss of revenue from advertising by 3.8%/year from 2014-2018 and in this Time there was also a decrease in revenue from license fees by 4%/year.

7) Read page 6. What services increasingly play a role in our media lives in the digital age?

Commercial broadcasters and on demand streaming services as they make it easier to watch media products and give us more freedom (time and choice of what we consume).

Goldsmiths report on Public Service TV

1) What does the report state has changed in the UK television market in the last 20 years?

In the last 20 years we've seen the development of new technology which has created competition for PSB and caused a decline in the consumption of public service media however it still takes up 71.9% of the TV consumed.

2) Look at page 4. What are the principles that the report suggests need to be embedded in regulation of public service broadcasting in future?

PSB channels should be guaranteed promotion ahead of all other programmes and should be promoted/accessible on the on demand streaming services which have risen to popularity.

Pay-TV platforms should pay PSB channels to show their content as they don't currently value their content enough.

Ofcom should do quality surveys of public service content to ensure its quality is of the correct standard.

Ofcom should monitor the independent media sector to prevent diversity being affected.

3) What does the report say about the BBC?

The BBC is the most important part of the television ecology but it is struggling due to new competitors and an outdated license fee funding model.

4) According to the report, how should the BBC be funded in future?

It says that it could be funded through taxes or a fee that changes based on the income of the household to make it accessible.

5) What does the report say about Channel 4?

Channel 4 is important as it creates content for a diverse audience however it doesn't produce enough for older children which has lead to criticism. It has also had to cut programme spending due to being threatened by competitors and privatisation.

6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?

Shouldn't be privatised, should increase content aimed at young adult and older children, should continue to innovate and experiment.

7) Look at page 10 - new kids on the block. What does the report say about new digital content providers and their link to public service broadcasting?

New digital content providers are increasingly producing content with PSB like qualities. It says that grants should be provided for those creating content which meets public service content objectives (educate, inform,entertain).