BBC Trust

Public support for universal, independent broadcaster funded by the licence fee

The BBC Trust is today publishing its formal response to the Government’s Green Paper consultation on the BBC’s Charter Review. 

The response draws on the views of over 40,000 people who have so far taken part in the Trust’s own public consultation, detailed audience research with over 3,000 people, and other research and analysis.  

Next week the Trust will begin publication of the results of this research; the key emerging themes from it so far are incorporated in today’s Green Paper response.   The Trust’s public consultation continues until 5 November, with more research and public events planned   through the rest of this year. 

In its Green Paper response, the Trust argues that the BBC should remain a universal public service broadcaster, with only 8 per cent of the public in our audience research disagreeing with the idea that the BBC should provide something for everyone who pays the licence fee.    

Today’s response also recommends that the next Charter sets a clear requirement for distinctiveness, and proposes that specific distinctiveness requirements are included in each BBC service licence in future to ensure the BBC is more clearly accountable for its performance.

The Trust further argues that the licence fee, modernised to take account of iPlayer, remains the most sensible way of funding the BBC, a view supported by our research.  Nearly 60 per cent of the audience favoured a universal-style fee, either a modernised version of the current licence fee or a licence fee for every household.  

On the future governance of the BBC, the Trust welcomes the Government’s appointment of Sir David Clementi to lead an independent review, repeats its call for intelligent reform and sets out its view that any future governance system must ensure the BBC remains independent; that there is proper external scrutiny of its activities; and that the public themselves have a say. The Trust’s previous research also shows that the public also has a clear expectation that the BBC to be held to higher editorial standards than others. 

The Trust also believes that the processes of Charter Review and BBC funding settlements need to be kept at a distance from fixed-term general elections, through a one-off 11-year Charter instead of the current ten years, and that changes to both the licence fee agreement and the Charter need to have some form of parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation.

BBC Trust Chairman Rona Fairhead said:

“Our evidence so far shows that the public supports a BBC that is universal, independent and at the heart of our cultural life.  Today’s response to the Government is grounded in what tens of thousands of people have told us; our work continues with more research and consultation in the coming months, and we will play a full part in the discussions with the Government as the BBC’s future is decided.”

Other key points in the Trust’s formal response include:

• Opposition to any sale or privatisation of BBC Worldwide, an option raised in the Government’s Green Paper;
• Simplification of the current regulatory process for changes to BBC services, with greater transparency provided to the rest of the market;
• Opposition to any future ‘top-slicing’ of the licence fee, for example to pay for digital radio switchover; and
• A proposed new set of public purposes for the BBC, including specific commitments on distinctiveness and entertainment, which audiences see as a core BBC function. 

The Trust is also currently consulting the public on the specific proposals set out by BBC Director-General Tony Hall in September, and will submit further evidence gathered from this consultation to the Government in the new year, as part of the Charter Review process.  

The Trust’s Green Paper response can be found below:

Trust response to DCMS Charter Review consultation, PDF (1.4MB)

The annexes referred to in the above document will be published in full here in the coming weeks. 

Note: Independently-analysed public consultation and research findings on future funding options for the BBC were published by the Trust on 16 October.

Notes to Editors

1. The Trust has commissioned a wide range of independent research and analysis, with the key emerging themes incorporated in today’s Green Paper response.  Publication of this research in full will begin next week and includes: 
   • Quantitative research by ICM Unlimited
   • Independent analysis of the Trust’s public consultation results up to 18 September, by ICM Unlimited
   • Qualitative research by MTM on the BBC’s purposes and values, and future funding
   • Economic research by KPMG, examining the BBC’s economic impact and impact on the market
   • Analysis by Bear Consultancy examining the differences in complaints handling between the BBC Trust and Ofcom
2. More information on the Charter Review process and the BBC and the Trust’s role in this can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/charterreview. 
3. The Trust’s current Charter consultation runs until 5 November 2015.