{"id":139264,"date":"2022-05-04T10:47:46","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T09:47:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/?p=139264"},"modified":"2022-05-04T10:48:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T09:48:17","slug":"government-shares-whats-next-for-the-broadcasting-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/blog\/government-shares-whats-next-for-the-broadcasting-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"Government shares what\u2019s next for the broadcasting sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Government has published the long-awaited broadcasting white paper: \u2018Up next \u2013 the Government\u2019s vision for the broadcasting sector<\/a>\u2019, addressing several of the announcements from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the last year such as the privatisation of Channel 4<\/a> and the end of the BBC TV license fee.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In keeping with the Secretary of State\u2019s engagement with the press on these issues, Nadine Dorries spoke to<\/a> The Spectator on her vision for the sector, confirming that decisions on the license fee will be taken \u2018well ahead of the Charter renewal in 2027\u2019. She noted these policies have been in the ether for years and stated that \u2018over a long period of time, not a huge amount had been delivered from my department\u2019.<\/p>\n

On the license fee model, the white paper stated there were \u2018clear challenges on the horizon to the sustainability of the license fee\u2019 and that controversial criminal sanctions for non-payment were \u2018disproportionate and unfair\u2019. In response, the BBC welcomed<\/a> \u2018the steps to secure the ongoing success of public service broadcasters\u2019 and said it \u2018looks forward to engaging with the Government on both the forthcoming mid-term review and then the national debate on the next Charter\u2019.<\/p>\n

Up Next detailed how new legislation will ensure broadcaster content is accessible on connected devices and online platforms. Streaming services will be required to feature them and PSBs will share the content, with the Government consulting on this. On demand services will also be brought into Ofcom\u2019s Broadcasting code to protect viewers from harmful material including unchallenged health claims. Among other changes, DCMS stated the broadcasting remit will be overhauled, with a new definition on what it means to be a public service broadcaster (PSB) with a focus on creating shows that reflect British culture and support domestic film and TV production in all parts of the country. The Government also stated that only PSBs will be able to secure rights to major sporting events such as FIFA and Wimbledon.<\/p>\n

The privatisation of Channel 4 was confirmed in the policy document, despite 96% of responses to the Government consultation stating they did not agree that there are \u2018challenges in the current TV broadcasting market\u2019. Under the new plans, the channel will be able to produce and sell its own content as a private entity but will still be required to commission a certain amount of content from independent producers. DCMS has also reinforced the expectation that Channel 4 continues to provide distinctive and experimental programming and said the proceeds of the channel\u2019s sale will be used to set up a \u2018creative dividend\u2019 for the sector. In a statement, Channel 4 said it remained committed to upholding and maximising its remit and public service purpose.<\/p>\n

Up Next set out Government plans to:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Freeze the price of the TV license for two years.
\n\u2022 Increase the BBC\u2019s commercial borrowing limit from \u00a3350m to \u00a3750m.
\n\u2022 Pursue a change of ownership of Channel 4.
\n\u2022 Make the importance of programmes broadcast in the UK\u2019s indigenous regional and minority languages clear in legislation by including it in the new public service remit for television.
\n\u2022 Update S4C\u2019s public service remit to include digital and online services and remove the current geographical broadcasting restrictions. The Government will also legislate to support S4C and the BBC in moving away from the current framework requiring the BBC to provide S4C with a specific number of hours of television programming.
\n\u2022 Replace the fourteen overlapping \u2018purposes\u2019 and \u2018objectives\u2019 that public service broadcasters must contribute to with a new, shorter remit. PSBs will be accountable for the extent of their contributions.
\n\u2022 Introduce a new prominence regime for on-demand television, with Ofcom being given the new enforcement powers.
\n\u2022 Make changes to the local TV licensing regime to enable the extension of the local TV multiplex licence until 2034 and subject to the same conditions that apply to the national digital terrestrial television (DTT) multiplexes. The Government will consult on the options for the renewal or relicensing of individual local television services at the same time.
\n\u2022 Protect the UK\u2019s terms of trade regime while updating it to reflect changes in technology. The Government will also consider whether there is a need to extend aspects of this regime to radio and audio producers responsible for programming for the BBC.
\n\u2022 Designating additional regulated electronic programme guides to bring internet-delivered services within the scope of Ofcom.<\/p>\n

The paper also set out the Government\u2019s vision for the future of broadcasting which included:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Carrying out a review of the license fee funding model ahead of the next charter period.
\n\u2022 Long-term commitments to support cross-border broadcasting on the island of Ireland including funding for the Northern Ireland digital terrestrial television multiplex.
\n\u2022 Consulting on embedding the importance of distinctively British content directly into the existing quota system.
\n\u2022 Looking at making qualification for the listed events regime a benefit specific to public service broadcasters. There will also be a review looking into whether the scope of the listed events regime should be extended to include digital rights.
\n\u2022 Conducting an evaluation of the contestable fund pilot. This will include considering the lessons in determining whether a contestable fund model would provide additional value to the breadth and availability of UK produced public service content.
\n\u2022 Initiating a review looking at whether to introduce a revenue cap for \u2018qualifying independent\u2019 producer status.
\n\u2022 Supporting the British Film Commission to facilitate the growth of seven geographic production hubs, including one in each nation, and numerous new studio developments.
\n\u2022 Consulting in early 2023 on new proposals to champion the community radio sector and, where necessary, bringing forward changes to licensing requirements through amendments to the Community Radio Order 2004.
\n\u2022 Exploring ways to support UK broadcasters through possible changes in the wider advertising ecosystem. The Government intends to consider how to create a level playing field between broadcast and online advertising through the Online Advertising Programme.
\n\u2022 Ensuring that the UK\u2019s trade policy complements and protects the UK\u2019s audio visual public policy framework, including maintaining membership of the Council of Europe\u2019s Convention on Transfrontier Television.
\n\u2022 Establishing a pro-competition regime in digital markets.
\n\u2022 Developing legislative proposals with Ofcom to address the divergence in provision of access services between broadcast and on-demand services.
\n\u2022 Enabling the long-term renewal of DTT multiplex licences through to 2034.<\/p>\n

The sector had a mixed response to the white paper:<\/p>\n

WGGB The Writers\u2019 Union<\/strong>
\nThe WGGB stated<\/a> they remain concerned about the Government\u2019s plan to push ahead with \u2018its unnecessary and controversial plans to privatise Channel 4, freeze the BBC License Fee and review its funding model\u2019. They went on to say that these, and other proposals, will have a devastating impact on creative workers, the creative industry and the wider UK economy.<\/p>\n

Radiocentre <\/strong>
\nRadiocentre<\/a> expressed disappointment from the DCMS Digital Radio and Audio review, and the joint representations that the BBC and the commercial radio sector have made asking for radio to be protected from tech platforms have been ignored by Government. They went on to say they\u2019re disappointed the Government recognises the importance of legislation for television but not for radio, putting the radio industry at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n

ITV<\/strong>
\nA spokesperson for ITV said<\/a>: \u2018We welcome the Government\u2019s recognition of the huge value the PSBs deliver to the UK and it\u2019s decision to introduce a Media Bill to deliver the necessary reforms to ensure PSBs can continue to thrive\u2019.<\/p>\n

Netflix<\/strong>
\nStreaming giant Netflix reiterated<\/a> that they are \u2018supportive of measures to update the legal framework and bring [our] service in the UK under Ofcom\u2019s jurisdiction\u2019.<\/p>\n

Media Reform Coalition<\/strong>
\nThe Media Reform Coalition referred<\/a> to the plans in the white paper as a \u2018spiteful and ideological move\u2019 that \u2018does nothing to confront the\u2026lack of representativeness, adventure, risk-taking, accountability and plurality\u2019 at the heart of the UK media system. They went on to say that the privatisation of Channel 4 will not address the issues of commissioning being skewed towards larger media companies and the relative lack of investment in content production outside of London, stating that it will do the opposite.<\/p>\n

TAC<\/strong>
\nDyfrig Davies, Chairman of TAC which represents independent television production in Wales, welcomed<\/a> the white paper\u2019s recommendations on S4C\u2019s future but said that removing Channel 4\u2019s status as a publisher-broadcaster is \u2018worrying\u2019. They also noted the decision to revise the remit of Public Service Broadcasting and look forward to engaging on that over the coming months.<\/p>\n

Bectu<\/strong>
\nIn response to the reforms, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs commented: \u2018The government\u2019s plans are big on rhetoric but light on detail, particularly regarding creating more jobs and fostering continued growth for the UK\u2019s thriving independent production sector. The UK\u2019s much-loved public service broadcasters bring so much to the media landscape, and we need robust plans and legislation to protect and nurture their unique offering\u2019.<\/p>\n

For more news from the political and public affairs sector, sign up to Vuelio\u2019s Friday newsletter Point of Order<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Government has published the long-awaited broadcasting white paper: \u2018Up next \u2013 the Government\u2019s vision for the broadcasting sector\u2019, addressing several of the announcements from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the last …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":439,"featured_media":139267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7383,3699,7271],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139264"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/439"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139264"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139266,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139264\/revisions\/139266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}