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OFCOM: review into public service broadcasting (PSB).

Channel 4 'must form partnership and itv get it way it seems (January 2009)

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:-(
A former member
Tomorrow we finally here what is going on, I do hope there have a surprise to pull on us and also to keep stv away from ITV!

does anyone know what time it will come out?

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/features/grafsalfd

Quote:
Ofcom is about to outline recommendations which will ensure people in the UK nations and regions continue to enjoy choice when it comes to TV news in their area.

Tomorrow we are publishing our final statement on our review into public service broadcasting (PSB).

It will make a series of recommendations to Government and Parliament to make sure PSB programming continues to thrive in the decade ahead.

Part of those recommendations will look at the future provision of PSB programmes in the UK nations and regions.
News programmes

Ofcom research has already underlined how people value television from their own area, especially news programmes.

Speaking at the 'TV in the Nations and Regions' conference in Salford this morning, Ofcom Deputy Chairman Philip Graf said that to reach as many of the people as possible, and to have the greatest impact, there needs to be ‘a multiplicity of voices.’

He explained that audiences in the devolved UK nations need and expect more than just the BBC to deliver television news, current affairs and other content that reflects the new political systems that have been created.

Philip said: ‘We will be making recommendations to ensure the long-term plural provision of nations and regions news.

‘These will require interventions, because without interventions, this content will not continue in anything like its present form long beyond 2011.

‘It is one of the clearest examples of what we mean when we say that the current PSB system is broken.’

He added: ‘We will also be recommending that Government and Parliament examine the options for putting these in place with that sort of timetable in mind.’
Super-fast broadband

In recent months Ofcom has revealed plans for how the UK can harness super-fast broadband, as well as the creation of local TV stations across the country.

Philip said the new system of PSB should be capable of embracing these developments, responding to audience choices and preferences.

This, he said, would help to nurture genuinely local democracy and civic participation.
BR
Brekkie
I'm not really too bothered about what they say about ITV because we all know ITV will get their own way anyway, and if they don't they'll just ignore it and push on with their plans anyway.

C4 is the more concerning issue - there are a few options on the table, but none of them particularly stand out as the right option.

I'm not too keen on it being merged into a wider public service body - I just fear then we'll end up with non-TV people in control, and it also open to more government interference.

Probably the least worst option is a merger with Five, but I think in merging they need to remain essentially two separate entities just owned by the same parent company, RTL. However, although that might mean savings behind the scenes, it probably would defeat the purposes of merging in the first place.


The timing also isn't ideal and once again the credit crunch will be a convenient excuse to make decisions that probably aren't in the long term interests of anyone.
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
I don't quite see what merging Channel 4 and Five will achieve.
Behind the scenes yes it might save a few bob to be either owned by the state or RTL but I fail to see how the running costs would fall considering at the end of the day you're still running two main channels, six minor channels and five timeshift servers.

That being said, the head of Channel 5 wants a merger (as does Mark Thompson of the BBC), and the head of Channel 4 doesn't. ITV don't want any PSB commitments at all but want all the benefits of if without any of the outlay but have threatened before to hand back their PSB licence and become a bog standard channel.

Top-slicing is probably not going to be an ideal solution either to the Channel 4 funding gap. The scary thing about this proposal is that nobody else supports it except Ofcom and select members of the Cabinet. That being said I've read somewhere the BBC have or will have surplus funds since it's apparently not going to cost as much for digital switchover as they originally though. Quite what will happen with Channel 4 by 2012 remains to be seen.
:-(
A former member
Main points

The BBC. Keep the BBC, funded by the licence fee, at the heart of public service broadcasting in the UK with a role in pioneering the development and take-up of content across new digital platforms.

We reject ‘top-slicing’ the BBC’s funding for programmes and services.

Children’s programmes and programmes for the devolved nations. Consider funding for content for children and for programmes other than news for the devolved nations, if other recommendations do not sufficiently meet viewers’ needs and if resources can be found.

Ofcom has made these recommendations because the current system of providing PSB programmes is broken.
X Factor

Rising costs mean that commercial stations like ITV may stop making PSB programmes altogether unless there are major changes to the way it is funded.

If action is not taken now then programmes such as regional news, current affairs, children’s programming and some types of drama and documentaries will in the future only be available on the BBC.
Viewers and listeners

Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards said: ‘Many people have forcefully expressed their views in the wide-ranging debate about the future of public service broadcasting.

‘But there is one group whose opinions matter more than anyone else: viewers and listeners.

‘The central challenge is how a strong and historically successful public service broadcasting system can navigate from analogue to digital.

‘Our proposals aim to sustain the quality and creative spirit of public service broadcasting while capturing the opportunities of broadband distribution, mobility and interactivity.

‘These proposals set out what we believe is required to fulfil a vision of diverse, vibrant and engaging public service broadcasting content across a range of digital media.’

Executive summary
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/psb2_phase2/shortterm/

report to the goverment
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/psb2_phase2/statement/
BR
Brekkie
So basically after months and months OFCOM haven't provided any answers - they're just offering the same questions which were around at the start of the PSB review.

I think it's time for a change in attitude at C4 then. OFCOM have failed to help them, so they need to look at ways of helping themselves, and that probably means a change in leadership. It also means that to protect their PSB services they need to protect their profitable programming too - it makes little sense that while they're pleading poverty they're quite willingly running one of their biggest cash cows into the ground.
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
Brekkie posted:
it makes little sense taht while they're pleading poverty they're quite willingly running one of their biggest cash cows into the ground.


What are you referring to?
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
Cat got your tongue, Brekkie?
BR
Brekkie
Gavin Scott posted:
Brekkie posted:
it makes little sense that while they're pleading poverty they're quite willingly running one of their biggest cash cows into the ground.


What are you referring to?

The monster that is Big Brother. Whatever the critics may say, over the last 10 years it's been C4's most profitable programme. It's undoubtedly now at a stage where it's in need of a huge overhaul or the axe, and C4 seem content just to let it fizzle out over the next couple of years rather than put the effort in to try and rejuvenate it and secure that little extra revenue it could bring in over the next few years.
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
Brekkie posted:
The monster that is Big Brother. Whatever the critics may say, over the last 10 years it's been C4's most profitable programme. It's undoubtedly now at a stage where it's in need of a huge overhaul or the axe, and C4 seem content just to let it fizzle out over the next couple of years rather than put the effort in to try and rejuvenate it and secure that little extra revenue it could bring in over the next few years.


"Undoubtedly" eh?

Would that be one of your opinions there?

Its still one of their highest performing programmes, and despite all the prophets of doom its managed to retain a sponsor for its latest series.

I dunno, Brekkie, I often wonder where you pluck these notions from.
PT
Put The Telly On
Gavin Scott posted:
I dunno, Brekkie, I often wonder where you pluck these notions from.


From one of his mind maps he's probably created along with pretty much every other damn show discussed on this forum no doubt.

I'm still waiting for the book...

"How to revamp Television" by Brekkie Boy.
MD
mdtauk
ITV should go fully commercial, and hand over the regional commitments and spectrum to Channel 4, as it seems to be more public service. Any money ITV recieve from the License Fee/Government etc should then revert to Channel 4
TO
Tom0
Gavin Scott posted:
Brekkie posted:
The monster that is Big Brother. Whatever the critics may say, over the last 10 years it's been C4's most profitable programme. It's undoubtedly now at a stage where it's in need of a huge overhaul or the axe, and C4 seem content just to let it fizzle out over the next couple of years rather than put the effort in to try and rejuvenate it and secure that little extra revenue it could bring in over the next few years.


"Undoubtedly" eh?

Would that be one of your opinions there?

Its still one of their highest performing programmes, and despite all the prophets of doom its managed to retain a sponsor for its latest series.

I dunno, Brekkie, I often wonder where you pluck these notions from.


The small and well known fact that Big Brother used to provide Channel 4 with around 10% of their yearly profit?

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