BBC Digital

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 28 Nov 2022 Closed: 27 Jun 2023 Parliament page
The BBC has an ambition of extracting more value from its online presence and sees accelerating digital as essential to its success. To achieve this, the BBC is undertaking a digital transformation. The BBC is also seeking to enhance its digital portfolio, which includes iPlayer, Sounds, News and Sports. This … Read more
4 Recommendations
26 Conclusions
2 Reports
1 Oral session
2 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 7 events
3 Jul
2023
Report published
27 Jun
2023
Report published
28 Apr
2023
Report published
30 Jan
2023
Correspondence
23 Jan
2023
Correspondence
12 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
12 Jan
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
12 Jan 2023
View on parliament.uk
BBC Digital
Leigh Tavaziva · BBC Storm Fagan · BBC Tim Davie CBE · BBC
Recommendations & Conclusions
30 results
2 Recommendation Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Require BBC to confirm digital investment plan details and sufficiency of £500 million savings.
The BBC has a high-level plan in place for its £500 million of annual savings and reinvestment into digital, but it is unclear whether this will cover its new ambition to transition to an internet-only future in the 2030s. Following … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, which includes this recommendation addressed to the BBC.
HM Treasury
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3 Recommendation Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Develop BBC plan for recruiting and retaining specialist digital staff, including succession planning.
The BBC faces a significant challenge in a very competitive market to recruit and retain staff with the right digital skills. The BBC had a 23% staff turnover rate in its digital product group as of June 2022. Shortages of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the report and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations, implicitly passing responsibility to the BBC for this recommendation.
HM Treasury
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4 Recommendation Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Accelerate development of the BBC's personalisation strategy for audiences and public service purposes.
The BBC’s approach to how it will develop personalised services for audiences is not yet well developed. The BBC wants to personalise its products and services such that audiences can access content that is of interest to them, while also … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendation to develop a personalization strategy and report on its progress.
HM Treasury
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5 Recommendation Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Review BBC data collection and storage policies, ensure minimum data collection and safety.
The BBC has developed its approach to data security since 2019 but is not yet doing enough to manage the risks arising from increased access to users’ personal data. The BBC needs to collect and hold some audience data to … Read more
Government Response
The government response provided addresses a recommendation to the Department for Business and Trade regarding fraud and error in COVID-19 grant schemes, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's recommendation concerning the BBC's data collection and storage policies.
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Committee receives evidence regarding BBC's digital transformation plans.
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the BBC about its plans for digital transformation.1
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the committee taking evidence.
HM Treasury
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6 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC shows limited strategic planning for wholesale move from traditional broadcasting.
In December 2022, the BBC’s Director-General followed up on the May announcement, describing the BBC’s vision for where it should aim to be by the 2030s and setting out plans to move to an internet future with greater urgency.6 He … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's planning for switching off traditional broadcasting.
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Director-General clarifies BBC's future digital strategy, stressing no active switchover date.
At our evidence session in January 2023, the Director-General reiterated to us the need for urgency and how, by any forecast of the future, the vast majority of media consumption will be via the internet.8 However, he also told us … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the report's publication and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the report's recommendations.
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
Reversal of BBC Three's digital-only move highlights risks of premature switchover.
BBC Three was taken off air as a traditional linear broadcast channel and was made an internet-only channel in 2016. Six years later that decision was reversed on the grounds of it having reduced the BBC’s impact with younger audiences, … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about BBC Three.
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC acknowledges and addresses NAO recommendations for future broadcast-internet service planning.
The BBC also acknowledged the four recommendations in the NAO report, one of which was to build on its December 2022 announcement and plan scenarios for how it could move between broadcast and internet services in the future. It said … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC has a critical role in educating older, less tech-confident audiences on new technology.
We raised the question of education for people, typically older people, who are not familiar or confident with adopting what may be new technology to them. The BBC stressed its universality obligation to ensure that content is accessible. It also … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC's universal service commitments threatened by inadequate broadband roll-out and affordability issues.
Good quality access to online services will rely of course on the roll-out of broadband, overseen by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. We noted that the BBC’s universal service commitments could not be met with current broadband … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC's funding gap significantly increased to nearly £400 million by inflation.
Following its January 2022 licence fee settlement with government, the BBC estimated that it would have a funding gap of £285 million a year by 2027–28, and that it needs to deliver £500 million of annual savings and reinvestment to … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC's product development spending increasing, with significant investment planned for digital transformation.
The BBC’s spending on its product development has also declined, from £109 million in 2018–19 to £98 million in 2021–22 (in 2021–22 prices). However, due to the renewed focus on the growth of its digital products, the BBC has budgeted … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC's digital product development spending significantly lower than rival media organisations.
The BBC’s spending on digital product development is far lower than many other media organisations, many of which are digital-only, though direct spending comparisons are problematic. Additionally, the BBC has a range of universal service obligations that other media firms … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC announced £500 million digital-first investment plan funded through savings and commercial income.
In May 2022, the BBC announced a £500 million investment plan, in support of its digital-first ambitions. The BBC plans for this to come from £200 million a year in spending reductions as well as £300 million a year from … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's £500 million investment plan.
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC acknowledges £500 million digital investment plan might be insufficient, requiring difficult decisions.
We asked whether the BBC considered £500 million would be enough for its investment plan. The BBC said that pressure on the £500 million had increased and it would have to “box very clever”.25 It said it had already taken … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the sufficiency of the BBC's investment plan.
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC needs more capital for technology investment but rules out subscription services for funding.
On financial plans, the BBC also said it thought it would have to find ways of attracting more capital into its technology investment.28 But it made clear that there is no plan in the UK to add subscription services, as … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's financial plans and subscription services.
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC's digital investment plan lacks sufficient detail on savings and financial contingencies.
We raised a concern about the lack of sufficient detail to support the BBC’s digital investment plan, for example around how savings will be achieved, what happens if savings targets are not met, or whether additional borrowing would be required.30 … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the detail of the BBC's digital investment plan.
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC faces a shortage of specialist digital staff due to lower comparative pay levels.
Although the BBC has managed to successfully recruit and retain a number of highly skilled individuals to lead its digital teams, overall it has a shortage of specialist digital staff. In common with other organisations, the BBC has experienced technology … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about the BBC's shortage of specialist digital staff.
HM Treasury
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20 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
High staff turnover in BBC's digital product group is hindering technical development.
The product group in the BBC—responsible for developing and delivering the BBC’s audience-facing digital products—accounts for 5.7% of the total BBC public service pay bill.35 In its product group the BBC had 23% staff turnover as of June 2022. This … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing this specific conclusion about staff turnover in the BBC's product group.
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC faces ongoing challenges attracting and retaining skilled technology staff in a competitive market.
The BBC told us that last year had been really difficult for attracting people. It cited the particular consequences of the covid pandemic for the technology market, with international organisations starting to offer remote working contracts, giving potential employees, for … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC aims to attract brilliant talent at discounted rates through its public service mission.
The BBC considered there may be an increasing sense developing of people wanting to ‘reconnect with purpose’ and of that being a material consideration for people when choosing who they wished to work for; implying that the BBC could benefit … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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23 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC making progress towards sign-in targets for enhanced personalised digital user experiences.
Over the past nine years, the BBC has signalled that it sees offering a more personalised experience as important to its future plans and key to this is sign-in, whereby users register for and use a BBC account to access … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the report's publication and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the report's recommendations.
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC lacks a comprehensive, organisation-wide strategy for personalising digital user experiences.
Through sign-in, the BBC can collect personal information about its users to understand their preferences. When used alongside recommendation algorithms, this should provide a user experience tailored to their individual preferences. The BBC does not believe that it is possible … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will respond directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC uses a combined approach of human curation and algorithms for content recommendations.
The BBC told us that it tried to make the sign-up process as simple as possible, while at the same time giving the user control, and was very conscious of accessibility and different digital familiarity levels.45 The BBC described to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the report's publication and states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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26 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC aims to develop unique recommendation algorithms reflecting its public service values.
The BBC also told us that it needed to build something different to a commercial algorithm, saying that there are many commercial models that lead you to where you do not want to be. Whereas, the BBC also has its … Read more
Government Response
The government's response states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing the substance of the committee's conclusion.
HM Treasury
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27 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC's increased use of personal data for personalisation poses reputational risks.
To build a more personalised experience for its users, the BBC will need to increase its use of their personal data. The BBC plans to use these data to support commissioning decisions and to make tailored content recommendations, and needs … Read more
Government Response
The government's response states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing the substance of the committee's conclusion.
HM Treasury
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28 Conclusion Not Addressed
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC affirms no plans to commercialise or sell user data, despite future increased collection.
The BBC told us it had no plans to commercialise the data it holds on viewers, assuring us categorically that it had no plans to use or sell UK subscriber data to any other party for commercial purposes. It said … Read more
Government Response
The government's response states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report, without addressing the substance of the committee's conclusion.
HM Treasury
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29 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC planning documents lack explicit strategy for managing reputational risks from increased data use.
The BBC welcomed the recommendations made by the NAO which included on managing potential data risk and said it was taking action on oversight and policy. It outlined some actions taken in recent years to improve its approach, stressed that … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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30 Conclusion Deferred
Forty-Sixth Report - BBC Digital
BBC reports 27 data breaches since April 2020 with no ICO enforcement action.
The BBC told us it has had no data breaches that it has had to report to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) this financial year. It has reported 27 data breaches since April 2020 and told us that the ICO … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the BBC will write directly to the Committee regarding the recommendations in the report.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 4 classified
Deferred 17
Not Addressed 13
Total 4 recs + 26 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
30 Jan 2023 Correspondence from Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC, re BBC Digital Update, dated 25 January 2023
Parliament page
23 Jan 2023 Correspondence from Leigh Tavaziva, Group Chief Operating Officer, BBC, re BBC session – update on number of data breaches, dated 13 January 2023
Parliament page