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
13 results
Clear
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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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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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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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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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