The future of public service broadcasting

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Mar 2020 Closed: 18 Jun 2021 Parliament page
The inquiry will look at the future of public service broadcasting (PSB) within the wider media and digital ecology, including funding, content and regulation of PSBs and how this compares with alternative subscription, streaming services and Freeview services. In addition to the BBC, there are a number of other broadcasters … Read more
22 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
2 Reports
6 Oral sessions
3 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
3 Nov
2021
Report published
17 Jun
2021
Report published
25 Mar
2021
Report published
25 Mar
2021
Correspondence
15 Dec
2020
Oral evidence
17 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
17 Nov
2020
Correspondence
3 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
15 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
3 Sep
2020
Correspondence
14 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
16 Jun
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
15 Dec 2020
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Dame Melanie Dawes · Ofcom Kevin Bakhurst · Ofcom Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
17 Nov 2020
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Dr Caitriona Noonan · Cardiff University Jacqueline Baker · B Inclusive Task Force John McVay OBE · Pact Professor Jeanette Steemers · King’s College London Professor Philip Schlesinger · Glasgow University
3 Nov 2020
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Chris Bird · Amazon Georgia Brown · Screen Sectors Skills Task Force Iain Bundred · BBC Richard Lewis · YouTube
15 Sep 2020
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Ali Law · Sky Anne Mensah · Netflix Benjamin King · Netflix Maria Kyriacou · ViacomCBS Mitchell Simmons · ViacomCBS Zai Bennett · Sky
14 Jul 2020
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Dame Carolyn McCall · ITV Magnus Brooke · ITV
16 Jun 2020
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Alex Mahon · Channel 4 Clare Sumner CBE · BBC James Purnell · BBC
Recommendations & Conclusions
30 results
1 Conclusion Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
For public service broadcasting to prosper in the future the Government will need to act—changes...
For public service broadcasting to prosper in the future the Government will need to act—changes that require ministerial authority are needed in order to ensure that the public service broadcasting system remains sustainable in the context of today’s greatly expanded … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the need for action to ensure sustainable public service broadcasting and is conducting its own review, along with Ofcom's, promising to bring findings together and set out its position and next steps later this year, including a commitment to legislating.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
Despite the long-term decline in viewing, we recognise that linear television remains crucial to certain...
Despite the long-term decline in viewing, we recognise that linear television remains crucial to certain audiences.
Government Response
The government agrees that universality is a core tenet of public service broadcasting and commits to ensuring PSB content is delivered via commonly available, familiar technologies that offer a high-quality viewing experience.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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3 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
Universality is at the heart of public service broadcasting and should remain so.
Universality is at the heart of public service broadcasting and should remain so. Linear broadcast television by PSBs remains important and with delays to full fibre broadband rollout, a wholly online public service broadcasting system allowing for universal access is … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of universality and states its strategic review of public service broadcasting is examining PSB remits and will consider necessary changes to expectations in light of industry trends and funding.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the role that PSB content can play in bringing the...
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the role that PSB content can play in bringing the country together creating shared national experiences and providing access to topical, UK-specific information and entertainment.
Government Response
The government wholeheartedly agrees with the committee's assessment on the vital role of public service broadcasting during the pandemic in uniting the country and providing trusted information.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
The pandemic has reinforced the critical importance of free and easy access to trusted news...
The pandemic has reinforced the critical importance of free and easy access to trusted news sources. At a time of crisis, audiences have shown that they value the PSBs. PSBs have played a role in tackling the spread of misinformation … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's observations regarding the critical importance of free and easy access to trusted news from PSBs, affirming that tackling disinformation remains a government priority.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
The pandemic has reinforced the importance of local and regional-specific news provision.
The pandemic has reinforced the importance of local and regional-specific news provision. The provision of news to Nations and Regions should not suffer further as a result of budgetary restraints. We perceive a real risk to the provision of regional- … Read more
Government Response
The government's strategic review of public service broadcasting will examine the remits of PSBs and consider necessary changes, but it does not commit to the recommended Ofcom review into local and regional news provision.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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7 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
Reaching younger audiences now, and building relationships with them, is of the utmost importance if...
Reaching younger audiences now, and building relationships with them, is of the utmost importance if PSBs are going to remain popular and sustainable in the long- term. They way in which people access content, particularly those under the age of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the challenge of retaining younger audiences and is considering, through a strategic review of public service broadcasting, whether legislative and regulatory changes are needed to help PSBs innovate and compete online.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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8 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We are pleased that Ofcom highlighted the deficits in children’s programming across the PSB portfolios...
We are pleased that Ofcom highlighted the deficits in children’s programming across the PSB portfolios in 2018 and consider it vitally important that it continues to keep PSB performance in this area under regular review. We recommend that the Government … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms that evaluation of the Young Audiences Content Fund is ongoing, and a full evaluation will be conducted to determine its impact, after which a decision will be made on whether to close, maintain, or expand the scheme.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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9 Recommendation Not Addressed
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We recognise that the BBC has provided a record amount of educational resources during the...
We recognise that the BBC has provided a record amount of educational resources during the Covid-19 pandemic, and particularly during the periods that schools across the country have been closed. Whilst this is a key example of the value the … Read more
Government Response
The government's response appears to be an incomplete copy of the committee's original recommendation, and therefore does not provide a substantive governmental stance or commitment to action.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
It took the Government almost 10 months to respond to the consultation on decriminalisation of...
It took the Government almost 10 months to respond to the consultation on decriminalisation of TV licence fee evasion. Delays of this nature by DCMS in reforming other areas of broadcasting, such as prominence, would be of significant concern. Of … Read more
Government Response
The government is actively considering decriminalisation within the ongoing licence fee settlement negotiations, effectively rejecting the committee's call for assurance that it would not be used as a bargaining tool, and does not address the request to publish findings on enforcement schemes by session end.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
The continued rise in TV licence non-payment in the UK is a cause for concern,...
The continued rise in TV licence non-payment in the UK is a cause for concern, as is the fact that the BBC’s target of a 5.9% evasion rate by March 2021 will be missed by a significant margin. We are … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is actively considering the decriminalisation of TV licence evasion as part of ongoing reforms and the broader licence fee settlement, but has not yet provided a definitive position.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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12 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We recognise the problems associated with the licence fee and, in the annex to this...
We recognise the problems associated with the licence fee and, in the annex to this Report, explore the existing alternatives. None of these are sufficiently attractive to justify recommending, for the next Charter period, that they replace the current 52 … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation, stating it does not agree that a decision on the BBC's funding model needs to be made now and will reconsider it ahead of the next Charter Review in 2027.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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13 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
Current requirements on PSBs have generated a thriving production economy that has attracted the attention...
Current requirements on PSBs have generated a thriving production economy that has attracted the attention of streaming services, but the rise of video on demand is putting pressure on the Terms of Trade. Subscription video on demand services should invest … Read more
Government Response
The government states that issues concerning the relationship between PSBs and SVoDs, including the Terms of Trade, are primarily matters for contractual negotiations, where PSBs determine the value. It will keep this under review.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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14 Conclusion Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We are not persuaded by arguments that prominence can be left to the market simply...
We are not persuaded by arguments that prominence can be left to the market simply because PSB content is popular and if an organisation such as Freeview, which represents the interests of over 70 TV channels, finds it difficult to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of discoverability for PSB content and commits to acting on Ofcom’s prominence recommendations through legislation when the timetable allows, with next steps expected later this year, as part of its strategic review.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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15 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
The Government has been too slow to act on Ofcom’s 2019 recommendations to update prominence...
The Government has been too slow to act on Ofcom’s 2019 recommendations to update prominence legislation. We are frustrated that the Government expects the process to take a further two years; new primary legislation is urgently needed and the media … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of PSB prominence and commits to acting on Ofcom’s recommendations through legislation, but defers a specific timeline, stating it will do so 'as soon as the legislative timetable allows' and will set out next steps later this year.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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16 Conclusion Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We acknowledge that some of the programmes have a small print acknowledgement of the original...
We acknowledge that some of the programmes have a small print acknowledgement of the original producers, but question whether this is quite within the spirit of accrediting everyone involved with the right branding. We believe that it is important that … Read more
Government Response
The government states that brand attribution and data sharing are matters for contractual negotiations between PSBs and streaming services, as PSBs are best placed to determine the value. It will keep the issue under review.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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17 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We do not believe that sharing top line viewer data about PSB-originated content with Ofcom...
We do not believe that sharing top line viewer data about PSB-originated content with Ofcom and the relevant the PSB would be commercially sensitive. Streaming services are an important ‘second window’ for PSB content but without viewer data, it is … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees there is a case for streaming services to share top-line viewing data with Ofcom to aid analysis of the PSB system and hopes this can be provided voluntarily. Other related issues are being considered in ongoing reviews or deemed matters for contractual negotiation.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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18 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We recommend the Government impose two specific requirements in relation to PSB content hosted on...
We recommend the Government impose two specific requirements in relation to PSB content hosted on other streaming services in new media legislation. First, PSB content The future of public service broadcasting 53 should be clearly labelled as such and branded … Read more
Government Response
The government defers to ongoing reviews for changes to the legislative framework, and for brand attribution and data sharing, views them as matters for contractual negotiation, hoping for voluntary data sharing rather than legislative imposition.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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19 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We are concerned that the full potential of the Digital Markets Unit is not being...
We are concerned that the full potential of the Digital Markets Unit is not being realised under its current proposed remit. We recommend that the Government should broaden the Digital Markets Unit’s remit to consider whether the dominance of online … Read more
Government Response
The government states the newly launched Digital Markets Unit (DMU) will take a sector-neutral approach and has been asked to examine harms from market dominance, including relationships between platforms and content producers like news publishers, with consultation and legislation to follow.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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20 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
Where an established media brand is providing programming, it is not right to make the...
Where an established media brand is providing programming, it is not right to make the default assumption that YouTube’s contribution to the viewer deciding to watch that programme, and therefore its share of the value chain, is the same as … Read more
Government Response
The government has launched the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) and tasked it with developing a mandatory code of conduct to address harms from market dominance, including governing relationships between platforms and content producers like news publishers.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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21 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
That reluctance should not be allowed to relegate the UK PSBs to a less prominent...
That reluctance should not be allowed to relegate the UK PSBs to a less prominent position on hardware than non-PSB commercial content providers who purchase prominence. There is little point in requiring a PSB regime if it can be hidden … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of PSB content prominence and states this work is ongoing and part of its strategic review, committing to act on Ofcom’s prominence recommendations, including legislation, as soon as the timetable allows, with next steps expected later this year.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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22 Recommendation Acknowledged
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
The findings of the Competition Commission in 2009 are now outdated, given the rate at...
The findings of the Competition Commission in 2009 are now outdated, given the rate at which the market has changed and the dominance of global streaming services, and PSBs should be allowed to collaborate so that they have a better … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that 2009 Competition Commission findings are outdated and that public service broadcasters should be allowed to collaborate to better compete in the video on demand market, but the response is truncated without further specific commitments.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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23 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
The lack of workforce data collected and shared by streaming services in the UK is...
The lack of workforce data collected and shared by streaming services in the UK is of great concern. The Government must ensure that regulators have access to top line data, in line with that provided by traditional broadcasters, to enable … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to include a requirement for streaming services to provide workforce diversity data in new legislation, citing the need to balance regulation burden on enterprises and referencing existing Ofcom powers.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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24 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
PSBs should be leading by example.
PSBs should be leading by example. The current gaps in employment data supplied to Ofcom are of significant concern. We recommend that Ofcom place minimum requirement obligations on PSBs, in terms of the employment data they provide, in order to … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to amend the statutory framework to mandate minimum employment data requirements for PSBs, stating that Ofcom already has powers and citing the need to balance the burden of regulation on enterprise.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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25 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We are concerned that, without monitoring, there is no way to tell whether transgender people...
We are concerned that, without monitoring, there is no way to tell whether transgender people are being fairly represented in the workplace. Whilst there should be no requirement for someone to declare to their employer that they are transgender, we … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to expand diversity monitoring to include transgender declaration, citing existing frameworks and the need to balance regulation burden on businesses.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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26 Conclusion Not Addressed
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We find it hard to accept the excuse that diversity of production crew is out...
We find it hard to accept the excuse that diversity of production crew is out of the control of commissioners and broadcasters. We are pleased to hear that domestic broadcasters prioritise diversity within production and we do not believe that … Read more
Government Response
The government's response describes existing statutory frameworks and Ofcom's powers regarding diversity, and states it does not propose to amend the framework, but this does not directly address the committee's conclusion about the ability of commissioners to insist on diversity.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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27 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
Diversity within the industry has improved in recent years—for example, there is a better gender...
Diversity within the industry has improved in recent years—for example, there is a better gender balance—but progress continues to be too slow. It is taking too long to address inequality within the industry and much more needs to be done … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is committed to supporting diversity and relies on existing statutory frameworks and ongoing work with the British Film Institute to promote representation, but it does not propose to amend the statutory framework to accelerate improvements.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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28 Recommendation Not Addressed
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We recognise the importance of regional diversity in commissioning roles and we welcome Ofcom’s previous...
We recognise the importance of regional diversity in commissioning roles and we welcome Ofcom’s previous decision to strengthen the criteria for regional and national production. We recommend that Ofcom’s guidelines for regional and national production should be reviewed on an … Read more
Government Response
The government response discusses working with the British Film Institute to improve representation and promote diversity standards, but it does not address the recommendation regarding annual reviews of Ofcom's guidelines for regional and national production.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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29 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
Increasing diversity in commissioning and production roles is crucial for improving on-screen diversity.
Increasing diversity in commissioning and production roles is crucial for improving on-screen diversity. We recommend that Ofcom introduce requirements for the number of BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled people in commissioning and senior production roles to improve authentic on-screen representation of … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for Ofcom to introduce specific diversity requirements for BAME, LGBTQ+, and disabled people in senior production roles, citing existing statutory frameworks and the burden of regulation on businesses.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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30 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - The future of publi…
We welcome the recent promotion of S4C in Wales to channel 104 on Virgin Media...
We welcome the recent promotion of S4C in Wales to channel 104 on Virgin Media but we are concerned about the lack of discoverability for minority language content in this increasingly digital market. The role that minority language broadcasters play … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of minority language content and commits to taking forward Ofcom’s prominence proposals through legislation to ensure its discoverability, as soon as the legislative timetable allows.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 22 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 10
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 8
Total 22 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
25 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from the Chair to Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC, re licence fee evasion, 25 March 2021
Parliament page
17 Nov 2020 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Secretary of State for DCMS, re BBC Licence Fee settlement, 10 November 2020
Parliament page
3 Sep 2020 To committee Letter from Dame Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, ITV, re oral evidence follow up, 23 July 2020
Parliament page