In response to the government’s Green Paper on the BBC’s Charter Review, the BBC Trust has called for the corporation to remain a universal and independent broadcaster, which aims to provide “something for everyone”.
On Wednesday the Trust said that if the BBC is to retain a broad mission and public funding, it needs “clear boundaries and independent regulation” with improved protections for the BBC’s independence such as an 11-year Charter to provide more time between fixed date General Elections and the end of the next Charter.
The Trust also suggests a legal obligation in the next Charter for the government to undertake a public process of consultation with the BBC’s regulator as part of any future funding negotiations, and to seek Parliamentary approval for any changes to funding, so that the licence fee cannot be set “without proper public scrutiny and debate”.
Last week the government unveiled the first stages in the process of setting out a new Royal Charter to define the future constitution of the BBC.
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John Whittingdale MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, released a consultation Green Paper outlining four broad issues now up for public and industry discussion over the next 12 weeks.
The review will assess the way the BBC is funded, its current scale, governance and purpose.
“Charter Review will ultimately decide what kind of programmes and services audiences get for the BBC they pay for, so the most important voice in the debate is that of the public and we’ll ensure it is heard,” said Rona Fairhead, BBC Trust chairman.
“We welcome the Government’s recognition of the importance of the BBC and the value that it brings – that value is built on its providing something for everyone and its independence, which we know audiences support.”
Alongside its Green Paper response the BBC Trust has set out a series of questions asking audiences for their views on the BBC, as well as launching a programme of audience research to consider what the BBC should look like in the future.
