Lighter Regulation Must Mean More Accountable Broadcasters, Says BSC
The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) has outlined its support for the concept of “light touch” regulation, but argues that “this must be accompanied by a more accountable approach from broadcasters and other content providers.”
Launching its third Annual Report, the BSC noted that swearing, violence and the portrayal of sex continued to be a cause for concern amongst viewers. Matters of taste and decency attracted 50% of complaints, although complaints about the portrayal of sex have fallen to 20%. Swearing attracted 12% of complaints received and this year a significant number of complaints were about the inclusion of distressed children in documentaries and entertainment programmes.
Lord Holme, chairman of the BSC, said, “People express the legitimate expectation that home will continue to be a special place. Awareness of and support for the watershed remains very high, but, in return, they expect broadcasters to respect this important scheduling convention and are concerned when they feel the contract is not being honoured.”
The feeling that the onus was on broadcasters to earn the right to lighter regulation continued in the BSC’s submission to the Communications Reform Review. Lord Holme said, “Perhaps broadcasters have come to depend on regulation to tell them what to do, or allowed it to take the place of their own sense of responsibility. They need to do more to make clear the values by which they should be judged, so that they can be held to account on what they themselves believe to be their role and standards.”
The BSC also insisted that some regulation should stay. “It is essential that there should be a continuing positive requirement for due impartiality, objectivity, accuracy and fairness in news and factual programming,” said the Commission’s director, Stephen Whittle, “There is still the need for all services to conform to currently acceptable community standards within society.”
The government’s white paper on reforms to the regulation of the broadcasting and telecoms industry is due this autumn. Questions have already been raised as to the efficacy and future of regulatory bodies, for example during the row over the News at Ten (see Time Is Almost Up For ITV News Proposal). Calls for lighter regulation to result from the reforms have already gone up, with GWR being the latest to voice its opinions (see GWR Calls For Lighter Regulation In Communications White Paper).
Broadcasting Standards Commission: 020 7233 0544