Viewers Respond To Green Paper

An analysis of the public response to the Government’s green paper on the Future of the BBC yielded the following results:

Funding/Money

• 66% believed the BBC should continue to be funded by the license fee.
• 29% of respondents believed money could be saved through improved efficiency, rather than through a drop in quality or range of programmes shown.

Programming/Standards

• 61% thought there should be a broader range of programmes shown, although only 21% thought their should be more special (minority) interest programmes.
• In terms of standards 33% of the sample believed the BBC should aim higher, with the other main area of concern being that of less sex and violence and an improved moral stance (17%).

Over recent months the BBC has come in for much criticism with regard to its management techniques and poor ratings performance, and whilst public response would appear to echo that expected by the BBC, problems relating to programming are likely to continue for some time as cut programme budgets lead to a fall in the quality of programmes transmitted – especially in the area of drama and light entertainment. Changes are however under way with the BBC this week announcing the demise of ‘That’s Life’, Friday seeing the last episode of ill-fated Eldorado and today the disclosure that Jim Moir is to be moved from his position as Head of Light Entertainment – a post held since 1987.