Jowell Claims Public Will Shape Future Of BBC
The Government has launched its most extensive public debate on the future of the BBC, in a move that will allow rival commercial broadcasters and licence fee payers to air their views on the way the Corporation is run.
Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, launched the consultation as the first stage in a ‘root and branch’ review that will examine the shape and purposes of the BBC in the run up to its Charter Renewal in 2006.
She emphasised that for the first time the future of the BBC would be decided by the British people, who will drive the debate over the Corporation’s funding, its regulatory structure and the nature of its commercial services.
The Culture Department has published a consultation leaflet, called Your BBC, inviting members of the public and other stakeholders to air their views before the second stage of the Governmental review begins at the end of next year.
Jowell said: “Rapid change means that we must consider how the BBC should be adapted for the future. The one certain outcome of the review will be a strong BBC, with the courage to be editorially autonomous and independent from Government.”
She added: “Previous charter reviews have been conducted in a range of ways. By the great and the good. But this review will be different. For the first time the driving force will be the British people. Through the licence fee, they are in effect the BBC’s shareholders.”
The BBC has welcomed the start of the Charter Review process and has announced that it would complement the consultation with its own programme of events to “stimulate debate” about the BBC’s future.
BBC director general, Greg Dyke, said: “We are pleased that the Secretary of State is committed to the continuation of a strong, independent BBC and that she recognises that the BBC plays a unique role in defining what Britain is as a nation.”
He added: “The Secretary of State is asking interesting and challenging questions and we look forward to an open and rigorous debate in which, of course, the BBC will be playing its full part.”
Jowell recently vowed to examine every aspect of the BBC’s operations in a process that would be “open, fair and transparent.” However, she insisted the Corporation’s independence from Government would be preserved (see Government Details Root And Branch Review Of BBC).
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