Commercial Rivals To Gain Access To BBC Radio Archive
The BBC’s prized archive of radio material should be made available to commercial buyers, according to an independent review of the Corporation’s radio services published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport today.
The report states that the BBC has been instrumental in the growth of digital radio, applauding the broadcaster’s efforts and recognising that, in many cases, its digital offerings have gone beyond their requirements to further the fledgling medium’s take-up.
However, the report’s author Tim Gardam, former director of television and director of programmes at Channel 4, states that the BBC should now examine how it can enter into joint ventures with the commercial sector. The move could open the BBC’s world renowned radio archives to the highest bidder and, as has previously been suggested, spark a flurry of growth amongst commercial broadcasters with easy access to quality content.
Commenting on the report, Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, said: “The advance of digital radio may be a quieter revolution than that of digital TV. But it’s a movement that’s gathering momentum and Tim’s excellent report shows the BBC has been at the forefront of it.”
She added: “We must now work with the BBC to ensure the right framework is in place to allow its digital services, and digital radio more generally, to flourish, while ensuring the concerns and aspirations of the wider commercial radio market are taken into account.”
According to Gardam, the growth in the BBC’s radio services has been possible due to its ability to cross promote its products across several channels, in addition to the guaranteed funding offered by the licence fee. The result has been a range of digital services which, as Gardam freely admits, the BBC’s commercial rivals would have found impossible to match at this stage.
Explaining his findings Gardam said: “The scope and ambition of the BBC’s digital radio services have evolved well beyond what was initially envisaged when they were granted approval. This is a considerable achievement that has been instrumental in promoting the up-take of digital radio.”
He added: “As my report states, there has been fall-out for the commercial sector – most notably in the case of Oneword, whose fate was in part determined by the success of BBC7. The challenge now is to give the BBC’s digital channels the room to evolve further, while ensuring that they remain distinctive from the services offered by the commercial radio market. This is the key to ensuring a healthy digital radio market across the PSB and commercial sectors.”
Concluding his report Gardam called for the BBC’s board of governors and Ofcom to work together to ensure a balance is struck between the Corporation and its commercial competitors.
The latest findings follow reports that the BBC is considering radical changes to secure its financial future ahead of charter review in 2006. Amongst the wide-ranging options currently being considered by the Corporation is the outsourcing of several core radio properties. According to reports, Channel 4 may finally be granted a slice of the BBC’s licence fee in return for taking control of the BBC’s flagship youth station Radio One (see Channel 4 Could Get Slice Of BBC Licence Fee).
Amongst the other proposals being reviewed are mergers with rival broadcasters, direct Government funding through taxation and complete privatisation.
BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.dcms.gov.uk
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