BBC White Paper Published Today

The National Heritage Secretary Peter Brooke is today expected to announce in the Commons the draft legislation of the Government’s White Paper on the BBC.

The document is expected to specify the Government’s aim of keeping the BBC in its present format and funding it with the licence fee. The current charter, which expires at the end of 1996, is expected to be extended by a further 10 years. Peter Brooke is expected to address the Commons at around 4pm today.

A separate report from the National Heritage select committee is also released today on TV Coverage and Sponsorship. This is expected to recommend that subscription channels should be denied exclusive coverage of top events. A ban is also expected on the broadcasting of tobacco sponsored events, once existing contracts have expired. Full details on MediaTel later.

BBC1 LOSING VIEWING SHARE

The latest BARB viewing figures, for the week ending 26 June 1994 show that BBC1’s audience share fell to 27.8%, the lowest it has been for eight years. Although this period is traditionally poor for BBC1 because of Wimbledon, BBC2’s share, at 15.4% was one of its highest figures. The same week last year gave BBC1 28.9% and BBC2 15.1%

HRS OF VIEWING, AUDIENCE SHARE & REACH

W/e 26/06/94

* = Includes Breakfast TV

Source: BARB