BBC Moves To Silence Critics With New Programme Policy
The BBC is seeking to silence claims from its commercial critics that it is not distinctive enough by pledging to show “more high impact, memorable programming” over the next year.
The Corporation’s latest annual programme policy report states that BBC2, which has become virtually synonymous with lifestyle shows such as Home Front and What Not To Wear, will broaden its range of genres in peaktime to include more arts, politics and current affairs programming.
The BBC also pledges to reinvigorate its arts and documentary programming, with two new regular strands on BBC1 and two new politics series on BBC2.
Chairman of the BBC, Gavyn Davies, commented: “The BBC needs to make further progress, especially in the areas of arts and current affairs. We believe that a further improvement in quality and distinctiveness can be achieved.”
The Corporation’s programming has also been the subject of much scrutiny over the last year, with many claiming it is not sufficiently distinctive from that of its commercial rivals (see GEITF 2002: Liddiment Admits To Taking Too Many Risks). The BBC’s recent foray into reality television, Fame Academy, was singled out for criticism over its similarity to ITV1’s ratings winner Pop Idol (see NewsLine).
However, Davies is confident that the Corporation’s programme policy will defy sceptics by demonstrating that the BBC’s public service role is “as vital and vibrant as ever, providing something of immense value to all licence payers.”
BBC director general, Greg Dyke, added: “The BBC broadcasts around 40 hours of programming every hour; the majority of which is completely new. So we are in the business of taking creative risks to deliver public service benefits. Not all the risks we take will be popular and some of them wont pay off. But we have to try.”
The release of the annual statement of programme promises comes as the Communications Bill reaches its committee stage in the House of Lords and it is expected peers will face pressure to bring the BBC under stricter regulatory control.
BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk
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