BBC White Paper A Missed Opportunity – ISBA

The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers has issued a response to the Government’s White Paper; whilst they agree that the Paper recognises many of the challenges and changes facing the BBC, it holds back from proposing any constructive solutions. This is highlighted by ISBA in the funding of UK services, where the Government proposes to rely on the licence fee.

ISBA highlights the following points as raised, but not seriously addressed:

• The BBC does not have the capital to develop major new markets
• The BBC’s borrowing falls within the public sector borrowing requirements and is therefore competing against other national priorities
• Some of its commercial ventures in the last few years have been tentative and have lacked focus
• The BBC’s commercial activities must not be subsidised by the licence fee or Grant-in-Aid
• The BBC is facing a world of rapidly changing technology that will affect all aspects of its business
• To many people, the BBC seems to be an inaccessible organisation

Kenneth Miles, ISBA Director General says, “We recognise that the Government wants to see the licence fee continue, but we are convinced that it is not in the interests of the BBC or of consumers to limit funding to licence fee plus a marginal commercial activity. We shall therefore be putting forward our own proposals in a few weeks’ time to encourage a wider debate on the options and the possibilities for the future of the BBC.”

ISBA 071 499 7502