BBC Will Retain Audience Share

John Birt, speaking at the enquiry into the future of the BBC by the national heritage select committee, forecast that the BBC will retain its 30% share of the television audience into the next decade. Despite fierce competition from digital and satellite channels, and the introduction of interactive services, such as videos on demand, Birt said that he was confident viewing of the BBC in the year 2000 would be in excess of 24 hours a week in the average household.

Earlier in the week Gerald Kaufman, chairman of the committee, said at the enquiry that the BBC and ITV should consider merging to ward off competition from multinational media organisations. Key *BBC FUTURE# for news store

The committee was told by Meridian that it wants the ITV licence periods reduced from 10 years to 5. The committee was told that technology is advancing so quickly that it would be impossible to get through 10 years without “unexpected competition”. Current rules allow for a review 6 years into a licence , but Meridian wants this brought forward by 2 years, and the review period cut to 5 years.

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