The Broadcasting Standards Commission has published a report examining public attitudes towards broadcasting regulation. “Regulation – The Changing Perspective” is the result of surveys undertaken during 1999 and 2000 to gauge public opinion on the topic as the Government prepares its Communications White Paper (see Lighter Regulation Must Mean More Accountable Broadcasters, Says BSC).
The necessity of regulation is clear to most respondents: a total 92% of those questioned thought that television must be regulated; 82% believed radio should have some form of guidelines. Of those voting for levels of regulation, 61% named the protection of children as their primary reason for voting for it.
The best means of regulation was less clear-cut, however. A total 39% said they would prefer a regulatory body independent of the broadcasters, while 35% thought they had a responsibility to regulate themselves. Self-regulation by broadcasters was supported by 15% of those questioned and 12% wanted Government involvement.
Possibly the most interesting result of the report, however, showed that a third of those asked did not know who currently regulated television.
Lord Holme, chairman of the BSC, said: “I trust the Government’s White Paper will take account of peoples’ clear wish for an understandable system of sensible regulation of broadcasting which includes them in it.”
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