GEITF 2002: Puttnam Calls For BBC To Come Under Ofcom
Chairman of the Joint Scrutiny Committee, Lord Puttnam, has urged the Government to recognise that the long-term future of the BBC lies “most securely” within Ofcom.
Delivering the annual Worldview lecture at this year’s Guardian Edinburgh International TV Festival, Puttnam warned of the dangers of the BBC abusing its position of “tremendous power” and called on Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, to be “smart and wary” when legislating for the new super-regulator.
In a passionate speech that displayed his obvious commitment to the future of British broadcasting, Puttnam said: “I am convinced in my own mind that the BBC would be far more secure under Ofcom. I don’t trust the politicians of the future to uphold or even understand the values of the BBC.”
Puttnam insisted that the principle focus of the Select Committee was to establish Ofcom as a genuinely powerful and effective regulator capable of supervising a “vast web” of activity, including the BBC. He said: “Ofcom has the time to prove itself between now and charter renewal and the Secretary of State has ample time to construct and agree a new, albeit somewhat diminished role for the [BBC’s] governors.”
Echoing recent criticism of BBC’s increasingly populist approach to programming (see
On the issue of foreign ownership, Puttnam again warned that the Government would face defeat in the House of Parliament if it tried to force through changes to media ownership regulations.
The Joint Scrutiny Committee is urging the Government not to pass legislation allowing the non-EU ownership of British media assets, emphasising that such issues should be left up to Ofcom and the competition commission (see Committee Advises Government To Rethink Media Ownership). However, speculation suggests that the Government, which is eager to keep Rupert Murdoch on side, is planning to go ahead regardless (see Government To Face Opposition Over Media Ownership).
Puttnam warned that this could have disastrous consequences as in the past the Government has manifestly “lacked the bottle” to enforce the powers that were available to it. He said: “Ownership matters have to be removed from Government. It is under all the wrong pressures to make [regulatory] decisions.”
The veteran film producer dismissed accusations that he was motivated by an anti-American agenda as “ludicrous” and offensive” saying that his aim is merely to create a vigorous and confident regulatory frame work that would ensure the prosperity of the British media sector.
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Reports on this year’s Guardian Edinburgh International TV Festival will appear on NewsLine throughout the week.