Hodgson Calls On BBC To Clarify Public Service Remit
Patricia Hodgson, chief executive of the Independent Television Commission, has warned the BBC to clarify its public service remit or risk having it dictated by the new super-regulator, Ofcom.
Speaking at an industry gathering ahead of today’s publication of the ITC’s latest annual report, Hodgson emphasised that Ofcom’s most important challenge would be ensuring “what range and quality of broadcast services are necessary for a civilised society.”
She said: “The BBC is the public service marker. It needs to give us a vision of what that will mean in the changed market place, or Ofcom may be tempted to do it for them. I think audiences would come to regret that as much as the BBC.”
Her comments come as the BBC prepares to make its case for the renewal of its public service charter in 2006.
Earlier this year Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, dismissed rumours that the charter would be automatically handed to the BBC, warning that the Corporation would face comprehensive review in which it would have to justify its public service remit (see Government Promises Review Before BBC Charter Renewal).
Hodgson, who will hand over the ITC’s regulation of the TV industry to Ofcom later this year (see Ofcom To Be Fully Operational By December This Year), implied that a stronger Channel 4 could counterbalance dominance of the BBC and BSkyB.
She said: “We need to think carefully about how to keep a well-funded third force in British Broadcasting functioning between Sky and the BBC. However great these two giants, they will not provide everything our culture requires.”
“ITV is finally achieving scale, but will go where its commercial interests take it. Channel 4 may be a key piece in the jigsaw but it hasn’t yet got the scale it needs to play that part.” She added.
The BBC has been the focus of much attention recently, with influential Government advisor, Barry Cox, calling for the abolition of the licence fee (see Government Advisor Makes Case For Licence Fee Abolition) and Granada chairman, Charles Allen, arguing that the Corporation should fund public service programming on commercial channels (see Granada Chairman Calls For Slice Of BBC Licence Fee).
ITC: 0207 306 7743 www.itc.org.uk
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