MGEITF 2004: Thompson Vows To Make BBC Less Commercially Focused
BBC director general Mark Thompson has moved to bury once and for all criticism of the Corporation’s populist approach to programming by signalling a fundamental change of emphasis towards providing excellence and public value.
In his first public speech since joining the BBC in June, Thompson revealed his intention to differentiate the Corporation from its commercial rivals by focussing less on ratings winning shows and more on fulfilling its core public service remit.
In the past, the BBC has faced harsh criticism for its decision to demote flagship news programmes like Panorama to Sunday nights, while mass audience offerings like Fame Academy and EastEnders have gained prominence in the broadcaster’s schedules (see IPA Report Deplores Aggressive And Commercial BBC).
However, Thompson is attempting to beef-up the BBC’s public service credentials in the run up to Charter Review in 2006. The Government is currently carrying out a wide-ranging investigation into the future role of the BBC and the new director general is keen to get a tick in the public service box (see Government Details Root And Branch Review Of BBC).
He said: “Commercial broadcasters sometimes feel they have to flood the schedule with a particular format or genre to exploit it commercially while they can. The BBC doesn’t have to do that. On commercial channels, economic considerations may dictate keeping a programme on air years after the creative life has left it. Again the BBC is not forced to do that.”
He added: “I believe that excellence is above all what audiences expect the BBC to strive for. And that, because of the licence fee and because the BBC does not face the same commercial pressures as its competitors, they expect us to strive for its with more conviction than anyone else.”
However, Thompson, who has spent the last two years at the helm of Channel 4, emphasised that the BBC would not abandon popular programmes like EastEnders and Holby City in favour of high-brow public service offerings. He said: “Excellence at the BBC has never been enlisted or restricted to a charmed circle of proper public service genres.”
He added: “For the BBC, striving for excellence matters more than anything else. There’s plenty of it already on the airwaves, but over the next decade if we want to stand out and succeed, we have to raise our sights and raise our game.”
The director-general also emphasised that he is keen to link up with the UK’s other public service broadcasters to drive the UK towards digital switch-over as quickly as possible. He said the Corporation has already held discussions with BSkyB over its planned Freesat service and is set to meet with other broadcasters and equipment manufacturers to reach a simple and clear standard for free digital satellite (see BBC’s Free-To-Air Satellite Proposal Hits Brick Wall).
MGEITF: 020 7430 1333 www.mgeitf.co.uk
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