White Paper Puts Viewers’ Interests First For The BBC
The BBC requires a “unique solution for a unique organisation,” according to culture secretary Tessa Jowell, who this afternoon delivered the white paper on charter renewal, confirming the future direction of the Corporation.
The new document insists that the interests of the licence payer are at the heart of BBC operations, confirming that a new BBC Trust will be put in place, working solely in the interests of the public, and operating separately from the Corporation’s management to ensure public interest is adhered to.
This “triple lock” system is designed to breed the highest standards of accountability within the Corporation, with the Trust issuing licences to the Executive Board for the running of each BBC service. The Trust will also be charged with applying public value tests to all new BBC services, or significant changes to existing operations.
To promote the independence of the BBC, powers to approve new services will be shifted to the Trust from their current home with the secretary of state. However, the cabinet minister will retain a power of veto over any new BBC operations, should the Trust fail to follow proper public value testing procedures.
The white paper also states that the BBC must work harder to reach a consensual relationship with other media operators, with a transparent, certain and clear approach to the implications of its own activities on the wider market.
But the new white paper is not solely a criticism of the BBC, or an effort to restructure its governance, with Jowell urging the Corporation to “continue to take fun seriously,” with the production of high quality entertainment remaining a vital part of its remit.
The white paper also leads into the Government’s on-going consideration of the licence fee, with a decision on the exact settlement due to include forms of assistance for Channel 4, such as asking the BBC to provide financial help towards switchover costs.
The Government has pledged to review Channel 4’s desire for limited additional digital terrestrial capacity from the BBC, while stating that, in the run-up to switchover, the Corporation will play the part of a “trusted guide” for the public.
This extra responsibility will be held under the banner of Building Digital Britain, and will form part of the criteria for the next licence fee settlement.
However, the white paper echoes the rumoured reluctance of the Government to approve a large increase (see
BBC Set For Defeat Over Increased Licence Fee
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