MIGRAIN: Industries - Public service broadcasting

1) How does the report suggest that TV viewing is changing?
The report suggests that TV viewing is changing because people can watch television in variety of different ways such as phones and tablets. People are increasingly viewing content in a variety of different ways, both on the television set and on other devices. Young adults are watching a substantial amount of non-public service broadcasting content, and behavioural changes are happening not just in this group, but among those up to the age of 45. 

2) What differences are highlighted between younger and older viewers?
The differences that are highlighted between younger and older viewers is the amount of time they actually spend watching television.However, there are big differences between age groups, and these gaps are widening. Viewers aged 65+ watched an average of 5 hours 44 minutes in 2016, just three minutes less than in 2012; in contrast, 16-24 year olds watched an average of 1 hour 54 minutes in 2016, 43 minutes less than in 2012. Between 2015 and 2016, average daily viewing among children and 16-24 year olds each fell by 10 minutes, whereas viewing by over-64s increased by 2 minutes.

3) Does the report suggest audiences are satisfied with public service broadcasting TV channels?
The reports suggests that audiences are still satisfied with the public service broadcasting channels because majority of people still watch them such as they very influential such as the news because most people find it interesting and a lot of people watch it.Overall, 78% of regular or occasional viewers of any Public Service Broadcasting channel claim to be satisfied with Public Service Broadcasting broadcasting, significantly higher than in 2015 (73%). 

4) Public service broadcasting channels are a major aspect of the UK cultural industries. How much money did PSB channels spend on UK-originated content in 2016?
The PSB channels spent a total of £2.6bn on first-run UK-originated content in 2016, a 2% increase in real terms on 2014 (the most recent comparable year due to the impact of major sporting events). This was an 18% decrease in real terms on 2006, with each of the main five PSB channels reducing their spend over the intervening period. At £582m, spend on new UK factual programming across the PSB channels was greater than any other genre in 2016. Spend on new UK content at peak time stood at £1.6bn in 2016.


Goldsmiths report

Read this report from Goldsmiths University - A future for public service television: content and platforms in a digital world.

1) What does the report state has changed in the UK television market in the last 20 years?
The report sates on how UK television has changed and become bigger and expanded in the last 20 years.Yet the television sector has undergone huge changes over the past generation. The proliferation of channels has reduced the market share of the public service broadcasters – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – although they have largely retained their prominence and developed portfolio services. Sky has emerged as a major force, contributing to the success of pay television. New technology has facilitated on-demand access to television content, and created new services and platforms, while consumer behaviour has started to change rapidly, particularly among the young. The very definition of television needs to be refined accordingly.

2) Look at page 4. What are the principles that the report suggests need to be embedded in regulation of public service broadcasting in future?
1. In return for public service broadcasters meeting the obligations of their licences, their content should be guaranteed prominence on electronic programme guides, smart TVs and on the interfaces of on-demand players as they emerge. 
2. Re transmission fees should be paid by pay-TV platforms to public service television operators to address the current undervaluation of public service content by these distributors.
 3. Ofcom should supplement its occasional reviews of public service broadcasting with a regular qualitative audit of public service content in order to ensure that audiences are being served with high-quality and diverse programming. This should include detailed data on the representation and employment of minority groups and a comprehensive account of the changing consumption patterns of younger audiences.
 4. Ofcom should continue to monitor the independent production sector and take action, where necessary, if consolidation continues to increase and if diversity of supply is affected.

3) What does the report say about the BBC?
The report says the BBC has been contracting in real terms and it is hard to sustain the case that it is damaging competitors. The licence fee is vulnerable in the face of changes in technology and consumption, and it is in any case far from an ideal system: it has failed to guarantee real independence and is charged at a flat rate. The BBC’s independence has also been compromised by the insecurity of its establishment by a royal charter and the process behind the appointments to its governing body. We support the inclusion of diversity as a specific public purpose for the BBC but strongly reject the abolition of the purpose focusing on the delivery of emerging communications technologies and services. We believe the BBC should be encouraged to pursue networked innovation, to embrace the internet and to develop a range of content and services for the online world.

4) According to the report, how should the BBC be funded in future?
The government should replace the licence fee as soon as is practically possible with a more progressive funding mechanism such as a tiered platform-neutral household fee, a supplement to Council Tax or funding via general taxation with appropriate parliamentary safeguards. 6. The government should hand over decision-making concerning the funding of the BBC to an independent advisory body that works on fixed settlement periods.

5) What does the report say about Channel 4?
 Its remit has remained flexible and it has moved with the times. But it has cut programme spending; it has largely abandoned arts programming and has been criticised for not doing enough for older children. Recently, Channel 4 has been threatened with privatisation, in whole or in part, a proposal that would threaten its public service remit

6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?
 Channel 4 should not be privatised – neither in full or in part – and we believe that the government should clarify its view on Channel 4’s future as soon as possible. 
 Channel 4 should significantly increase its provision for older children and young adults and restore some of the arts programming that has been in decline in recent years.
 Channel 4 should continue to innovate and experiment across different platforms and it should aim to arrest the fall in the number of independent suppliers that it works with.

7) Look at page 10 - new kids on the block. What does the report say about new digital content providers and their link to public service broadcasting?
Television with the characteristics of public service broadcasting now appears outside the public service system: from Sky and other commercial broadcasters, on subscription video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon, and through the new Local TV services. Meanwhile, a broad range of cultural institutions – including museums, performing arts institutions and community organisations – are now producing video content of public service character. We believe that the growing contribution to a digital media ecology made by these cultural institutions should be boosted by a specific public intervention. 

Final questions - your opinion on public service broadcasting

1) Should the BBC retain its position as the UK’s public service broadcaster?
In my opinion, I think that the BBC should retain its position as the UK 's public service broadcaster because it is a broadcaster that majority of the population watch because it is so influential and informative and also it shows different programmes which are different genres and everyone will like to watch them. Finally, the BBC broadcaster covers all areas around the country from sports, politics to animal and nature. 

2) Is there a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world?
Yes, In my opinion there is a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world but I don't think people are going to rely on it as much as they use to as before because there a new public service broadcasters entering the business so there will be a wider range of useful sources that will inform people on things and that means there will be more competition for the BBC. So they have to present there content in a different way.

3) Should the BBC funding model (license fee) change? How?
The BBC funding model should change and the The government should hand over decision-making concerning the funding of the BBC to an independent advisory body that works on fixed settlement periods.