Public Service Broadcasting
The British television industry is largely driven by public service broadcasting - the traditional TV channels that still account for the majority of TV viewing in this country.
These channels are regulated by Ofcom and have to deliver a certain amount of specific content in order to fulfil the terms of their license.
Public service broadcasting: notes
Public service broadcasting refers to broadcasting intended for public benefit rather than to serve commercial interests.
The media regulator Ofcom requires certain TV and radio broadcasters to fulfil certain requirements as part of their license to broadcast.
All of the BBC's television and radio stations have a public service remit.
The history of the BBC
The BBC was created in 1922 in response to new technology – the radio (or wireless as it was called then).
The BBC was set up to “inform, educate and entertain” – which is still its mission statement to this day.
Channel 4
Channel 4 is an important part of UK public service broadcasting. Read full details of Channel 4's remit here - there is plenty of important information regarding the channel's commitment to public service broadcasting and its unique funding model.
Opposition to public service broadcasting
Many people in Britain see public service broadcasting as a good thing – but not rival commercial broadcasters.
James Murdoch, son of Rupert, has criticised BBC news. He says that free news on the BBC made it “incredibly difficult” for private news organisations to ask people to pay for their news.
Some politicians have argued that the BBC should not produce programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing so commercial broadcasters such as ITV or Sky can attract larger audiences in primetime.
Public service broadcasting: blog task
Create a new blogpost called 'Public service broadcasting' and complete the following tasks:
Ofcom report
Read the first few pages of this Ofcom report into Public Service Broadcasting in 2017.
1) How does the report suggest that TV viewing is changing?
The report suggests that TV viewing is changing and people view TV on different platforms and devices. There are also many different ways of watching TV, for example a lot of TV shows are available to watch on demand on these devices from websites and apps such as Netflix, where as in the past people had to sit and wait in front of the TV to ensure they didn't miss an episode. There is also a much larger amount of content available online.
2) What differences are highlighted between younger and older viewers?
Younger viewers watch much less TV which is broadcasted on television and spent much more time watching on alternative devices such as their laptops, smart phones or tablets, where as the older viewers are more likely to watch a TV broadcast. Although it has become much easier to view TV for the younger generation, the older generation seem to watch almost 4 hours more of television then the generation based between the age of 16-25.
3) Does the report suggest audiences are satisfied with public service broadcasting TV channels?
TV service broadcasting viewing has gone down over the years, however the ratings have still stayed high which shows that the audiences are satisfied with the content which they are provided which is why they are still receiving good ratings.
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 2bn on the UK-originated content in 2016, which is an extremely large amount to spend if you on PSB in a year which is a 2% increase from the previous year. 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?
There is less focus on the PSB and there are more privately owned broadcasters as they have more investment and a higher profit so they can provide better content potentially or can at least have stars which would attract more viewers and generate a larger sum of income.
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?
-Ofcom should continue to monitor and regulate content.
-Public Service Broadcasts should be available online and on electronic devices
-Undervaluation of public service content should be addressed by making paid TV platforms pay transmission fees.
The report states that the BBC is strong and has been for the past few years, however may be in a dangerous position due to the fact that they are not making very many modern shows and keeping up to date with the TV shows of the younger generation and many of them think that the PSB should not be a thing as the license fee is not optional and is in fact compulsory which is why many if the future generation may not see the BBC as a positive thing.
4) According to the report, how should the BBC be funded in future?
I think that the BBC should be funded by advertisement just like other shows as the larger paid channels say that this puts the BBC at a high advantage as they know that they will receive billions of pounds to produce their shows for the upcoming years so regardless of whether or not they do well or provide good content.
5) What does the report say about Channel 4?
The content which channel 4 provides is set to amuse more diverse audiences then the BBC and may be directed to entertain the common man.
6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?
Channel 4 should continue to operate its funding in the same way, which it currently does, which is by advertising so that it can run its channel.
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?
Final questions - your opinion on public service broadcasting
1) Should the BBC retain its position as the UK’s public service broadcaster?
I think that the BBC should retain its position as the UK's public service broadcaster as it is informative and rarely strays away from the fact that this is what it is supposed to do and there are not many other channels which provide this type of content.
2) Is there a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world?There is a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world at the moment as there are many people who use the BBC and are slowly acknowledging the fact that they can access this media anywhere they like as they are slowly modernising, however someone would still need to provide the content for them to watch on and assist in educating the nation.
3) Should the BBC funding model (license fee) change? How?
I think that the BBC funding model should change and should be funded by advertisement instead of being funded by the license fee because it gives them an advantage of knowing that they have no issue in being in bad business as they would always receive enough funding from the licensing fee. It also forces people to pay the licensing fee even if they have never watched any if the BBC channels or simply do not watch it enough to be paying for it. Another thing is that they pay about £12 a month every month while they live in the UK which is an extremely large amount considering that they can pay £6 a month to purchase a subscription, such as Netflix, which provides an extremely large amount of diverse content and is expanding very quickly, however the BBC contains a limited amount of content for double the price, another thing is that Sites such as Netflix give you the ability to watch on the move and even internationally and provide international content and also give people the option to sign up for this subscription, where as the BBC license fee doesn't provide this option.
These channels are regulated by Ofcom and have to deliver a certain amount of specific content in order to fulfil the terms of their license.
Public service broadcasting: notes
Public service broadcasting refers to broadcasting intended for public benefit rather than to serve commercial interests.
The media regulator Ofcom requires certain TV and radio broadcasters to fulfil certain requirements as part of their license to broadcast.
All of the BBC's television and radio stations have a public service remit.
The history of the BBC
The BBC was created in 1922 in response to new technology – the radio (or wireless as it was called then).
The BBC was set up to “inform, educate and entertain” – which is still its mission statement to this day.
The BBC funding model: license fee
All BBC content (and some of Channel 4’s funding) comes from the License Fee, which costs £147 a year.
You need a TV Licence to:
- watch or record live TV programmes on any channel
- download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.
Some politicians want to scrap the license fee and change the BBC’s funding model.
Channel 4 is an important part of UK public service broadcasting. Read full details of Channel 4's remit here - there is plenty of important information regarding the channel's commitment to public service broadcasting and its unique funding model.
"Channel 4 is a publicly-owned and commercially-funded UK public service broadcaster, with a statutory remit to deliver high-quality, innovative, alternative content that challenges the status quo.
Channel 4 reinvests all profits back into programmes, at zero cost to the taxpayer. A ‘Robin Hood’ model of cross-funding means programmes that make money pay for others that are part of the PSB remit but that are loss-making e.g. News and Current Affairs."
Opposition to public service broadcasting
Many people in Britain see public service broadcasting as a good thing – but not rival commercial broadcasters.
James Murdoch, son of Rupert, has criticised BBC news. He says that free news on the BBC made it “incredibly difficult” for private news organisations to ask people to pay for their news.
Some politicians have argued that the BBC should not produce programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing so commercial broadcasters such as ITV or Sky can attract larger audiences in primetime.
Public service broadcasting: blog task
Create a new blogpost called 'Public service broadcasting' and complete the following tasks:
Ofcom report
Read the first few pages of this Ofcom report into Public Service Broadcasting in 2017.
1) How does the report suggest that TV viewing is changing?
The report suggests that TV viewing is changing and people view TV on different platforms and devices. There are also many different ways of watching TV, for example a lot of TV shows are available to watch on demand on these devices from websites and apps such as Netflix, where as in the past people had to sit and wait in front of the TV to ensure they didn't miss an episode. There is also a much larger amount of content available online.
2) What differences are highlighted between younger and older viewers?
Younger viewers watch much less TV which is broadcasted on television and spent much more time watching on alternative devices such as their laptops, smart phones or tablets, where as the older viewers are more likely to watch a TV broadcast. Although it has become much easier to view TV for the younger generation, the older generation seem to watch almost 4 hours more of television then the generation based between the age of 16-25.
3) Does the report suggest audiences are satisfied with public service broadcasting TV channels?
TV service broadcasting viewing has gone down over the years, however the ratings have still stayed high which shows that the audiences are satisfied with the content which they are provided which is why they are still receiving good ratings.
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 2bn on the UK-originated content in 2016, which is an extremely large amount to spend if you on PSB in a year which is a 2% increase from the previous year. 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?
There is less focus on the PSB and there are more privately owned broadcasters as they have more investment and a higher profit so they can provide better content potentially or can at least have stars which would attract more viewers and generate a larger sum of income.
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?
-Ofcom should continue to monitor and regulate content.
-Public Service Broadcasts should be available online and on electronic devices
-Undervaluation of public service content should be addressed by making paid TV platforms pay transmission fees.
The report states that the BBC is strong and has been for the past few years, however may be in a dangerous position due to the fact that they are not making very many modern shows and keeping up to date with the TV shows of the younger generation and many of them think that the PSB should not be a thing as the license fee is not optional and is in fact compulsory which is why many if the future generation may not see the BBC as a positive thing.
4) According to the report, how should the BBC be funded in future?
I think that the BBC should be funded by advertisement just like other shows as the larger paid channels say that this puts the BBC at a high advantage as they know that they will receive billions of pounds to produce their shows for the upcoming years so regardless of whether or not they do well or provide good content.
5) What does the report say about Channel 4?
The content which channel 4 provides is set to amuse more diverse audiences then the BBC and may be directed to entertain the common man.
6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?
Channel 4 should continue to operate its funding in the same way, which it currently does, which is by advertising so that it can run its channel.
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?
Final questions - your opinion on public service broadcasting
1) Should the BBC retain its position as the UK’s public service broadcaster?
I think that the BBC should retain its position as the UK's public service broadcaster as it is informative and rarely strays away from the fact that this is what it is supposed to do and there are not many other channels which provide this type of content.
2) Is there a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world?There is a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world at the moment as there are many people who use the BBC and are slowly acknowledging the fact that they can access this media anywhere they like as they are slowly modernising, however someone would still need to provide the content for them to watch on and assist in educating the nation.
3) Should the BBC funding model (license fee) change? How?
I think that the BBC funding model should change and should be funded by advertisement instead of being funded by the license fee because it gives them an advantage of knowing that they have no issue in being in bad business as they would always receive enough funding from the licensing fee. It also forces people to pay the licensing fee even if they have never watched any if the BBC channels or simply do not watch it enough to be paying for it. Another thing is that they pay about £12 a month every month while they live in the UK which is an extremely large amount considering that they can pay £6 a month to purchase a subscription, such as Netflix, which provides an extremely large amount of diverse content and is expanding very quickly, however the BBC contains a limited amount of content for double the price, another thing is that Sites such as Netflix give you the ability to watch on the move and even internationally and provide international content and also give people the option to sign up for this subscription, where as the BBC license fee doesn't provide this option.
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