How do? Sorry it's been a while, all sorts have been going on. Just now I came across a 38 Degrees campaign, bringing to attention a government consultation on the future of the BBC. Now, the BBC has been very dear to me, particularly over the last two and a half years of my illness. Even at times when I've been able to do nothing but lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, I've been able to do so while listening to quality drama, comedy and documentary on the BBC iPlayer radio app, so I thought it was important to respond. I don't know what ideas our government might have for the BBC but I'm confident that they will be alarmingly backward.
It took me ten minutes or so to complete the survey, and I thought perhaps you might be interested in doing it too. You can look at the 38 Degrees campaign here or go straight to the horse's mouth (or should that be ear) here. Meanwhile, here are my responses
How well is the BBC serving its national and international audiences?
For me personally, the most important output of the BBC is that of Radio 4 and 4 Extra. Their quality drama, comedy and documentary output has been very important to me through a two year period of illness where I have often been house-bound. I have mainly accessed this output via the BBC Radio iPlayer app. I also listen to the BBCs news output and though this is generally of a high quality, I would like to see stronger, more independent reporting from the BBC in the face of the ever-increasing bias in favour of the rich and powerful that we across many media outlets. I also listen more occasionally to Radio Six Music and Radio Two.
Which elements of universality are most important for the BBC?
Providing a range of services that are highly inclusive, of interest to the widest possible range of people within the UK and beyond, and doing this in a way that is free from advertising and corporate and political influence.
Is the BBC’s content sufficiently high quality and distinctive from that of other broadcasters? What could improve it?
I'd like to see the BBC develop it's local production and broadcasting, scaling down its London operations to invest in and expand its regional TV and Radio production bases across the country, in order to become more representative of the population it serves.
Where does the evidence suggest the BBC has a positive or negative wider impact on the market?
I pay the BBC licence fee despite not being required to under current rules, because I value output which is free from advertising and corporate and political influence. The BBC is an essential resource that is more important than the market.
Is the expansion of the BBC’s services justified in the context of increased choice for audiences? Is the BBC crowding out commercial competition and, if so, is this justified?
Online and digital platforms have hugely expanded our choice of news, drama, music, everything. I listen to and support an advert-free music station in California. I pay to watch films and TV shows advert-free on Netflix. Its entirely justified and only to be expected that the BBC should have expanded its services during this period of rapid development. If the BBC had failed to respond in this way, it would rightly have been criticised for being complacent and stuck in the past. Its expansion of output and platforms has only added to the value it has for its users.
Has the BBC been doing enough to deliver value for money? How could it go further?
I do absolutely think the the BBC is worth the licence fee, although I would like to see this revenue being spent proportionately in the regions in which it is raised.
How should we pay for the BBC and how should the licence fee be modernised?
The most important point is that the BBC should remain entirely free of advertising.
How should the relationship between Parliament, Government, Ofcom, the National Audit Office and the BBC work? What accountability structures and expectations, including financial transparency and spending controls should apply?
I'd like to see a stronger, more independent BBC that can provide the national conscience that is lacking in the ever more closely meshed political and corporate worlds.
