Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: Future funding of the BBC World ServiceFound: BBC0003 - Future funding of the BBC World Service University of Sassari, Sardinia, Italy Written Evidence
Asked by: Lord Kamall (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the BBC’s announcement of the launch of spin-off stations on BBC Sounds before Ofcom have completed their regulatory scrutiny of DAB+ proposals.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The BBC has responsibilities set out in its Royal Charter to avoid unnecessary adverse impacts on the market, which were underscored in the Government’s recent Mid-Term Review. HM Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the reforms as we approach the renewal of the BBC’s Royal Charter.
The BBC is required by the Royal Charter to submit a Public Interest Test to Ofcom for review when considering making any material changes to its public service output. The Corporation is currently consulting on the Public Interest Test regarding planned new radio services.
As the BBC’s independent regulator, it will be for Ofcom to review the evidence provided and robustly to hold the BBC to account in meeting its obligations to both its audiences and the market.
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: Future funding of the BBC World ServiceFound: BBC0005 - Future funding of the BBC World Service University of Oxford Written Evidence
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: Future funding of the BBC World ServiceFound: BBC0008 - Future funding of the BBC World Service International Broadcasting Trust Written Evidence
Oral Evidence Feb. 21 2024
Inquiry: British Film and High-End TelevisionFound: Film4, and BBC Film Oral Evidence
Written Evidence May. 23 2024
Inquiry: Future funding of the BBC World ServiceFound: BBC0009 - Future funding of the BBC World Service Voice of the Listener & Viewer Written Evidence
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what form contributions to the BBC Funding Model Review will take, and whether they intend to publish all written and oral evidence submitted.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As part of the BBC Funding Model Review, HM Government is engaging with a broad range of people and organisations.
Those being engaged are submitting evidence on the basis that the evidence they provide is confidential in nature, especially given potential commercial sensitivities. There is no intention for these submissions to be made public, either in full or in part.
The findings of the review will support the Government’s views on the future funding of the BBC. Any final decision on reforming the BBC’s funding model would be taken during the review of the BBC’s Royal Charter.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government who will be consulted as part of the BBC Funding Model Review, and what criteria will be used to decide who is consulted.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As part of the BBC Funding Model Review, HM Government is engaging with a broad range of people and organisations.
Those being engaged are submitting evidence on the basis that the evidence they provide is confidential in nature, especially given potential commercial sensitivities. There is no intention for these submissions to be made public, either in full or in part.
The findings of the review will support the Government’s views on the future funding of the BBC. Any final decision on reforming the BBC’s funding model would be taken during the review of the BBC’s Royal Charter.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the BBC Funding Model Review: Terms of Reference, published on 21 March 2024, what steps she plans to take to ensure that the review assesses the potential merits of all options for securing the sustainability of the BBC.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government believes that there are challenges around the sustainability of the current licence fee funding model, and is therefore conducting a review of the BBC’s funding model.
As the Terms of Reference make clear, the Review is assessing a range of options for funding the BBC. It is looking at how alternative models could help secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers.