BBC Releases Annual Report

LONDON, July 3: According to the BBC’s Annual Report and
Accounts for 2006/2007, 72 percent of audiences said that innovation from the
broadcaster was important, but only 51 percent agreed that it is performing
well in this area.

Launching the report, BBC Chairman Sir Michael Lyons noted:
"The public trusts the BBC and values much of what it produces, but
audiences want the BBC to be more innovative. Whilst public approval of the BBC
remains stable, audiences have also told us that fresh and new program ideas
must be a high priority and more effort is needed.”

Lyons continued: "This message, alongside a desire for
high quality—which need not necessarily mean high cost—is
consistent across all groups who have participated in our consultations and it
is one of the key factors we will consider when deciding the BBC's strategic
priorities in the autumn.”

Expenditure on U.K. public-service broadcasting was up to
£3.3 billion, driven mostly by spending on television, in particular BBC One.