Ofcom Urges Greater Risk-Taking, Transparency at BBC

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Delivering its first annual report on the BBC’s performance, Ofcom says the pubcaster is “generally delivering its remit for audiences,” but needs greater transparency, more risk-taking and an increased emphasis on attracting young audiences.

“Viewers and listeners have told us the BBC is generally doing a good job,” said Sharon White, Ofcom’s chief executive. “But it can go further in some areas. We expect the BBC to do more in attracting younger people, being bolder in the programs it makes, and making original U.K. programs that accurately reflect the lives of people around the U.K.”

The report assessed how the BBC is performing against a backdrop of increased online viewing and the rising profile of Netflix and Amazon in the U.K., with live viewing continuing to slip. Against these changing viewing habits, the BBC continues to hold sway among British audiences. More than nine in ten adults consume BBC content each week, Ofcom says, with the average person spending 2 hours and 44 minutes with the pubcaster across its TV, radio and online platforms daily. Satisfaction with the BBC is also high among audiences, with 68 percent satisfied with the broadcaster’s TV offerings.

Ofcom has identified four areas where the BBC needs to be doing a better job. One is transparency and accountability. “This does not always happen, particularly when it is proposing to change or introduce public services,” Ofcom says. “For example, the BBC invited meaningful feedback last year on its plans for a new BBC Scotland channel. But more recently, it has not provided enough information on planned changes to the iPlayer. This lack of transparency could disadvantage other U.K. media, meaning audiences could ultimately lose out. The BBC Board should drive improvements here.” Ofcom also wants more transparency in the BBC’s commercial activities.

Another area that needs improvement is the commitment to “original U.K. content that reflects U.K. stories. The BBC will need to be more innovative and take more risks—both in the type of U.K. content it commissions, but also how it is made, and with whom.” On this front, Ofcom says, the BBC is not scoring well among viewers; only 57 percent of audiences consider it to be “taking creative risks and innovating in its programs.”

Ofcom is also calling on the BBC to do more in terms of reaching young audiences. “We estimate that, on average, young people spend around 1 hour and 20 minutes with the BBC every day—half as much time as audiences overall. The BBC recognizes it needs to do more, and more quickly, to reach young people who are critical to its future success. As well as providing content that appeals, it needs to find new ways of reaching younger people that suit and reflect their viewing and listening habits.”

Ofcom also released its review of representation and inclusion on the BBC. “While viewers told us that the BBC—and TV in general—represents a wider mix of people than it used to, some people still feel less visible, or portrayed in ways that are narrow or inauthentic.”