BBC Outlines Proposals to Become ‘More Open’

LONDON: BBC Director-General Tony Hall has set out new proposals on how the corporation plans to be "more open and more distinctive," with recommendations that include setting up a dedicated children's VOD service and allowing third-party programming on the BBC iPlayer.

One of the proposals involves its commitment to original, high-quality British drama. This will be "the backbone of a more distinctive approach" across all the BBC's services, from BBC One to online. There is a proposed plan to make "bigger and bolder series" available all at once on the iPlayer so that viewers have the option of binge-viewing. Changes to the iPlayer could also include opening up the service to showcase content from other producers and broadcasters. The creation of a children's VOD service, iPlay, is also on the table.

There are further proposals to make a significant investment in the World Service to parts of the world where there is a "democratic deficit in impartial news," to review the BBC's website to make sure that it is "distinctive with a stronger focus on online broadcast content," and to transition from rolling news to streaming news with BBC Newstream.

Hall said: “These proposals are about creating an open, more distinctive BBC. An open BBC that works in partnership for the good of Britain at home and abroad. An open BBC that helps secure the future of public service broadcasting and upholds democracy both at a local and an international level.

“The BBC must modernize to preserve and enhance what is best about public service broadcasting to ensure we continue to have a BBC that is British, bold and creative.

“A better BBC, for everyone.”