MIGRAIN: Industries - Public service broadcasting

 Ofcom review of PSB in Britain

In 2020 Ofcom published its findings from a five year review of public service broadcasting in Britain. Read the introduction to their report - pages 3-7. You'll need your Greenford Google login to view the document.


1) Read page 4. How has TV viewing changed in recent years? 

There is now on demand streaming for audiences

2) Still on page 4, what aspects of PSB do audiences value and enjoy? 

-high quality news

-being impartial

3) Look at pages 4-5. Find and note down the statistics in this section on how much TV audiences tend to watch and how they watch it. 

4) Read the section on page 5 discussing the importance of PSB. Again, find the statistics and explain the value of public service broadcasting in Britain.

5) Look at the section on commercial challenges. How have revenues fallen for PSB channels?

Revenue has fallen due to the fact that people are highly unlikey paying their TV licence because they dont want to or because they dont use it

6) Read page 6. What services increasingly play a role in our media lives in the digital age? 

-social media

-on demand streaming

Goldsmiths report on Public Service TV

Read this report from Goldsmiths University - A future for public service television: content and platforms in a digital world.

1) What does the report state has changed in the UK television market in the last 20 years?

Due to rise of social media and on demand stre\ming people are less likely to use PSB

2) Look at page 4. What are the principles that the report suggests need to be embedded in regulation of public service broadcasting in future?

1. In return for public service broadcasters meeting the obligations of their licences, their content should be guaranteed prominence on electronic programme guides, smart TVs and on the interfaces of on-demand players as they emerge. 

4) According to the report, how should the BBC be funded in future?

2. Retransmission fees should be paid by pay-TV platforms to public service television operators to address the current undervaluation of public service content by these distributors.

5) What does the report say about Channel 4?

Channel 4 occupies a critical place in the public service ecology – supporting the independent production sector and airing content aimed specifically at diverse audiences. Its remit has remained flexible and it has moved with the times. But it has cut programme spending; it has largely abandoned arts programming and has been criticised for not doing enough for older children. Recently, Channel 4 has been threatened with privatisation, in whole or in part, a proposal that would threaten its public service remit.

6) How should Channel 4 operate in future?

10. Channel 4 should not be privatised – neither in full or in part – and we believe that the government should clarify its view on Channel 4’s future as soon as possible. 11. Channel 4 should significantly increase its provision for older children and young adults and restore some of the arts programming that has been in decline in recent years.

7) Look at page 10 - new kids on the block. What does the report say about new digital content providers and their link to public service broadcasting?

A new fund for public service content Television with the characteristics of public service broadcasting now appears outside the public service system: from Sky and other commercial broadcasters, on subscription video-on-demand services such as Netflix and Amazon, and through the new Local TV services. Meanwhile, a broad range of cultural institutions – including museums, performing arts institutions and community organisations – are now producing video content of public service character. We believe that the growing contribution to a digital media ecology made by these cultural institutions should be boosted by a specific public intervention. 


Final questions - YOUR opinion on public service broadcasting

1) Should the BBC retain its position as the UK’s public service broadcaster?

I believe that in the world today we do still need the BBC.This is because the public service broadcasting in the british media landscape is highly important because it informs people about the news and helps to entertain us

2) Is there a role for the BBC in the 21st century digital world?

There is a role for the bbc in the 21st century,however it plays less of a part in society because people are using social media much more.

3) Should the BBC funding model (licence fee) change? How?

I believe that the licence fee should stop increasing because some people may be unable to afford it which leads to people not paying it.