FUTURE: no PSB, BBC, C4?

IN THIS POST:

1. Link to a series of in-depth Guardian reports on BBC/PSB, history and future
2. List of other posts on this blog on PSB/BBC
3. Link to a helpful Word doc which in simple, plain language sets out the BBC/PSB issues, including commercial TV and its regulators over the years
4. Define several key terms
5. My take on PSB/BBC issues in several sub-sections, with further links, vids (Steve Coogan/Chris Morris), pics within each:

• EARLY HISTORY + PASSIVE AUDIENCE ASSUMPTIONS 
• REITHIAN VALUES: EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, INFORM
• STRICT REGULATION OF OWNERSHIP AND CONTENT
• TROUBLES WITH NORTHERN IRELAND
• OFF WITH THEIR HEAD: DODGY DOSSIERS + DEREGULATION 
• A PATTEN EMERGES: COE IS ME
• BYE BYE AUNTIE BEEB? FAREWELL PSB?
• ANOTHER FUTURE: BBC WORLDWIDE + FREEVIEW CONNECT
  

NB: The Guardian has recently published in-depth reports on the BBC and PSB, including on the future of both.

Very useful! Access here.

I've blogged several times on PSB issues; see:

• Greek PSB shutdown; comparison with Italy/Berlusconi
• OfCom 2012 complaints overview: issues of child protection and watershed featured prominently - many detailed case studies you can use in this post, + wider analysis
• Free market ideology/broadcast industry: a brief(ish) explanation of what we mean by 'free market', a key term/ideology used to argue for deregulation
• OfCom research task: many useful links/bullet points within this
• OfCom: some fundamentals. A detailed post which tells you much of what you need to know about the regulation of commercial TV, alongside some comparison with BBC regulation - and how the two overlap.
• OfCom future: can't sanction ITV/C5? A new term entered the lexicon after ITV threatened to walk away from its PSB commitments entirely, arguing they cost too much while in a digital age the PSB benefits were gone: (license) handback. This post looks at the possibility of ITV/C5 simply ceasing to follow OfCom's PSB requirements.
• Arguments against 'impartial' news/current affairs. Robert Fisk argues that the legal requirement for UK broadcast news/current affairs to be 'impartial' (similar to the 'fair and balanced' US doctrine ... though Fox News, with a blatant pro-Republican bias, faces no issues there [and OfCom granted it a license here, so long as it remains a US news station]) actually creates bias

There have been several important stories/events recently tied to PSB issues, so here's a summary of PSB, and how current events suggest a possible future direction.


You can also find a plain English Word doc which sums up PSB and gives a history of how this has changed with both the BBC and the commercial broadcasters (ITV etc) over the years at http://adamrobbins.edublogs.org/files/2007/06/what-is-public-service-broadcastin1.doc.

It dates back to 2007, but Adam Robbins' guide is helpful.

FIRST, SOME KEY TERMS:

PSB: Public Service Broadcasting. Sky, and the vast bulk of digital/cable channels are not legally considered as PSBs, it is only the BBC/ITV/C4/C5 that are PSB. These have a legal duty to reflect public needs for news and information; regional programming; and to ensure certain programme categories are included in their schedules (eg religious, children's). This reflects their privileged status: in the analogue era when you bought a TV these channels were automatically accessible, while in the digital era they are all free through Freeview and are still required to be listed at the top of EPGs (Electronic Programme Guide).