Broadcasting:Concepts and Contexts Week 6 Broadcasting as Public Service
Today’s focus: Overview of history of BBC Theory of PSB (Scannell, 2001) Crimewatch
BIRTH OF THE BBC 1922: BRITISH BROADCASTING COMPANY: ROYAL CHARTER :BBC SOLE PROVIDER OF BROADCAST OUTPUT 1927: BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION>>>> BBC : JOHN REITH: 1ST DIRECTOR GENERAL BOARD OF GOVERNORS (replaced in 2007) BBC TRUST (12 Trustees) CHAIRMAN: LORD CHRIS PATTEN- 1 MAY DIRECTOR GENERAL: TONY HALL
REITHIAN PRINCIPLES KEY PRINCIPLES : INFORM EDUCATE ENTERTAIN VIEWED NATIONALLY/GLOBALLY : PRECIOUS, NATIONAL RESOURCE IMPARTIAL INDEPENDENT 1955:ADVENT OF COMMERCIAL TELEVISION: ITV BBC LOSS OF MONOPOLY>>>>DUOPOLY
THE THEORY OF PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING Paddy Scannell (2001) ‘PUBLIC UTILITY’ MIXED PROGRAMMES(‘QUALITY’) ON NATIONAL CHANNELS HIGH STANDARDS IN CULTURE, KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION CULTURAL, MORAL (‘GUARDIAN’) EDUCATIVE FORCE UNIVERSAL ACCESS LEAD PUBLIC TASTE RATHER THAN “PANDER TO IT” ‘SOCIAL CEMENT’
1990 BROADCASTING ACT EMPHASIS ON COMMERCIALIZATION DEREGULATION ITV FRANCHISES RENEWED BY COMPETITIVE TENDER (BONUSES FOR SHAREHOLDERS AT EXPENSE OF “QUALITY” PROGRAMMING) BBC / MIN. 25% INDEPENDENT COMMISSION ‘BIRTISM’:BBC AS ‘MARKET’
THE FUTURE OF PSB Ofcom ReportJanuary 09 : Ofcom unveils public service broadcasting blueprint for the digital decade Giving audiences the programmes they value Taking advantage of the digital world Making public service broadcasting sustainable THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: The BBC. Keep the BBC, funded by the licence fee, at the heart of public service broadcasting in the UK with a role in pioneering the development and take-up of content across new digital platforms. We reject ‘top-slicing’ the BBC’s funding for programmes and services. Channel 4. Create a strong, alternative public service voice to the BBC, with Channel 4 at the heart, preferably through partnerships, joint ventures or even mergers. A new remit, governance and accountability will be essential.
Programming Post-1990s Reconfiguration of PSB ‘neo-liberal political economy’- market led/driven What future the BBC AND PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING?