The government has launched its review, green paper and public consultation for the BBC’s charter renewal, due in 2027.
After a stormy couple of years for the BBC, which is currently being sued for $10bn by US president Donald Trump over the editing of a 2024 Panorama episode and his seen a string of high profile resignations including director general Tim Davie and highest paid presenters Gary Linker, Huw Edwards and, most recently Zoe Ball, the consultation promises to look at:
- Future funding models, such as allowing advertising or a subscription tier, as well as examining how the World Service should be funded
- The corporation’s workplace culture, efficiency, transparency and accountability
- How the BBC can be a success in the streaming era, while ensuring it still commands the public’s trust, is accountable to audiences and fully represents communities
- Whether the corporation should be given new responsibilities to counter misinformation and disinformation
- Strengthening the BBC’s independence, including examining political appointments to the BBC’s board
- Whether the BBC’s mission should be updated to put accuracy on the same footing as impartiality
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy launched the consultation saying: “The BBC is an institution like no other. For over 100 years it has been at the heart of our national life and a light on the hill for people across the world.
“Our vision is for a BBC that is trusted, loved and belongs to us all, providing those shared spaces and places that have become so rare and so precious in recent decades. Sustainably funded, with a strong presence in every nation and region so that all of us can see ourselves reflected in our national story. A broadcaster known for its unique strengths, from the highest quality children’s programmes to impartial and trusted news and documentaries, the world over.
“This 10th Charter will formally set the terms of the BBC for the future. My ambition is that it sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century. I believe the BBC, alongside the NHS, is one of the two most important institutions in our country. While one is fundamental to the health of our people, the other is fundamental to the health of our democracy. This green paper begins the conversation about how to ensure it remains the beating heart of our nation for decades to come.”
Responding to the launch, head of Bectu, which represents many of the BBC’s off-camera workforce, Philippa Childs said: “We welcome the publication of the green paper and the consultation, and Bectu is pleased to be engaging constructively with government at this critical moment for the BBC. Charter renewal comes as the organisation faces intense pressure at home and abroad, alongside the search for a new Director General.
“The focus on sustainable and fair funding is right, in order to future-proof the BBC, however the licence fee remains, in our view, the best way to fund the BBC. Any proposed change must not undermine the BBC’s ability to deliver distinctive, original content or reduce it to just another streaming service.
“We strongly welcome the green paper’s recognition of the BBC as the heart of the UK’s creative ecosystem, and its emphasis on skills and growth. However, current plans to outsource significant parts of the BBC’s work are clearly at odds with this. Any such plans should be scrapped, or at the very least paused, until the Charter process is complete and a new Director General is in post.
“It is also positive to see acknowledgement of the cultural issues that have plagued the BBC. Appointing a board member with specific responsibility is a start, but transparency and trust are essential. There must be no place in the BBC board for political appointees. Staff must have confidence that systems work and that their voices will be heard. We welcome the commitment to CIISA and urge the BBC to require full CIISA compliance from all contractors, so no worker experiences a repeat of recent events on MasterChef.
“The BBC and its staff are the beating heart of the UK’s creative industries. That must be central to every decision taken as part of the new Charter, and it will guide Bectu’s response to this consultation.”
