The BBC is seeking change to the way Ofcom counts the hours that qualify for its quota for locally made programming on BBC Local Radio.
According to the regulator’s Consultation: Changes to the BBC’s Operating Licence, published today, the BBC hopes to increase the amount of local programming when listening is higher but, due to financial constraints and the way the existing licence condition is structured, is unable to do so.
To allow this to happen, the BBC has requested that Ofcom amends the timings in the conditions for when programming shared with neighbouring stations can count towards meeting the quota.
The move would, for example, mean the BBC’s local sport programmes would count towards the quota of local output each station is required to provide, freeing up other times on the schedule to be networked when fewer people are listening.
The change would also allow BBC Local Radio stations to focus resources on producing more local programmes during higher listening hours, especially the key weekday morning slot, rather than maintaining local production at times of lower audience levels.
The BBC has stressed to Prolific North that the requested changes would not result in any reduction in local programming, or to local news bulletins, which will continue to air throughout the day, which Ofcom confirms in the document: “It has not requested any changes to the total hours of original locally-made programming it would be required to provide. The BBC’s request would not impact its delivery of local news and the requirement for each station to provide local news bulletins would remain.
The plan forms part of ongoing adjustments to BBC Local Radio schedules, where stations already share some programmes in the afternoons and evenings but continue to offer local news and travel updates throughout the day.
Ofcom is broadly supportive of the changes in the document, noting that the request would help bring more locally made programming to larger audiences while giving the BBC flexibility in lower-listening periods. The regulator has said it is minded to approve the change.
It added: “We consider that this protection would be a positive change for audiences – while it would not affect the current output, it would provide assurance that BBC Local Radio would continue to provide local programming during this important timeslot…
“We consider that the BBC’s proposals have the potential to enhance audience value, given that it would enable it to focus resources on key times of listening and secure the localness of the key weekday 6am to 2pm slot.”
Ofcom further noted that it does not consider that the changes requested raise any significant concerns over competition.
The request for local programming changes was made alongside two further requests – one for the removal of the requirement to report the number of hours of live commentary provided for each sport on BBC Radio 5 Live, which the BBC said can vary widely for a number of reasons and is “disproportionate.” Ofcom broadly agrees, conceding that the requirement is of “limited regulatory value, and its removal would reduce unnecessary burden while maintaining transparency through the continued requirement to name the sports covered.”
A further request to replace the current affairs joint peak viewing time quotas across BBC One and BBC Two with a single, combined quota of 70 hours of first-run UK original content during peak time also has Ofcom’s backing: “The BBC’s proposal would be beneficial for audiences as the proposed new quota would introduce a guaranteed minimum of first-run UK original current affairs programming on BBC One and BBC Two during peak time. Our assessment also recognises the shift towards on-demand viewing, the BBC’s increased use of BBC iPlayer for current affairs content, and the need to ensure that quotas remain relevant,” the regulator said.
Ofcom proposes to approve all three of the BBC’s requests, although the consultation remains open to responses from the public and stakeholders until 5pm on November 12.
