A FUTURE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TELEVISION CONTENT AND PLATFORMS IN A DIGITAL WORLD

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Broadcasting has a major role in “re-imagining the nation”, not by reimposing an imagined unity but by becoming the “theatre in which [Britain’s] cultural diversity is produced, displayed and represented”. Stuart Hall 32
CONTENT AND PLATFORMS IN A DIGITAL WORLD It is striking how core elements of these revitalised diversity and pluralism norms, as they link to quality, are already found in Channel 4’s remit. One discussion point, then, is whether that remit now contains core principles that, given their universal importance and undersupply elsewhere, might now be applied more widely: notably, those concerning diversity, and the principle that quality is intrinsically linked to risktaking, innovation and experiment in the form and content of programmes. Should they be extended to general foundations for the PSM ecology? Public service principles in the digital age Buoyed by the enormous increase in content, platforms and services that has emerged from a less regulated landscape, there has been a concomitant rise in the use of a discourse focused overwhelmingly on ‘market impact’. Such an approach risks elevating commercial media interests over the public interests served by PSM. Recent economic thinking reverses this thinking, arguing that publicly-funded interventions can enhance innovation and lead to the creation of new markets, with the potential to fuel wider economic growth. 67 We believe that two of the foundations of PSB in the 20th century, consequent on the above principles, must be reinstated and renewed in the light of digital conditions. PSM are not synonymous with market failure This follows clearly from the underlying relationship between public service media and universality: both universality of genre (mixed programming), and social and cultural universality (i.e. content, events and channels that draw national audiences). Recent governments have attempted to disrupt this relationship by suggesting that public service broadcasters should focus on the provision of content in which commercial providers are likely to under-invest. While it is highly likely that broadcasting, if unregulated, would primarily target the most lucrative and wealthy demographics, public service media should not be seen simply as vehicles to plug these gaps but, instead, as institutions that challenge this fragmentation precisely by providing common and overlapping spaces and channels. If PSM are reduced to operating as cultural ‘ghettoes’ and ‘market failure’ institutions in a situation of digital abundance, then they are not adequately serving the public. As David Hesmondhalgh of the University of Leeds argued in his submission to us: [Digitalisation]…intensifies the problem of cultural fragmentation. A version of the current ecology of a generously and universally funded BBC, alongside public service oriented commercial providers, must surely remain the prime means by which such cultural fragmentation is countered, by providing trusted sources of varied representations, good explanations, innovative humour, and so on. 68 For these foundational reasons, popular programming and entertainment should remain core elements of PSM as they continue to diversify taking advantage of new platforms and new suppliers. 67 See for example Mariana Mazzucato, The Entrepreneurial State, London: Anthem, 2013. 68 David Hesmondhalgh, submission to the Inquiry. 33
Page 1 and 2: A FUTURE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TELEVIS
Page 3 and 4: Contents Foreword by David Puttnam
Page 5 and 6: To instruct democracy, if possible
Page 7 and 8: Welcome Television is leading a cha
Page 9 and 10: CONTENT AND PLATFORMS IN A DIGITAL
Page 11 and 12: PSB channels 71.9% All other channe
Page 15 and 16: Why television matters Television i
Page 19 and 20: 1982 1990s 2012 The BBC-ITV duopoly
Page 23 and 24: Time for action Today’s policymak
Page 29 and 30: Basic principles At the core of pre
Page 31: CONTENT AND PLATFORMS IN A DIGITAL
Page 39 and 40: The multichannel revolution Perhaps
Page 51 and 52: The BBC For most people, the BBC is
Page 67 and 68: Channel 4 If the BBC is the most im
Page 71 and 72: Only 8% of Channel 4’s total spen
Page 79 and 80: ITV and Channel 5 The focus of atte
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CONTENT AND PLATFORMS IN A DIGITAL
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The changing face of ITV 1993-2002
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New sources of public service conte
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Television and diversity We have ea
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THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE TELEVISED If t
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Nations and Regions Public service
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Content diversity One of the key wa
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Sports content now accounts for som
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Talent development and training In
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Conclusion Television is changing.
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Recommendations General The UK’s
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Appointing the BBC board Sir David
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APPLICATION OF THE NOLAN PRINCIPLES
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BAFTA members’ survey delivered i
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Public service broadcasting, public
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Inquiry events Do we still need pub
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Acknowledgements Inquiry Report Con
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A FUTURE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TELEVISION CONTENT AND PLATFORMS IN A DIGITAL WORLD

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