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NEWS BBC DG THOMPSON SAYS PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING HELPS BUILD A DIGITAL FUTURE By Mark Dezzani “MARATHON DAVE” By Richard Barnes Dave Graveline undertook a marathon round of interviews at IFA 2008, further promoting the international vocation of the show. This is Dave's 6th year here in Berlin, covering the latest in Consumer Electronics from IFA. "IFA is always one of our most popular broadcasts, both with our listeners around the world and my staff. We love coming to Berlin!" said Graveline. "Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline" is a 3-hour radio program (as well as 60 second Daily Features and ITTV Video Reports) covering the Latest in Consumer Electronics & Technology available today and into tomorrow. The show currently airs on 126 AM & FM radio stations around the U.S. every weekend. Here at IFA, Dave and his team also produced several highlight videos of their experience at the show this year as well as video of each of the interviews, which are posted on their web site and will also be posted on the IFA web site. IFA Part 1 aired the weekend of August 29th. IFA Part 2 will air this next weekend of September 5th on the Advanced Media Network and several other sources. Graveline was a prime mover in bringing Showstoppers – a highly successful press event for years in the US – to IFA this year, and is an ambassador for the show “on the other side of the pond”! See you on the flip side, Dave! www.graveline.com Mark Thomson BBC Director General BBC Director General Mark Thompson defended the Public Service Broadcaster’s extensive expansion onto new digital platforms such as the web and mobile saying that part of the BBC’s mission in the 21st century is to help build Britain’s digital future. Speaking at a medienwoche@IFA keynote in the ICC on Tuesday, Thompson urged Europe’s public service broadcasters to embrace the possibilities of new media & technology as part of their cultural, social and educational mission. “Part of the BBC’s mission in this sphere is to drive forward public awareness and take-up of digital media and as a result to help create new market opportunities for commercial operators.” Acknowledging some criticism in the UK about the BBC’s extensive on-line initiatives, Thompson said: “In many countries around the world, there is a fierce debate taking place about Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) and its future. Even if you accept that PSB still has only a residual role in conventional TV and radio, should public service broadcasters extend their reach into what some people still call new media such as the web, mobile and other digital platforms? Isn’t there a case for operating two different models? The traditional mixed model for broadcast and a pure market model for digital. We believe that the multi-platform approach is the only way of fully delivering our public service charter to modern audiences. The BBC’s mission therefore is defined by its purposes, not by any specific medium or delivering mechanism.” Thompson explained that in the UK, there is a regular review process to evaluate any new digital initiatives by the BBC on a case by case basis. “Britain’s regulatory authority OFCOM conducts a Market Impact Assessment to assess whether the initiative will have a negative or positive effect on the market, and the BBC Trust conducts a Public Value Test to weigh up the benefits and ‘disbenefits’.” Thompson said that a cornerstone of PSB is a comprehensive service of authoritative and impartial news and current affairs and that the Internet has enriched the BBC’s ability to deliver it. “Audiences today do not regard news as a series of discreet media propositions. For them, news should be a 24/7 total media environment within which they can select the device, the distribution channel and the medium which is most convenient for them whether they are at home, in the workplace or on the move. The public must be able to access the BBC journalism that they have already paid for with the license fee, wherever and whenever they want it.” Dave Graveline IFA International • Wednesday, 3 rd September 2008 www.ifa-international.org 11
