BBC told to “redefine” online remit
Following the publication of an independent report into the BBC’s online services, the Culture Secretary has given the BBC just under four months to “redefine” its remit.
Philip Graf’s review, which will feed into the overall Charter Review, calls on the BBC to define its operations around public service and introduce a “precautionary approach” to BBC Online investment.
He says that: “If there is a “close call” between the public service benefits of a proposed BBC Online service and the costs of that service, the proposal should not be taken forward.”
The BBC is urged to prioritise information which “is of value to the citizen”, notably news, education and current affairs.
A number of commercial organisations complained to the review that the BBC was an “unfairly advantaged competitive force” and was distorting the Internet market, specifically in its links and search engine listings.
Mr Graf recommends that two new governors should be appointed to regulate the service, one with specific new media expertise and one with specific competition law expertise.
Some elements of the BBC’s current content is criticised as too similar to commercial competitors, with Mr Graf particularly noting that fantasy football and the listings services are not “sufficiently distinctive from commercial alternatives or adequately associated with public service purposes, to be justified by the remit.”
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she would not be attaching any new conditions to the BBC’s online charter at this stage, but asked for a full response from the board by October 2004.
Ms Jowell said: “It is now up to the governors to respond on how they plan to redefine the purposes and aims of BBC Online, so that they are more closely aligned to the public service remit of the BBC.
“I will then consider what further action needs to be taken, whether as part of, or externally to, the on-going Charter Review.”
