Funding for
sustainable, independent and impartial news, in the nations,
locally and in the regions
A consultation on proposals for a contained, contestable element
of the television licence fee to fund sustainable, independent and
impartial news, in the Nations, locally and in the regions, is one
of the documents published today. The Digital Britain White Paper
made clear the Government’s commitment to audiences having choice
of high quality, public service content. It made a particular case
for the need for top-up funding to prevent a decline in the
provision of impartial news in the Nations, locally and in the regions.
The 12-week consultation seeks views on the proposal for a
contained, contestable element to be introduced to the next
licence fee settlement.
Specifically, the consultation asks:
- Do you agree that securing
plural sources of impartial news for the Nations, locally and
in the regions should be a key priority?
- Do you agree that sustainable, impartial
news in the Nations, locally and in the regions is likely to
require some top-up public funding?
- Do you agree the Television Licence Fee
should be used to support impartial news in the Nations,
locally and in the regions in addition to BBC services?
- Do you agree that any funding
within a "contained contestable element" of
the television licence fee not required for impartial news
should potentially be available to fund other forms of
essential public service content, or should such funding be
limited to news?
-
Are there alternative funding mechanisms that you believe
would deliver the above objectives more effectively?
- Do you agree with the
proposal to set a maximum percentage of Television Licence Fee
revenue which could be set aside as a contained contestable
element?
-
Do you agree that amending the BBC Agreement could provide
the necessary protection to the BBC’s future funding and
independence?
-
Do you agree that the use of any contained contestable
element within the Television Licence Fee should be restricted
to the public purposes set out in the BBC Charter?
The consultation will end on 22 September.
The draft legislative programme set out plans for a Digital
Economy Bill in the next Parliamentary session.
The update on the actions and implementation of the Digital
Britain White Paper is published at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6243.aspx
The consultation document on funding for sustainable, independent
and impartial news, in the Nations, locally and in the regions is
published at -
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/5942.aspxThe
Digital Britain White Paper is published at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/5631.aspx The
draft legislative programme is available at:
http://www.hmg.gov.uk/buildingbritainsfuture.aspx Department for
Business Innovation & Skills press enquiries: 020 7215
5256www.bis.gov.uk