Further Issues for BBC Charter Review

HL 128-I, 2nd Report of Session 2005-06, Volume I: Report

Author:: House of Lords - Select Committee on BBC Charter Review
Publisher:: TSO (The Stationery Office)

Further Issues for BBC Charter Review, HL 128-I, 2nd Report of Session 2005-06, Report

This report, 'Further Issues for BBC Charter Review (HL 128-I)', focuses on a range of issues relating to the BBC Charter, including the:

current bid for the TV licence fee;
link to the retail price index;
need for transparency in the licence fee negotiations;
costs of digital switchover and spectrum charging;
BBC World Service and the launch of an Arabic language television channel;
'Out of London' strategy for more regional broadcasting and the proposal to move several BBC departments to Manchester;
and sports broadcasting and the regulation of listed events; religious programming and the BBC's public service remit.

The Committee supports the continuation of the licence fee, although concerns are raised that the annual cost increases above the rate of inflation may threaten to undermine public support for the BBC in the long term. However, it opposes the link between the retail price index and the licence fee, since it gives the BBC less incentive to make economies and efficiency gains, and instead argues that Parliament, rather than Government, should set the level of the licence fee, with the National Audit Office having scope to scrutinise the licence fee bid and publish its findings.

The Committee's first report on the BBC Charter (HCP 50-I, session 2005-06, ISBN 0104007508, available below) published in November 2005, focused on the Government's proposals for the future of the BBC, as set out in the Government's Green Paper ('A Strong BBC, Independent of Government', published by the DCMS in March 2005 for consultation).

'Further Issues for BBC Charter Review: HL 128-II, 2nd Report of Session 2005-06, Volume II: Evidence', ISBN 0104008237, is available below.

Extent	59 pages	ISBN	9780104008249
Size	A4	Price	£12.00
Binding	Paperback	Published	03 Mar 2006
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges