Wednesday 26 September 2007

Ofcom's PSB review

It seems there may be the possibility of a significant shift in the future of public sector broadcasting. Ofcom has recently set in process its second review of PSB, with the findings to be published in 2009. Ofcom's last review, in 2005, concluded that while there was a continued demand for PSB, the existing model (particularly provision by commercially-funded channels) would no longer be relevant in a multichannel world; the smaller audiences associated with multichannel television, and the corresponding fall in advertising revenue, mean that commercial PSBs have an uncertain financial future, threatening their ability to meet public service objectives in the future.

Whilst the new review will consider the future of traditional public service television services - provided by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five, S4C and Teletext - during and after digital switchover, perhaps equally significant is the emphasis it will place on new media. Crucially, the terms of reference for the review suggest that Ofcom recognises the blurring of the distinctions between TV and non-TV content, and the potential there is for internet and mobile networks to provide public service content. As a consequence, the review will examine what intervention may be necessary in the future to support 'new, alternative or complementary methods of delivering the purposes of public service broadcasting'- including user-generated content, video file sharing services, videogames, interactive services, and social networking sites.

JC

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