BBC Trust Review of YouView

Terms of Reference

The BBC Trust

1. The BBC exists to serve the public, and its mission is to inform, educate and entertain. The BBC Trust (hereafter, the Trust) is the governing body of the BBC. We make decisions in the best interests of licence fee payers and protect the independence of the BBC.

Basis for the review

2. In June 2010, following an in‐depth assessment, the Trust approved BBC participation in Canvas (hereafter YouView); a joint venture to develop and promote a common standard for internet‐ connected digital terrestrial television devices. For audiences this would enable subscription‐free access to on‐demand services through a broadband connected digital box.

3. BBC participation in the venture was subject to various conditions designed to minimise adverse market impacts and secure public value. While certain principles were enshrined in the objects of the joint venture and the shareholder’s agreement, others were subject to a separate review by the Trust a year after launch:

 The implementation of accessibility and usability features  The effects, if any, of YouView on the incentives of joint venture partners to syndicate their content to other platforms  The steps taken by the joint venture to provide appropriate information and signposting to enable users to make informed choices about the suitability of content wherever possible  Cross‐promotional activity, with reference to the BBC code

4. YouView devices launched in July 2012. The Trust’s review begins in July 2013.

Aims and objectives

5. The Trust wishes to establish whether YouView operations are consistent with the terms of its 2010 approval, with reference to the four areas it identified; access and usability, syndication, editorial sign posting and cross promotion.

Scope

6. The scope of the study is confined to the four areas that the Trust committed to review as part of its final decision. As part of its assessment, it will consider the following four high‐level questions:

i. Does YouView provide the full range of accessibility and usability features that were envisaged at launch and do these deliver all of the intended benefits?

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ii. Does YouView have any effect on the incentives of joint venture partners to syndicate their content to other platforms?

iii. Does YouView provide appropriate information and signposting to enable viewers to make informed choices about the content they watch?

iv. Is the BBC cross‐promotional code working effectively in relation to YouView?

Approach

7. At the onset of the review, the Trust will publish a statement inviting comments on any of the four areas.

Timeframes and deliverables

8. The Trust Unit will present its findings to the Trust in the autumn, and publish a summary of its findings and conclusions as appropriate.

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