Submission to Select Committee January 2011/12

submission to select committee january 2011/12 submission to select committee january 2 0 1 3 P a g e | 2 index page 1. executive summary 3 2. section 1 - the scope of public service broadcasting on the island 4 3. section 2 – the cost of public service broadcasting in the island 10 4. section 3 – the delivery of public service broadcasting 21 5. section 4 – government policy towards its national public service broadcaster 25 6. section 5 – conclusions 30 Appendices (separate submission) appendix I public service broadcasting – model law appendix II 2012/13 promise of performance appendix III manx radio programming output considerations appendix IV capital schemes appendix V value for money (VFM) report june 2006 appendix VI manx radio subvention payments appendix VII new fm network costing appendix VIII recommendation of the committee of ministers to member states on public service media governance appendix IX principal objects and associated powers of rté appendix X s4c – memorandum of understanding draft operating agreement* appendix XI strategic partnership deed of agreement between the bbc and s4c appendix XII manx radio analysis of berry proposal submission to select committee january 2 0 1 3 P a g e | 3 executive summary 0.1 In December 2012 Tynwald reaffirmed its commitment to public service broadcasting and recognised Manx Radio as the Isle of Man’s national broadcaster. Manx Radio, in this role, has put the interest of its listeners and its community at the heart of its activities and by doing so, ensured the community has had its own voice and a national identity. 0.2 Independent research confirms that Manx Radio’s listening figures are the highest of any broadcaster, by far, in the Isle of Man – including BBC radio. As of October 2012: . Each week Manx Radio is listened to by 51% of the Isle of Man population over the age of 15 for, on average, 12 hours per week . Each week Manx Radio is listened to by 70.8% of the Isle of Man population over the age of 45 for, on average, 13.4 hours per week During the same period, 96% of the Manx population (aged 15+) listened to radio on the Island showing the importance of radio listening to Isle of Man residents, 0.3 The directors of Manx Radio consider public service broadcasting to be an essential service, not only for the Island, but in promoting the Isle of Man worldwide as a mature democracy. However, following significant reductions to its subvention funding since 2008/09 and reductions to its commercial revenues the company has had to make considerable changes to its output. As a consequence, there is concern as to whether the station can continue to meet the terms of its licence as a public service broadcaster. The situation in which the station finds itself in is not new and over the last 20 years a number of reports have been written that have all drawn largely the same conclusions. 0.4 Within Section 1 of the submission we examine the definitions of Public Service Broadcasting as determined by the Council of Europe and investigate Manx Radio’s interpretation of its licence in an attempt to throw some light on whether there is a more suitable option for the country and whether there is scope for a new definition to suit the Island’s current needs. 0.5 The cost of the service, explored in detail in the Internal Audit report of June 2012, is further examined in Section 2 and a detailed breakdown of the station’s situation across all expenditure is provided. We also investigate alternative funding options for the station. 0.6 Section 3 explores the various transmission solutions, both analogue and digital, and their shortcomings and offers potential solutions for the future and their cost. 0.7 The Isle of Man Government’s policy towards its national public service broadcaster is analysed in Section 4 and the four possible scenarios under which Manx Radio could be licensed, is discussed. Furthermore, we look further afield to suggest possible new structures that could provide the national broadcaster with self-determination as proposed by the Council of Europe. 0.8 Finally, Manx Radio draws conclusions on how the station could be structured for the future. It suggests a funding model that leaves it able to determine the most appropriate public service programming for its listeners, decide on and fund its transmission platforms and determine and fund capital projects in the very way public service broadcasters elsewhere operate to provide a voice and identity for the public they serve. submission to select committee january 2 0 1 3 P a g e | 4 section 1 – the scope of public service broadcasting in the island the Scope of public service broadcasting (PSB) and its importance to the isle of man 1.1 In December 2012 Tynwald reaffirmed its commitment to public service broadcasting and recognised Manx Radio as the Isle of Man’s national broadcaster. In this section we look to define what PSB really is, determine the extent to which Manx Radio’s public services are listened to in our community and find out who listens to them. We examine the requirements that inform the station’s output and explore how the station, together with the Radio Manx Trust, determines the station’s output. 1.2 international interpretations of PSB A significant body of work has been carried out by a number of established international organisations to determine the nature of PSB. A paper, ‘Public Service Broadcasting – Model Law’ (See Appendix I) published in 2007 and distributed via the European Broadcasting Union, is one of the most useful. That document: Sets out to explain the nature of public service broadcasting, its leading role in a democratic society, public service broadcasting as a factor of social cohesion and of national identity, and as the country’s prime promoter and reflector of culture. In the digital world, with virtually unlimited possibilities of distributing sound and audiovisual programmes via a multitude of channels, public service broadcasting is even more important, so as to continue to serve the interests of the public in the best manner possible. Once the concept of public service broadcasting is embraced, it needs to be implemented in practice, and in the first place through legislation. The document details how the PSB remit varies from country to country but how it is based on a core of common features that are universally valid. Generally speaking, public service broadcasting must provide programming in the fields of information, entertainment and education/advice for people of all ages and social groups and in any format (such as generalised channels, thematic channels, multimedia services, teletext or other content services, with or without interactivity). It plays an active role in presenting and promoting national culture, whilst also increasing the population's knowledge and understanding of foreign cultures. Programming includes both mass appeal programmes, such as popular entertainment and coverage of events of major interest to large sections of the population, and a fair share of programmes catering for special/minority interests. It meets high professional standards in terms of content, quality of production and manner of presentation. It serves as a reference point for all members of the public and is a factor for social cohesion and integration of all individuals, groups and communities. Avoiding cultural, sexual, religious, social and racial discrimination and refraining from sensationalism, it applies high ethical standards and fosters civic values and a sense of individual responsibility within society. Public service broadcasting is expected to put the ever-increasing number of individual items of information which are available to the public into a meaningful context, to concentrate on their relevance for the citizen and for society, to explain the world in all its variety, richness and diversity, and to assist the population in understanding the new environment. Representing an oasis of credibility, public submission to select committee january 2 0 1 3 P a g e | 5 service broadcasting makes a major contribution to ensuring a truly informed citizenship, which is a precondition for a healthy democracy. The document also notes that the Council of Europe in 1994 and the European Parliament in 1996 identified the nucleus of common features involved in PSB and goes on to show how States participating in these conferences undertook: to provide the legal, political, financial, technical and other means necessary to ensure genuine editorial independence and institutional autonomy of public service broadcasting organisations, so as to remove any risk of political or economic interference. 1.3 Whilst there are a great many definitions for Public Service Broadcasting, there are some key, common threads that can be found in any public service broadcaster providing a service within a democratic country, in that: It puts the listener at the heart of every decision it makes It serves minorities and special interest groups as well as the majority It ploughs profit back in to programme making The programme output is driven on editorial merit and not by purely commercial concerns As well as entertaining the listener, it seeks to inform and educate them, also serving to enhance their knowledge of, and sense of belonging to, a country or area. As part of this it seeks to celebrate and champion that area In a democracy, it should provide scrutiny of our decision makers as such scrutiny is an essential part of the democratic process. It should always remain balanced. Therefore, PSB must be properly structured to ensure it has credibility and earns the trust of the listeners with a demonstrable independence from any national, regional or local governance It means all groups and sections of society must be served even though it is impossible to please everybody all the time It is not made for the government, parliament, or president, for a political party or a church or for any other interest group or for shareholders.

Load more