Local0B Video Public1B Value Assessment Organisation Responses November 2008 Introduction The BBC Trust is currently conducting a Public Value Test (PVT) into the proposal for Local Video. As part of the PVT process the BBC Trust must examine the public value of the proposal. As part of the Public Value Assessment (PVA) the trust consulted publicly for 42 days. This document contains the full responses from organisations to the consultation. 1 Organisation responses in full The BBC Trust received representations during the public consultation from the following organisations: Audience Council Northern Ireland Audience Council Wales Barnsley Chronicle BECTU Chris Cherry CN Group Community Media Association Guardian Media Group plc Institute of Welsh Affairs Johnston Press John Rossetti Manx Radio Mediatrust MG Alba Newspaper Society Northcliffe Media NWN Media Ltd PACT RadioCentre Scottish Daily Newspaper Society Scottish Screen Voice of the Listener and the Viewer Five organisations also responded requesting that their submissions remain confidential. 2 Audience Council Northern Ireland AUDIENCE COUNCIL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND (ACNI) INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE BBC TRUST’S PUBLIC VALUE TEST ON THE BBC’S PROPOSAL FOR LOCAL VIDEO 4 AUGUST 2008 The Audience Council for Northern Ireland (ACNI) welcomes the BBC’s proposals for an expansion and enhancement of its on-demand service provision with Local Video. Council sees Local Video as an enhancement to existing services and additional to plans already in place to improve BBC local service provision [specifically those to bring service provision in Northern Ireland (and Scotland) into line with those in England and Wales]. Council also recognises the potential benefits of more user-generated content, giving communities the opportunity for involvement, with BBC support, in generating local news stories. Council is supportive of the development of partnerships with community media and the transfer of skills. It is also interested in the syndication of BBC content on external (to BBC) websites, and the potential for BBCNI to support local providers through the development of collaborative and co-operative relationships that are of social and economic benefit to communities in Northern Ireland. In considering its response to the Local Video proposition Council has drawn on feedback from audiences on services that are reflective of their local community, information derived from Trust unit attendance at the Ofcom MIA in Northern Ireland in July 2008 and from discussions across a number of Council meetings. While welcoming the proposal in broad terms, at this early stage Council notes that this is a complex proposal with a high significance for the media market throughout the UK. The impact is potentially greater in the Nations and Regions and it is important that due regard is given to the potential market displacement issues that may arise among traditional news providers. Council notes that Northern Ireland, has a relatively strong daily and weekly newspaper market. Council is concerned about the limitation of this service to those with access to a broadband internet connection. As a result significant numbers of the licence fee population, in excess on 40%, will be automatically excluded from receiving this service because of infrastructural distribution, economic and internet literacy issues. Conversely, those without a licence and who consume media wholly through computer access will not be required to hold a licence to access this service, thus raising the issue of licence fee avoidance. Northern Ireland’s particular geographical and sociological spread would indicate that accessibility difficulties for those groups who may derive a strong benefit and place a high value to this service. While broadly in favour of this proposal Council believes it is important that the proposal is considered in the context of the current economic conditions and the counter factual position. In addition the proposal needs to be considered with due regard to the ongoing review of Public Service Broadcasting and the potential impact on regional news. 3 Council anticipates that it will wish to respond on these issues and any arising impact on the local audience on consideration of the publication post-consultation report in the Autumn of 2008. Question 1 How important is it that the BBC improves its depth and breadth of local news coverage? Council believes that it is important that the BBC continues to build on its reputation as a leading news broadcaster bringing comprehensive, accurate and impartial news to audiences across all platforms, television, radio and online. Council suggests that there is scope to provide greater depth and breadth of coverage and that Local Video provides a suitable platform to achieve this. The proposals plan for the expansion of the BBC’s existing local websites on bbc.co.uk, offering the capacity for more in-depth local newsgathering and the local treatment of major events. Council believes that this would be of great benefit to audiences in Northern Ireland and across the UK, in reflecting local and community interests from a local perspective (increasing relevance), and in providing greater choice for audiences (making local news accessible and convenient). Increasing the breadth of coverage addresses issues around the wider representation of all communities, across geographical and cultural boundaries. Council supports the Local Video initiative as a tangible opportunity for improving the depth and breadth of news. Question 2 Are the proposals outlined here an effective way for the BBC to improve its coverage of local news and events? The BBC is established as one of the UK’s leading online services. Council considers that bbc.co.uk provides an effective opportunity for the BBC to further extend and enhance services to local communities. Broadband uptake in Northern Ireland is currently 52% (Ofcom Communications Market Report, May 2008) with 57% the UK average. Indications of further growth in 2008 are strong. Council considers that the planned investment in 60 designated areas across the UK will contribute, through an increased understanding of local communities and their issues, to improvements in local service provision. Question 3 RepresentingU the UK’s nations and regions and communities Portray and celebrate local communities, cater to their needs, stimulate debate on local issues and bring people together for a shared experience. SustainingU citizenship and civil society Provide independent journalism of a high quality, engage a wide audience in news and current affairs and encourage debate on these subjects. To what extent do you believe the service, as outlined, will contribute to these public purposes? 4 Council believes that Local Video, in providing more in-depth local services, may support a greater understanding and connection between communities of interest that are geographically and culturally dispersed. This is important to the wider UK in general and of particular importance to Northern Ireland in a time of political, social and economic change. Council is particularly conscious of the value that Northern Ireland audiences place on the concept of ‘localness’ and the importance they place on coverage of local news and events. This issue has come through consistently at all of the audience engagement events hosted by Council over the past year. These events a significant engagement project involving more than 700 young people (aged 11-14 years); a series of outreach events held outside Belfast and a number of key stakeholder events and meetings. Audiences expressed frustration at a perceived metrocentric focus in reporting and a need for better coverage at local/community levels. Council would highlight in particular the importance of local representation and the portrayal of rural life in Northern Ireland, to young people aged 11-14 yrs. Council believes that the Local Video proposal has the potential to address issues of representation, enabling communities to portray and celebrate their individuality and uniqueness and to connect as part of a shared experience. Question 4 How different is the proposal from other internet local news services, which offer video content? Local Video offers coverage at 60 sites across the UK, with universal accessibility within the UK and availability to non-UK broadband users. Council notes that content would be available to mobile users and may also be available, in the future, via the BBC iPlayer and/or repurposed and broadcast on linear television. Question 5 What role should the BBC take in the development of local video news? The BBC is a leading public service broadcaster of news with an already established significant audience base and an extensive web presence. Council believes the BBC is ideally placed to take a leading role in the development of local video news, bringing value to audiences by extending existing services, making local services more widely available and potentially encouraging the demand and use of broadband in general, and local news services specifically. In addition, Council recognises the potential benefit to other local service providers through the syndication of BBC content and the purchasing of content, by the BBC, from other providers. Local Video, bringing “locally” based services to all broadband users across the UK (and outside the UK), offers great opportunity for the sharing of content and experiences. Council welcomes opportunities for the BBC to work collaboratively and co-operatively