PART TWO: Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 The BBC Executive’s review and assessment 07 08 Director- General ’s introduction 01 About the BBC 02 BBC & me 04 BBC Executive Board 24 BBC at a glance 26 Review of services Future Media & Technology 29 Vision 32 Audio & Music 38 Journalism 44 Commercial activities 52 Engaging with audiences 54 ...quality programming that informs Performance us, educates us and more often BBC People 58 than not, entertains us. These three Operations 62 Statements of Programme Policy tenets are as important today as commitments 2007/08 70 when they were first uttered around Finance 80 years ago. Financial overview 82 Governance and financial statements 86 Getting in touch with the BBC 148 Other information Inside back cover THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL 01 WELCOME When I wrote to you a year ago, our award- Despite these difficulties, the BBC has had a downloads and streams. And it’s still growing. winning Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston year of outstanding creative renewal. From There is no evidence that it is impacting was still missing. We didn’t know if we would Cranford to Sacred Music to Gavin and Stacey, our linear television and radio ratings which ever see him again. And then, what we’d all television has lived up to our aim – to delight remain very strong. been hoping, working and praying for: Alan’s audiences. And we have seen the nation share tired but smiling face as he was led to freedom. some of the events that unite us all – from the With Freesat now launched, complementing Concert for Diana to Wales’ triumph at the Six our popular Freeview service, it’s clear But within a few days, we had fresh problems Nations Rugby championship. that partnerships and collaborations will to deal with: a cluster of issues with phone increasingly matter to the BBC. True public votes and competitions, and the mis-editing The current creative output from the BBC service broadcasting means a strong BBC of a promotional clip of our Monarchy series. is some of the best I can remember. Across working alongside other broadcasters like Without public trust the BBC is nothing, so drama, news and current affairs, comedy and ITV, Channel 4 and five. A BBC that spends the moment these issues came to light we documentaries, the BBC is delivering high- licence-fee income wisely, keeping costs knew we had to act quickly and decisively. quality output for all our audiences, whatever to a minimum so the vast majority can be their interests. invested in quality programming that informs Soon, we had designed and launched the us, educates us and more often than not, biggest training course in the BBC’s history – Radio is flourishing under Jenny Abramsky entertain us. These three tenets are as not, as some papers mischievously reported, who leaves us this year having made an important today as when they were first ‘integrity seminars’, but a conversation extraordinary impact over her 39 years here. uttered around 80 years ago. involving no less that 17,000 BBC people that It is a fitting tribute that BBC radio has never explored the ethical issues and dilemmas that been stronger: Radio 4 has adapted – and Over the next 12 months the BBC will modern broadcasting throws up. We also now won the plaudits of the entire industry; Radio continue to deliver content to audiences, have a host of new controls and safeguards in 2 listeners grow by the day – with 8.1 million wherever they are, and however they want place, but the most important thing is that we listening to Terry Wogan every morning; to receive it. From across the whole UK, reaffirmed something which the overwhelming and our digital stations are all growing and through BBC iPlayer, bbc.co.uk, DAB radio majority of those who work for the BBC have reaching out to new audiences. and traditional broadcasting, the BBC will always known: we serve the public and nothing strive to represent the UK at its best. matters more than honesty and integrity in How the BBC adapts to the new digital and our dealings with them. on-demand world will shape the future of the Corporation for the next ten years. At The public rightly expect more of the BBC. Christmas we launched BBC iPlayer, offering By year’s end, survey evidence suggested that BBC television and radio output broadcast public trust in the BBC had fully recovered. over the previous seven days. Audiences of Mark Thompson all ages embraced it quickly, and by March it Director-General had already reached over 17 million monthly 19 June 2008 About the BBC The BBC remains the benchmark for all broadcasters, wherever they are. The quality and integrity of its news and factual output is second to none, and its creativity in other programmes – its drama is first class, and it is the home of the most iconic comedy and entertainment ever – make it what we all aspire to be. The fact that it does this consistently on a national and global stage year after year on radio, television and online should be a matter of considerable pride for the UK. Fritz F. Pleitgen President of the European Broadcasting Union BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 Building on the foundation Citizenship Learning 03 News and Current Affairs will Educational and interactive output that is ‘inform, educate and remain in peaktime schedules, will be offered to children in a safe entertain’, the BBC has six including BBC One environment public purposes – outlined here – which provide Creativity Community We will develop new talent – and Our local and nations’ news a focus for us to create some of the best from the digital and information will reflect the memorable content and channels will get terrestrial outings concerns and priorities of the area great services, and to offer everyone in the UK Global Digital Our content will offer the best of We will offer services and content an experience of the the UK to the world as well as bring on digital platforms, to stimulate BBC that truly makes a the best of the world to the UK interest in digital adoption difference to their lives. The BBC’s public purposes are: Stimulating creativity and cultural Bringing the UK to the world and the world Sustaining citizenship and civil society: excellence: the BBC has a long-standing to the UK: the BBC’s global news services the BBC’s journalism has an unparalleled reputation for creative and innovative content provided independent and internationally- global standing in newsgathering, specialist that breaks new ground and sets trends – respected news and analysis to audiences expertise and analysis, eyewitness reportage, such as David Frost’s That Was The Week around the world. We also sell content professional presentation and high-profile That Was bringing satire to television in the and formats like Strictly Come Dancing and interviews – bringing trusted, independent 1960s and which made a reappearance this The Weakest Link in the global marketplace. and high-quality journalism to our audiences year. TW3 was responsible for developing that explains the stories that matter to them. and launching the careers of those who went We also bring in or partner in content to Our UK-wide, international, national and local on to appear in The Two Ronnies and Monty inform debate within the UK on significant channels and services cover a wide range of Python, among others, and helped to establish world issues. Sunday mornings on BBC stories tailored for specific audiences, and an environment for comedy development Parliament this year saw extensive coverage supported by our flagship domestic channel that can be traced to The Mighty Boosh and and analysis of the US Presidential primaries. BBC News. Fresh this year is our 8pm Gavin and Stacey on BBC Three and Radio 4’s Radio 2 and Radio 3 covered major music weekday summary on BBC One which has eclectic comedy offer including The Now Show festivals and performance – including successfully increased the reach of our news and Down the Line. The BBC is still home to Glastonbury, T in the Park and opera from content to younger audiences. much of the UK’s very best talent. New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. BBC Four remains the home of international We also have a strong commitment to Representing the UK, its nations, regions film on British television. cover and explain UK democratic processes, and communities: the modern UK is an including the devolved institutions and the incredibly diverse place, home to a rich Taking a leading role in the switchover Westminster parliament, giving context and range of cultures and communities. The to digital television: digital switchover is analysis to help build a greater understanding. BBC portrays and celebrates this diversity now under way in the UK. The BBC will Local and Nations’ services are primary at national, regional and local levels. We continue to promote and deliver the benefit outlets for holding local politicians to account. broadcast in English, Welsh and Gaelic, of emerging communications technologies and offer a range of programmes in other and services – such as Freeview, Freesat Promoting education and learning: the BBC indigenous languages. The Asian Network, and the recently launched BBC iPlayer promotes and supports formal and informal for example, broadcasts primarily in English, and HDTV – to all audiences. education for children, teenagers and adults but also in eight other languages from the – including children’s radio output on BBC 7 Indian sub-continent – providing a lifeline to On the following pages you will find the that builds knowledge, skills and confidence, older listeners who may not have a strong stories of some individuals’ relationships Key Stage 1 curricular goals are informally understanding of English.