Voice of the Listener & Viewer Bulletin Working for Quality and Diversity in Broadcasting Winter 2008/09 Issue 95 It’s not all over — FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES PSB beyond the BBC Media literacy THIS is going to be a testing year for access to broadband Lord (Stephen) Making the Most of New Media. The VLV everyone: for the commercial Carter, the new broadcasting minister, conference on Wednesday 1 April at the broadcasters, for independent has said that as a nation we need to be BT Centre, London EC1 is aimed at the production companies, for Ofcom and both plumbers and poets, and that ‘we over- 50s who may be struggling with digital for the politicians. And VLV will have its will need to be sure we can deliver the television, radio and computers, or who work cut out, because we have to deal plumbing before celebrating or have still to take the plunge. Many with so many specific issues — ITV’s protecting the poetry.’ But is he right? organisations exist to make life easier and increasing abandonment of its former Can we really afford to ignore what goes they — along with broadcasters and internet regional structure; what’s going to through the pipes while we’re building service providers — will be offering advice happen to broadcasting in the UK’s the digital network? Doesn’t it matter in a variety of sessions hosted by nations; how public service whether it’s clean, sparkling water or, broadcasters like Evan Davis from Dragon’s broadcasting is to be funded at all frankly, sewage? Den and Roger Bolton from Radio 4’s outside the BBC; and whether C4 can VLV thinks it does. We think that Feedback. OFCOM and BT are supporting continue with its present brief; not to the best of British broadcasting should the conference, with hands-on exhibits mention a worrying loss of trust in recent be helped to thrive, because in the end including the latest voice activated BBC editorial judgements. we will be remembered not for plumbing computers. See Diary Dates. VLV needs to keep two things but for the poetry, the quality of what Spring conference clearly in mind. We must not be the plumbing brought to listeners and The End of Broadcasting as We Know It? negative, endlessly bemoaning the days viewers. And that is what we will be That’s the arresting title of VLV’s Spring when broadcasting was generously fighting for. Richard Lindley Conference to be held in London on Thurs- funded, and finding fault with every The VLV response to Ofcom’s PSB phase two is available on day 30 April. By then the regulator Ofcom technical or commercial development the VLV and OFCOM websites, or from VLV (sae required) and the Government will have published which seems to threaten programme plans for dealing with the financial crisis in CELEBRITY LECTURE standards. But at the same time we television — and how to maintain public Simon Schama, so well-known to television must not allow politicians and service broadcasting on ITV, C4 and Five. viewers for his award-winning series A His- commercial broadcasters simply to say All agree the present system no longer tory of Britain, has very kindly agreed to that if the market can’t find money for works. VLV is delighted that at this crucial come and talk to VLV members in the early good programmes then we can’t have moment two of the most important figures evening of Wednesday 25 February, at a them. Our job is to argue forcefully in broadcasting (pictured) have agreed to central London venue. Professor Schama’s that British broadcasting is something address our Conference, and answer ques- brilliant programmes, on art as well as his- we are proud of and that we must find tions. Michael Grade, now Executive Chair- tory, are exactly the sort of television that ways to maintain. man of ITV, is trying to maintain standards VLV members want. This will be a ticket only Promoting the idea of universal in the face of falling revenue. Colette Bowe, event. See Diary Dates. new Chairman of OFCOM (p.7) is charged Inside with sustaining PSB beyond the BBC. ■ Europe What is our sister ■ Children’s TV conference ■ Voting for VLV Awards organisation EURALVA working on? VLV leads debate ■ ■ Westminster VLV’s Second Autumn conference report ■ Letters, Who’s Who? meeting with Secretary of State ■ ■ Silver JubileeCelebrations Nations and Regions ■ Competition, Diary Dates ISSN 1475-2948 Secretary of State talks to VLV Voice of the Listener & Viewer members Working for Quality and Diversity in British Broadcasting ANDY Burnham’s second meeting with VLV VLV President Delegates to a conference held at the Univer- as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Mrs Jocelyn Hay CBE sity of Navarra, co-hosted by iC Media, Spain’s umbrella broadcasting and citizen grouping. Sport took place at Westminster on 9 VLV Patrons December. He paid tribute to Jocelyn Hay’s Lord Barnet PC JP EURALVA Archbishop Lord Eames of Armagh years as VLV Chair, and to the strong Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS CONFERENCE IN foundations she bequeaths to her Lord Inglewood MEP successor, Richard Lindley. Sir Charles Mackerras CBE MADRID Dame Mary Peters DBE He referred to how the Jonathan Lord Phillips of Sudbury OBE EURALVA’s 2008 Annual Conference took Ross — Russell Brand debate had provided Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE Lady Solti place on 10 November in Madrid, well a focus on viewers’ hunger and demand for Sir John Tusa organised by Portuguese board member standards. British broadcasting’s hallmark Nuno de Campos. Richard Lindley attended had been high quality and integrity, and VLV Directors for the first time as VLV Chair. broadcasters should hold true in the face of Mr Richard Lindley (Chairman) Mr Hugh Peltor, CBE (Hon. Treasurer) Building Circles of Trust developed pressures from the on-line world. Prof Maire Messenger Davies a theme born at EURALVA’s 2007 In 2009, with Lord Carter’s interim Ms Carol Cattley (co-opted) Digital Britain Report and the Ofcom PSB Mr Robert Clark conference in Copenhagen, when Prof Ivor H Gaber participants from nearly a dozen Central Review, Parliament would debate the Mr Norman W Green European and Balkan countries found public’s priorities for PSB post-2012, the Prof Sonia M Livingstone Mr Lewis M C Rudd, MBE common ground with West European date by which digital switch-over would be Mr Laurence D Pawley colleagues around the idea of a tripartite complete. While MPs would understandably Dr Matthew Hibberd and rightly be concerned with regional news, Ms. Shyama Perera understanding between three sets of stakeholders — broadcasting policy- children’s TV was equally a crucial issue for Company Secretary makers and regulators, public service families. Consultation would also take place Waterlow Registrars Ltd. broadcasting organizations and the citizens on product placement, and what events The Voice of the Listener Trust who are their audiences, users and should be listed for transmission free-to-air. (registerred. charity 286207) a sister charity which supports There would be debate on online content, VLV’s educational work. consumers. Chairman: Mrs Jocelyn Hay CBE The necessity of trust strongly including protection of copyright, and the Trustees: influenced EURALVA responses to follow up to the Byron Review on the safety Mr Michael Barton of children on the internet. Mr John Clark Commission consultations on key issues Professor Sylvia Harvey such as state and product (or prop) In answer to a question on the time Lady Solti placement in programmes. scale, he said that we have had the ‘think Dr Andrew Taussig In Madrid, Spanish private sector tank’ and had now reached the ‘doing’ stage. Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) representative EURALVA speakers stood He answered worries that Lord Carter might represents the citizen and consumer pre-empt the Ofcom Review by saying that interests in broadcasting and works for firm on the threat posed by commercial quality and diversity in British broad- due consideration would be given to all the casting. VLV is free from political, sec- pressures to public service values, and the tarian and commercial affiliations. VLV options in an ongoing process. While he is concerned with the issues, struc- related need for updated regulatory tures, institutions and regulation that mechanisms. This democratic imperative would not rule out top-slicing the BBC underpin the British broadcasting sys- tem and in particular to maintain the was underlined in speeches by R. Brethes licence fee at this moment, he later said it principles of public service broadcast- ing. VLV does not handle complaints. from the European Commission and M. was ‘not an option I would reach for first’. Maggiore, the BBC Controller of European Sylvia Harvey asked how ITV’s VLV Office: PO Box 401, Gravesend DA12 9FY commitment to regional news and non-news Tel: 01474 352835 Fax: 01474 351112 and International Policy. e-mail [email protected] Preben Sorensen, Denmark, is might be maintained, or replaced. He felt Office Hours: 9.30-5pm Monday-Thursday there was potential for partnership. His Linda Forbes: Conference & Events Sec. now EURALVA President, following Sue Washbrook: Membership/ Board & Trust Admin. Professor Vincent Porter who will continue Conservative shadow was right to raise the Website: www.vlv.org his involvement as EURALVA’s European opportunities for local TV, which could attract Registered address: Aercon House, Alfred Road, Gravesend DA11 7QF Media Policy Adviser and representative new advertisers. He also saw possibilities Bulletin published by the Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd, a private company limited by guarantee (registered in England on the Advisory Committee of the European of public sector support from councils and no.