Working for Quality and Diversity in Broadcasting Spring 2013 Bulletin Issue 111 VLV’S 30th ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE 4G IS HERE - WHAT NEXT? Public Service Broadcasting - where next? Ofcom has announced the winners of the Challenges and opportunities 4G mobile spectrum auction. Everything in the digital age Everywhere Ltd, Hutchison 3G UK Ltd, Niche Spectrum Ventures Ltd (a subsidiary Wednesday 24 April 2013 of BT Group plc), Telefónica UK Ltd and The Geological Society, London W1 10.30 to 3.30 pm Vodafone Ltd have all won spectrum. 4G services are expected to lead to faster We now live in a digital television world - with more mobile broadband speeds, lower prices, choice and a plethora of ways to receive greater innovation, new investment and programmes: traditionally at home, sitting at our better coverage. Almost the whole UK computers, on the move, on phones or tablets. We population will be able to receive 4G mobile schedule which programmes we want and when we services by the end of 2017 at the latest. want to watch them, by recording in different ways, The auction has raised a total of £2,368 then watching on iPlayer, 4oD, on ITV Player or on million, which is considerably less than was YouTube. So where next for Public Service originally expected. Broadcasting? How do we guarantee that the values which VLV has campaigned for, now for over Although the Government has said that 30 years, are maintained and well regulated? ‘hundreds of thousands’ of homes will receive help to prevent 4G services At our 30th Annual Spring Conference - Public interfering with digital terrestrial television Service Broadcasting - where next? Challenges (DTT) signals, VLV Chairman Colin Browne and opportunities in the digital age we will try to said “we remain very concerned about the see the way forwards. We start however by taking a level of disruption 4G will cause to public look backwards - with BBC Head of History Robert television services. It is vital that the Seatter talking about The BBC at 90 with Daily proposed mitigation measures are fit for Telegraph radio critic Gillian Reynolds in the chair. purpose and adequately funded”. The winners of the 800 MHz spectrum will John Tate, the BBC’s Group Director, Strategic Operations, will look at the challenges facing meet the cost of mitigation, £180m according to Government figures. It expects regulators in a multi-channel, multi-media world. His that viewers should be able to solve policy work supports the Corporation's main problems by fitting a filter, provided free-of- regulatory relationships, including with the BBC charge by the assistance scheme. Vouchers Trust, Ofcom, the Government and the European will be provided to eligible households who Commission and Parliament. need an engineer to visit. Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited - operating as at800 - is As new Director-General the organisation running the scheme - see Lord Hall of Birkenhead www.at800.tv. VLV will continue to monitor takes his place at the BBC’s their plans very closely. Trials will start New Broadcasting House, immediately in the West Midlands. Do let us My advice to Tony comes know your experiences. from a panel of former senior media executives VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN including the BBC’s Will BROADCASTING 2012 Wyatt and ITV’s Clive Jones. Ray Snoddy will VLV members have been nominating and chair both sessions. voting for VLV’s Awards for Excellence in Inside Broadcasting 2012. The Awards, supported by the Voice of the Listener Trust and From the Board page 2 Ofcom News page 6 Roberts Radio, will be announced during the New BBC team page 3 VLV Archive page 7 Spring Conference on Wednesday 24 April. BBC Trust page 4 Diary Dates page 8 Page 1 Bulletin Spring 2013 FROM THE BOARD At our 30th Annual Spring Conference we look forward to many key developments. During 2013 we must plan and prepare for several specific legislative and technological events that will happen over the next three years. We wish to ensure that any changes in broadcasting result in positive outcomes for everyone in the UK and do not just serve the interests of industry and politicians. VLV sees one of its crucial roles as Voice of the Listener & Viewer keeping a citizen's eye on major legislative proposals and administrative Working for Quality and Diversity in British Broadcasting or regulatory actions to ensure they are not subordinated to the interests of political parties, industry players or other pressures. VLV President Mrs Jocelyn Hay CBE All aspects of broadcasting in the UK will be fundamentally affected by VLV Patrons the following major legislative and technological changes between now Rt Revd Lord Eames OM and 2016: Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS The review of the BBC Charter and renegotiation of the licence fee Lord Inglewood DL Lord Phillips of Sudbury OBE by 2016 Lord Puttnam CBE The passage through Parliament of a new Communications Bill Lady Solti The auction and planned auctioning of broadcasting spectrum that Sir John Tusa will adversely affect the right of some licence fee payers to have VLV Directors access to television free at point of use Mr Colin Browne (Chairman) The finalisation of plans to close current analogue radio Ms Toni Charlton (Treasurer) Mr Robert Clark (Secretary) broadcasting spectrum for national services by 2019 switching to Ms Sophie Chalk digital transmission. This will require people to replace most existing Mr David Eggington Ms Dinah Garrett receivers. Dr Matthew Hibberd Ms Wendy Jones The Coalition Government has promised a new Communications Act. VLV Mr Chris Mottershead has been actively engaged in the limited consultations that have taken Professor Jeannette Steemers Professor Bob Usherwood place. VLV's objective is to ensure the Act reflects the needs and wishes of the public at large and to ensure accountability and plurality in UK The Voice of the Listener Trust broadcasting. We see our role as all the more essential now that many (registered. charity 296207) which supports some of VLV’s educational work. avenues of consultation and contribution have been abandoned. VLV Trustees: Mr Michael Barton (Hon. Secretary) needs to safeguard the principle of public debate. Mr John Clark Mr Paul Findlay VLV wishes to continue to be actively engaged in these changes and to Professor Sylvia Harvey represent our members, giving you a sense of being stakeholders in the Lady Solti Dr Andrew Taussig nation’s media discourse. To be effective in this task we are actively seeking significant increases in our funding. The increases in our VLV Office: PO Box 401, Gravesend DA12 9FY membership rates are part of this drive for more income. Tel: 01474 338716 Robert Clark - Secretary to the VLV Board Fax: 01474 325440 e-mail: [email protected] Sir Denis Forman OBE 1917 - 2013 Office Hours: 9.30 am -3.30 pm Tuesday-Thursday Sir Denis Forman, who died on 24 Sue Washbrook: Administrator February aged 95, was Chairman of Granada Television from 1974 until 1987. Website: www.vlv.org.uk Sir Denis was a life-long supporter of VLV is on Twitter! @vlvuk public service broadcasting and, I believe, the driving force behind Granada’s contributions to the Campaign for Quality Television in 1988, which achieved so much in mitigating the most damaging Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) represents the citizen and consumer interests in broadcasting aspects of the 1990 Broadcasting Act, especially on the future of and works for quality and diversity in British broadcasting. VLV is free from political, sectarian children’s television. I remember he invited me to lunch with David and commercial affiliations. VLV is concerned with the issues, structures, institutions and regulation Plowright and plied me with questions about the way Voice of the Listener, that underpin the British broadcasting system and in particular to maintain the principles of public as it was then, worked and lobbied. He then not only gave moral support service broadcasting. to VoL in all it did, but went on to become one of the many professionals VLV does not handle complaints. with whom we had dealings when they were in office, who respected Registered Address: The Old Rectory these contacts so much they went on to join us on retirement. He Business Centre, Springhead Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 8HN. continued to be a much valued member. During his time at Granada he The Bulletin is edited by Dinah Garrett and was responsible for many outstanding programmes including The Jewel in published by Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd, a not-for-profit private company limited by guarantee the Crown, Brideshead Revisited, Disappearing World and World in (registered in England no 4407712). Action. ISSN 1475-2948 Jocelyn Hay CBE, VLV President Page 2 Bulletin Spring 2013 LORD HALL GETS HIS NEW TEAM IN PLACE Anne Bulford OBE will return Lord Hall of to the BBC in the summer as Birkenhead takes up Managing Director, BBC his position as the Finance and Operations. BBC’s 16th Director- She will sit on the BBC’s General on 2 April Executive and Worldwide 2013. The Director- Boards, and will oversee the General is the Finance, Operations, Technology, Legal, Risk editorial, operational and Assurance and Property functions and cover and creative leader of Commercial Rights and Business Affairs. the BBC, with responsibility for a significant global workforce and the Corporation's services Anne Bulford is currently Channel 4’s Chief across television, radio and online. He has Operating Officer. Before joining Channel 4 in already announced some changes in his senior 2005 she spent three years with the Royal Opera management team. House as Director of Finance and Business Affairs. Previously she was Finance Director at James Purnell returns Carlton Productions and worked at the BBC as to the BBC as Director, Head of Internal Audit and Finance Director of Strategy and Digital.