Ofcom demands changes to BBC broadcasting output

Ofcom, which on Monday will become the first independent regulator of the BBC, has proposed a wide-ranging set of new rules for the public broadcaster, including imposing minimum quotas on television and radio output of news, arts and sports and greater spending on original programming.

The media and telecoms regulator, which is currently investigating Sky's takeover by 21st Century Fox and earlier this month doled out a £42m fine to BT for late broadband installations, published its draft ‘operating licence’ on Wednesday.

Ofcom chief Sharon White said she was setting out requirements for the BBC that are "achievable and affordable within existing licence fee funding" and were designed to "uphold the quality of the BBC’s programmes".

She said the BBC must be discernibly different from the rest of the broadcasting sector.

Carrying on from other BBC efforts at regionalisation, which have included a major move from London to Manchester, at least half of all programmes shown nationally and produced in the UK would also need to be made outside of the capital, while minimum quotas will also be introduced for each UK nation, requiring the BBC to spend the same on programmes, per head, in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

With White noting that the BBC spends roughly 30% less on original programming now than it did a decade ago, Ofcom wants three quarters of all programme hours on the BBC’s most popular TV channels should be original productions, commissioned for UK audiences.

Furthermore, BBC One and BBC Two would be required to show more arts and cultural programming during peak viewing times, while children's TV channels CBBC and CBeebie would me made to show at least 400 hours and at least 100 hours respectively of brand new UK commissioned programming each year.

For the first time, Radio 2 would be required to air at least three hours of news and current affairs per week during peak listening periods, with Radio 1 to broadcast an extended news bulletin in peak-time listening each weekday.

New rules would demand a "significant proportion" of new music played by Radio 1 and Radio 2 to be from new and emerging UK artists, with Radio 3 commissioning at least 25 new musical works each year, and developing relationships with non-BBC UK orchestras, opera companies and festivals.

To widen the diversity of sports on Radio 5 Live, it would need to to provide live commentary, news and programmes covering at least 20 sports, "to help support those that are not getting the attention they deserve".

There would be a new Diversity Code of Practice to set how the BBC will commission programmes that authentically portray the whole UK population.

Consultation will finish in July and the drawing up of the final operating licence is expected to be complete in September and in force from January 2018.

“The BBC is the cornerstone of UK broadcasting," said Kevin Bakhurst, Ofcom’s content and media policy director. "It should deliver quality content for its whole audience, with programmes that reflect the UK’s rich culture and showcase all its talents.

“We have asked viewers and listeners what they value most about the BBC, and our plans reflect what they’ve told us. We now want to hear the wider views of licence fee payers.”