Restraining the BBC: the 2016 Charter settlement. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gibbons, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Journal of media law. Volume 9:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: BBC -- media independence -- media regulation -- media accountability -- public service broadcasting; Mass media -- Law and legislation -- Periodicals; Telecommunication -- Law and legislation -- Periodicals; 343.41099
• DOI: 10.1080/17577632.2017.1334438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-7632

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A new BBC Charter and Agreement came into force at the beginning of 2017 and has introduced the most far-reaching reshaping of the broadcaster since it was constituted as a public corporation in 1927. The BBC's programming and services must now demonstrate distinctiveness, it will be regulated externally by Ofcom, and its Board will be more directly accountable to Parliament and licence fee payers. In effecting these changes, the new policy reaffirms the continued importance of the BBC to audiences and the UK media industry. But, depending on how it is implemented, it has the potential seriously to threaten the BBC's autonomy and independence, and the very principles of public service media.