'Future regulation of BBC needs to change,' says Labour's shadow culture secretary
Labour’s shadow culture secretary Chris Bryant has slammed the "backroom deals" around the finances of the BBC, specifically the recently announed funding plan for free TV licences for the over 75s.
Bryan made the remarks at Radiocentre’s Tuningin conference today (July 8th) and called for a change in regulation at the BBC after financial details were discussed before the Charter renewal process gets underway.
“It is wrong to talk about the finances before we have sorted out the Charter," he said. "Backroom deals arranged without any public involvement at all are completely wrong. What is the purpose of the BBC Trust if they are completely circumvented and have no role in a decision that is briefed to the Sunday papers? It poses an enormous question for the future about how the BBC is regulated.”
The current BBC Charter ends 31 December 2016, having run since 1 January 2007 and Bryant added that he fears the Charter renewal process may already be
complete. He said: “John Whittingdale will launch the process but my fear is that it is
already done.”
Bryant went on to say that the BBC should have to abide by some of the same rules
and regulations by which the commercial sector is governed, and added that the ecology of public and private broadcasting has worked well in the British interests, with commercial radio creating channels which have directly challenged the BBC’s dominance.
However, he added that a more level the playing field was required. “Commercial sector needs cross pollination between public sector broadcasting because that’s the way to create a flourishing sector.”
Bryant also called for more to be done on diversity in the creative industries after
Ofcom’s released statistics showing that the percentage of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnics has fallen over the past few years.