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BBC Ofcom Media

Ofcom sets new ground rules for BBC: 50% of leadership roles to be held by women by 2020

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

October 13, 2017 | 4 min read

The BBC will become publicly accountable for hitting workforce diversity quotas for the first time as part of UK media regulator Ofcom's first ever charter for the broadcaster after assuming control as its independent, external regulator earlier in 2017.

BBC has strident diversity quotas from Ofcom

BBC has strident diversity quotas from Ofcom

The UK media regulator has put in place some strident standards around content, staffing and performance after consolation with the public. It is also looking to address under-represented groups across the board.

The new conditions come into play 1 January 2018. Notably, for the first time, the company is publicly accountable for hitting workforce diversity quotas. These include 15% of staff to be from ethnic minority groups, and 50% of all staff and leadership roles to be held by women by 2020.

The push for an equal workforce comes after a gender wage disparity was revealed earlier this year at the broadcaster.

The BBC will answer to Ofcom annually on the representation front. The BBC World Service and BBC commercial services are exempt from the framework.

On screen too, there are commitments to be made. The BBC has to adopt a new Ofcom-approved Commissioning Code of Practice for diversity, that will oversee on-screen portrayal and casting.

On the content front, at least 75% of all programme hours on the most popular channels must be commissioned by the BBC for UK audiences. Across BBC One and BBC Two on peak evening hours this burden raises to 90% of content.

Further to this, Radio 1 and Radio 2 are to play a broader range of music than commercial stations, to open the door to new and emerging UK artists.

CBBC and CBeebies have to hit 400 and 100 hours of brand new, UK-commissioned programmes each year respectively, showing that the children’s output remains vital to the operation.

Half of all network hours have to be produced outside of London, and there is a framework in place to ensure a fairer regional spend across UK nations. Additionally, the news and current affairs products have to increase in quality. Radio 1 and Radio 2 in particular will have to up their news output. “Vulnerable genres” like arts, music and religious programmes will also be protected from cuts.

Kevin Bakhurst, Ofcom content and media policy director, said: “The BBC is the cornerstone of UK broadcasting. But we think it can do more to provide quality, distinctive programmes that reflect the interests and lives of people across the UK.

“Our rules will ensure the BBC focuses on original UK content, and invests in vital areas such as children’s programmes, music, arts and religion.”

The BBC has issued a response to the targets: "

A BBC spokesperson said: "These are a tough and challenging set of requirements which rightly demand a distinctive BBC which serves and represents all audiences throughout the whole UK. We will now get on with meeting these requirements and continuing to provide the world-class, creative BBC the public wants."

“We are glad Ofcom has recognised the importance of our existing workforce diversity targets - these include 15% of staff to be from ethnic minority groups and 50% of all staff and leadership roles to be held by women by 2020.”

The full performance statement is available to read here.

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