Mariana Mazzucato
La emisora, que una minoría apoyada por las publicaciones de Murdoch quiere destruir, exhibe grandes méritos y muestra la capacidad del Estado como creador de valor colectivo y no solo como regulador de mercados.
En las conferencias Reith —la serie anual sobre radio que emite la BBC— del año pasado, el exgobernador del Banco de Inglaterra, Mark Carney, observó que, desde la crisis financiera de 2008, el valor monetario es el que define cada vez más las normas e instituciones. Lo que suele faltar en esta discusión sobre la confusión entre precio y valor es la forma de captar el valor real de las instituciones públicas que nos enriquecen. Es apropiado que Carney presente este planteamiento en un programa de la BBC; después de todo, la BBC fue la primera emisora pública en incorporar la noción de “valor público” en su marco de gobernanza. La British Broadcasting Company se convirtió, junto con el Servicio Nacional de Salud y The Open University (La Universidad Abierta), en una de las instituciones más queridas y de mayor renombre internacional del Reino Unido; llega a una audiencia de 460 millones de personas cada semana.

Artículo de El País

La UER ha pedido al gobierno del Reino Unido que se garantize la independencia de la BBC y ha expresado su preocupación por la reciente discusión sobre el futuro de la radiotelevisión pública británica.

En una carta al secretario de cultura del Reino Unido, John Whittingdale, la directora general de la UER, Ingrid Deltenre, afirma que "la BBC continúa siendo el estándar ideal en toda Europa" para la radiodifusión pública y señaló que el servicio BBC iPlayer se había convertido en "un estándar del sector internacional para la entrega de contenido bajo demanda ".

"La BBC, gracias a su oferta amplia y variada disponible en múltiples plataformas, contribuye fuertemente a garantizar la universalidad de los contenidos de alto nivel y ayuda a ofrecer a los ciudadanos una oferta de medios diversos y sanos, que es esencial para el crecimiento personal y permite jugar un papel esencial en una democracia que funciona de verdad. La BBC debe permanecer comprometida con la formación de los ciudadanos, libre de intereses políticos y comerciales. Cualquier cambio en cómo se regula la BBC, incluyendo sus competencias y el modelo de financiación, deben llevarse a cabo garantizando la independencia de la BBC ", dijo Deltenre.

"El Reino Unido siempre ha sido considerado como un modelo para la política de los medios de comunicación en todo el mundo. La consulta y procesos regulatorios que rigen la BBC han inspirado a otros similares en toda Europa. Estamos preocupados por algunos de los recientes debates y medidas, que corren el riesgo de no sólo un impacto negativo en la capacidad de la organización para servir a los ciudadanos, sino también de todo el sistema de medios de comunicación, en el Reino Unido y en toda Europa ", dijo.

Contenido íntegro de la carta:

LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE BBC

Dear Secretary of State,

The BBC's mission "to inform, educate and entertain" can be found in almost all European public service media charters and the BBC continues to set the standard across Europe. No public service broadcaster has better lived up to the ambition and mantra of Huw Wheldon "to make the popular good and the good popular." Broadcasters have greatly benefited from innovations launched by the BBC. The BBC iPlayer for example has become an international industry standard for delivering on demand content.

This is why the European Broadcasting Union would, at this important time, like to express its support and commitment to one of its founding Members which created the idea of public service broadcasting as we know it nearly 100 years ago.

The BBC, thanks to its broad and varied offer available on multiple platforms, strongly contributes to ensuring the universality of high level content and helps provide citizens with a diverse and healthy media diet, which is essential for their personal growth and enables them to play their role in a functioning democracy. It must remain committed to putting citizens first, free from political and commercial interests. Any changes to how the BBC is regulated, including its remit and funding model, must be conducted in the interests of guaranteeing the BBC's independence.

The BBC has a strong international voice that must continue to be heard. It contributes to a well-informed democratic debate and embodies European values. In times of crisis, whether economic, political or humanitarian, the BBC continues to be one of the most trusted sources of information, not only in the UK but worldwide. Across Europe, but especially in those countries where trusted, high quality media are not available, citizens turn to the BBC to make sense of the changes the world and their countries are going through. Consequently, the BBC is a clear example of how public service media contributes to society by informing citizens and therefore strengthening democracy.

The BBC is the biggest content producer within the EBU Membership. The importance of the BBC's contribution to the creative economy, as well as society and culture cannot be underestimated. It is a major driver of the British and European creative industries. A step back in that role would result in enormous damage not only to that specific sector but also to other associated industries.

In this ever more connected world, public service media must have the scope and scale to serve audiences wherever they are, including online. By meeting this challenge the BBC has driven up broadband use and enhanced digital skills in the UK. In the current context of offer abundance and high-pace innovation there is more information than ever and truth is frequently crowded out by lies. Trust, quality and universality therefore become issues that cannot be ignored. The BBC, embracing its public service values, plays a vital role in ensuring that the entire citizenship benefits from those changes.

However, in order to remain relevant in the future the BBC needs to maintain a strong legal framework, which ensures its editorial independence and sustainable funding. The UK has always been regarded as a model for media policy across the world. The consultation and regulatory processes that support the BBC have inspired similar ones across Europe. We are concerned by some of the recent discussions and developments, which risk not only a negative impact on the organisation's ability to serve citizens, but also on the entire media system, in the UK and across Europe.

The BBC is a great British institution. As an instrument of soft power and influence around Europe and the world it is unrivalled. It is a source of inspiration and aspiration for all our Members. When the UK makes its decision on how to shape the BBC of the future we ask that you take into account the importance the organisation has in upholding journalistic and programme-making standards at home and abroad, and the role it plays in the lives of hundreds of millions of people not just in the UK but around the globe.

Yours Sincerely,

Ingrid Deltenre

Director General, EBU

[Open Democracy]

Dan Hind

In his recent piece for openDemocracy, Tony Ageh sets out a vision for the BBC in which the organization becomes a core part of a 'Digital Public Space'. This he describes as "a secure and universally accessible public sphere through which every person, regardless of age or income, ability or disability, can gain access to an ever growing library of permanently available media and data held on our behalf by our enduring institutions." This Digital Public Space is bigger than the BBC. It includes museums and libraries, other public service media and public archives.

Ageh looks to the BBC's longstanding, if unsung, role as "a world class engineering organisation pushing the boundaries on behalf of the population of the UK and the whole of industry." While the BBC is most visible as a producer of television content, it is also a solver of problems.

[Forbes]

I can exclusively report today that the BBC News is preparing to announce 500 more job losses, as part of its ongoing cost-cutting programme, and that industrial action could well follow. Including new cuts to BBC Radio, the corporation is facing a total of between 550 and 600 redundancies.

Next month, the corporation is set to announce that it will cut between 475 and 500 jobs from its News division, with a further 75 to 85 going from its radio operation in the UK (as opposed to the World Service, which broadcasts globally).

The cuts represent just over 6 per cent – about one in 16 – of the entire headcount in News, which currently employs around 8,000 people. The jobs will go over the next two years.

[The Guardian]

The closure of the BBC3 TV channel is far from certain, one of the corporation's trustee's has warned, stressing that the plans will be heavily scrutinised when they are submitted this summer.

Richard Ayre, speaking at an internal briefing following the publication of a BBC Trust report scrutinising the corporation's news and current affairs output, expressed scepticism that plans to put most BBC3 TV content online would prove effective.

He said that youth-focused news bulletin 60 Seconds had been "remarkably effective" at reaching a big audience. "And it's not just news bulletins – some of the most effective current affairs have been on BBC3," he added.

Ayre said that it was in no way a "foregone conclusion" that the closing the TV channel was the best move in the BBC's strategic mission to engage with younger audiences.

"It will have to be a detailed proposal, I have some searching questions," he said. "Not least will be given the difficulty of reaching young adults with journalism how does the BBC propose to ensure – through [putting BBC3 content] online or that and other online initiatives – the BBC is going to continue to reach those individuals as it does with BBC3 [on TV]. I don't think you should regard it as a foregone conclusion. It is not a foregone conclusion".

La BBC afronta una de las peores crisis de su historia y se encamina a un cambio radical tras la dimisión, el sábado por la noche, de su director general, George Entwistle. Entwistle, que llevaba solo 54 días en el cargo, había quedado en una posición muy débil por su papel, antes de ser director general, en la decisión de la cadena de no emitir, en diciembre pasado, una investigación del 

programa Newsnight sobre las actividades sexuales de una de sus antiguas estrellas, Jimmy Savile. Ahora ha caído por todo lo contrario: emitir un reportaje en ese mismo programa en el que se acusaba a un político conservador de la era Thatcher de abusar de quinceañeros.

Aunque el reportaje emitido el pasado día 2 no mencionaba al político por su nombre, su identidad fue revelada por varios portales de Internet.

Por su interés, reproducimos este artículo de El Periódico, del 3 de Noviembre de 2011.

El 2 de noviembre de 1936, hace 75 años, la BBC se convirtió en la primera cadena mundial con una programación diaria de televisión. Aquel no fue un estreno con audiencias millonarias: 400 espectadores vieron la emisión inaugural, que consistió en una sobria ceremonia, con algunos discursos y un concierto de música clásica, previamente filmado.

Por su interés, reproducimos este artículo de El Periodico, de fecha 10 de Octubre de 2011

En estos tiempos en que la televisión pública catalana está pasando por profundos replanteamientos conceptuales debido a los grandes recortes presupuestarias, es un buen momento para reflexionar sobre el rol de los medios de comunicación públicos para los próximos años.

Government has set out reforms to the BBC to make sure it remains a valued public broadcaster for years to come.

The BBC is governed by a Royal Charter, with the current Charter due to expire at the end of 2016. Following an open and transparent consultation, the Government has now set out its plans for reform in “A BBC for the future: a broadcaster of distinction” ahead of publishing a new Charter.

The Government has set out a new framework for the BBC that:

allows it to focus on high quality, distinctive content which informs, educates and entertains while also serving all audiences;
enhances its independence whilst also making it much more effective and accountable in its governance and regulation;
makes support for the UK’s creative industries central to the BBC’s operations – while at the same time minimising any undue negative market impacts;
increases the BBC’s efficiency and transparency; and
supports the BBC with a modern, sustainable and fairer system of funding.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, John Whittingdale MP, said:

The proposals that we are publishing are the result of one of the largest and most open consultations ever conducted. We have taken on board extensive views and evidence from those who watch and listen to the BBC - those who love it, those who can be frustrated by it and those who feel underserved by it.

These reforms will embolden the BBC to take risks, to create confidently and unashamedly the highest quality, distinctive content for all audiences. It will provide the foundations for a stronger, more independent, more distinctive BBC that will inform, educate and entertain for many years to come.

The proposals take into account views from more than 190,000 people who contributed to the Government consultation, an independent review of the governance and regulation of the BBC led by Sir David Clementi, a public opinion study considering in particular the views of underrepresented groups, and a review of the BBC’s market impact. In total, more than 300 organisations and experts have engaged in the Charter Review process.

The key reforms announced include:

A new mission statement for the BBC.
This will empower the to make even more great programmes for audiences to enjoy, and with a focus on more distinctive output that informs, educates and entertains.

Overhaul of how the BBC is governed and regulated.
A new, strong unitary board for the BBC will be established, consisting of between 12-14 members. In contrast to the previous BBC Governors and the current BBC Trust, where appointments were made under the public appointments system, the BBC will be responsible for appointing at least half of the board members. Ofcom will become the external independent regulator of the BBC following recommendations by the independent review from Sir David Clementi.

Ofcom is the widely respected and experienced media and telecommunications regulator. Given fundamental changes to governance and regulation, there will need to be a smooth transition and therefore the current Chair of the BBC Trust will continue as Chair of the BBC through to the end of their current term.

An 11-year Charter to separate future Charter Reviews from the political cycle, but also provide long-term stability and independence for the BBC.
This will be the third longest Charter in history. Given the changes planned and the fast-paced media environment, there will be a ‘health check’ at mid-term of the Charter period to make sure things are working as they are supposed to.

Increase the licence fee level in line with inflation for five years from 2017/18 so that the BBC can continue to provide high quality, distinctive content for all audiences.
This means the BBC will remain one of the best-funded public service broadcasters in the world. The licence fee will also be modernised to require all those who consume BBC on-demand content (e.g. on BBC iPlayer) to pay the licence fee and the BBC will introduce more flexible payment plans for paying the licence fee. The Charter will also empower the BBC to pilot some elements of subscription in addition to their current services.

Introduce a new regularised process for setting the licence fee, giving the BBC the financial certainty it needs by setting the licence fee every five years.
This will ensure that future licence fee settlements can be informed by independent advice for the benefit of licence fee payers.

Further strengthening the BBC’s editorial independence with specific clauses in the new Royal Charter.
This will enshrine the BBC’s independence as a whole, as well as specific protections for the BBC’s Editor in Chief, the Director-General. Government will also protect the BBC’s impartiality by making it clear in the organisation’s overall mission for the first time. This will make sure the BBC remains the most trusted provider of high quality news for audiences in the UK and abroad.

Open the BBC’s programme-making to greater competition by removing the in-house guarantee for all television content spend except news and news-related current affairs.
This will provide hundreds of millions of pounds of new opportunities for the independent sector, help drive efficiency savings and provide new creative opportunities for the BBC.

Establish a new contestable public service content fund of up to £60m to create new opportunities for others to provide the best public service broadcasting content in the UK.
This could include programmes for black and asian minority ethnic audiences, and children’s TV which has seen investment reduce by a fifth since 2009.

Enhance the efficiency of the BBC and make it more transparent.
The new BBC Board will be required to investigate issues relating to excessive management layers and overall staffing levels, which could deliver significant further efficiency savings. The BBC will have to set out more information to help licence fee payers understand how the broadcaster spends its budget between different types of programming, and details of pay and benefits to talent paid over £450,000. The National Audit Office (NAO) will become the BBC’s financial auditor and scrutinise BBC spending and value for money given the £3.7 billion of public money that it spends.

Ensure that the BBC serves all nations and regions in the UK.
This will be through a clear focus on the BBC’s obligations set out in a new ‘operating licence’, clear board-level responsibilities, and a continued commitment to the out-of-London production targets.

Enshrine a commitment to diversity in the Charter.
This is part of a new overall commitment to ensuring the BBC serves all audiences. Government believes the BBC should be at the forefront of representing diversity both on and off screen.

Make sure the BBC supports and invigorates local news provision across the UK.
This will be through the delivery of proposals to work in partnership with the local news industry to support local democracy, including an additional 150 local news journalists.

Protect the BBC World Service, which is one of the BBC’s most distinctive services and hugely valued by audiences across the globe.
Reaching more than 246 million people worldwide, it is a vital part of the UK’s ability to lead the world in terms of soft power and influence. The Government will therefore make sure that the BBC protects licence fee funding for the World Service at its current level of £254 million a year, plus a total of £289 million additional funding until 2020 to help promote Britain and our values around the world.

Documento

[ABC]

Tras siete años con la tarifa congelada, el Gobierno ha anunciado que el canon televisivo que financia a la BBC subirá a partir del 1 de abril. Pasará de las 145,5 libras al año actuales a 147. Es decir, cada ciudadano que quiera ver la televisión o escuchar la radio, sea en el soporte que sea, tendrá que pagar el equivalente a 171,4 euros al año. Este sistema de financiación permite sostener una televisión pública excelente, que es una de las banderas del llamado «poder blando» británico en todo el mundo.

La BBC cuenta actualmente un presupuesto anual de más de 5.700 millones de euros. No ofrece publicidad y costea su inmensa estructura con el canon anual, que deben pagar, so pena de multas severas, todos los residentes en el Reino Unido que utilizan una radio, un televisor o ven los programas televisivos a través de un ordenador u otros soportes. Cada año son juzgadas unas 3.000 personas por ver la tele sin abonar el canon y se han llegado a fallar algunas penas de cárcel.

Vehículos anónimos barredores de la señal peinan las calles británicas. De manera automática, cruzan los datos de quienes están viendo la televisión con el registro de pagadores del canon. Con este método se detecta a quienes ven los espacios televisivos o escuchan la radio de manera pirata, sin pasar por la taquilla pública.