BBC offers to share resources with commercial rivals

LONDON - The BBC has publicly laid out its support for allocating assistance to its commercial rivals, in an attempt to fend off the threat to the licence fee.

Ofcom logo
Ofcom logo


The BBC Trust submission to Ofcom's Public Service Broadcasting review said that of Ofcom's proposed future funding models for PSBs, the provision of so-called regulatory assets - such as cut-price spectrum at lower than market prices - offers "the most promising funding option to support PSB on commercial broadcasters".

The BBC said the move would avoid "all the difficulties associated with the direct public funding of output on commercial [PSB] channels".

The value of this spectrum and other benefits, such as favourable EPG listing regulations for Five, are worth around £200m, according to Ofcom.

The BBC said Ofcom could maximise the value to PSBs of access to digital terrestrial TV spectrum, yielding a value of £45m per year for ITV. "In the light of this, the BBC would suggest that Ofcom confirms that it is prepared to waive spectrum pricing for PSBs," the corporation added.

The BBC said it was open to sharing resources with other broadcasters, including expertise in digital production technology.

Channel 4 said it is reviewing the effectiveness of various potential models of future funding, but chief executive Andy Duncan has said he prefers an "indirect" funding solution rather than direct public funds.

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Market Reports.

Find out more

Enjoying ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s content?

 Get unlimited access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s premium content for your whole company with a corporate licence.

Upgrade access

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an alert now

Partner content