A massive review of public service broadcasting is top of Ofcom's policy agenda, Media Week can reveal.
Officials at the new super-
regulator - which gains its
legislative powers via the Communications Bill - aim to conduct the review shortly after Ofcom goes "live" at Christmas this year.
The review will centre on the public and commercial requirements of the industry in relation to their commitments to education, innovation, entertainment, availability of information, original production, accessibility, inclusion of minorities and free access. It will include all of the terrestrial commercial broadcasters.
It will also concentrate on the expansion of digital broadcasting on both television and radio as the Government seeks to phase out the analogue system in the coming decade.
An Ofcom spokesman said: "The review will be a complex process involving public consultations and representations from the stakeholders."
Ofcom's large research department is also expected to play a major part of the review, examining the role of PSB as the number of commercial operators increase.
However, Ofcom has played down its influence through the PSB review in relation to the Government's BBC Charter renewal exercise, which is also expected to begin early next year.
"How that investigation fits into the Charter renewal is up to the Government to decide," the spokesman added.
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