iPlayer - small, medium, large. Image: Flickr / Dan TaylorAs both the BBC’s Royal Charter and licence fee settlement expire within the next two years, a Conservative victory in May’s general election was likely not the outcome many at the Beeb would have been hoping for. The Conservative manifesto promised to deliver a “comprehensive review of the BBC Royal Charter, ensuring it delivers value for money for the licence fee payer”. They proposed to keep the licence fee frozen and introduce further top-slicing to help fund the roll-out of superfast broadband, further reducing income to an organisation already halfway through an extensive cost-cutting programme. The appointment of John Whittingdale as Culture Secretary has fuelled concerns that the Conservative government will pursue a tough line on the BBC.
Given his previous role as chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMSC), we know a fair amount about Whittingdale’s thoughts on the BBC as the CMSC published a document titled The Future of the BBC in February this year. This report was the first step in examining the role and position of the BBC in the run up to Charter renewal and gives us a good insight into how discussions may unfold over the next 18 months or so. These discussions will need to conclude well before the current Charter expires on 31 December 2016, and will focus on three main and distinct, albeit inter-related, areas:
1. Public service role and functions of the BBC
