Rona Fairhead, who became chair of BBC governing body the BBC Trust in August 2014, has opted not to stand for re-appointment. Until today, she wouldn’t have had to. And, it’s complicated. The former Financial Times Group chief executive was due to remain in her post for a full four years, sequeing from the BBC Trust, which is to be abolished in 2017, to the BBC Board that is replacing it. However, the new UK government has informed the BBC that it will run a new process…...
- 9/13/2016
- Deadline TV
The BBC doesn't crowd out its commercial competitors or local newspapers in the areas of entertainment, news and online, new independent research claims.
Kpmg's analysis was published by the BBC Trust - which commissioned the research - today (October 21)
The research had been commissioned in response to questions asked by the government's green paper on the BBC's Charter Review about the corporation's impact on the commercial sector.
"The BBC operates in a vibrant market, not a vacuum, and this report finds that the current BBC does not freeze out commercial investment simply by existing," said BBC Trust Chairman Rona Fairhead.
"However, the Trust is also clear that, as a public service broadcaster with £3.7bn of public money, the BBC's effect on the market must continue to be carefully regulated to ensure a high quality range of media is maintained."
Key findings from Kpmg's research outlined by the Trust...
Kpmg's analysis was published by the BBC Trust - which commissioned the research - today (October 21)
The research had been commissioned in response to questions asked by the government's green paper on the BBC's Charter Review about the corporation's impact on the commercial sector.
"The BBC operates in a vibrant market, not a vacuum, and this report finds that the current BBC does not freeze out commercial investment simply by existing," said BBC Trust Chairman Rona Fairhead.
"However, the Trust is also clear that, as a public service broadcaster with £3.7bn of public money, the BBC's effect on the market must continue to be carefully regulated to ensure a high quality range of media is maintained."
Key findings from Kpmg's research outlined by the Trust...
- 10/21/2015
- Digital Spy
As the conflict between the government and the BBC rages on, it has been revealed that the majority of the public are against the introduction of a new part-subscription service.
The BBC Trust conducted a public consultation from 22 July to 18 September and also engaged in independent audience research, and its findings show that most people support a tweaked version of the licence fee.
The wider public consultation of 40,000 respondents found that 53% of people supported a modernised licence fee, which takes into account iPlayer services.
Elsewhere, 16% voiced their support for a part-subscription model, while 53% were opposed to the idea.
2,908 people took part in an independent quantitative research study, with 128 people also taking part in qualitative focus groups.
At an event today (October 16), BBC Trust Chairman Rona Fairhead said: "The BBC has always been a universal public service broadcaster and the public have told us in their thousands that they want it to stay that way.
The BBC Trust conducted a public consultation from 22 July to 18 September and also engaged in independent audience research, and its findings show that most people support a tweaked version of the licence fee.
The wider public consultation of 40,000 respondents found that 53% of people supported a modernised licence fee, which takes into account iPlayer services.
Elsewhere, 16% voiced their support for a part-subscription model, while 53% were opposed to the idea.
2,908 people took part in an independent quantitative research study, with 128 people also taking part in qualitative focus groups.
At an event today (October 16), BBC Trust Chairman Rona Fairhead said: "The BBC has always been a universal public service broadcaster and the public have told us in their thousands that they want it to stay that way.
- 10/16/2015
- Digital Spy
The BBC is looking to pull BBC Three from the airwaves by February 2016.
In June, the BBC Trust provisionally approved moving the channel online - and now the BBC Executive has published its response.
Read the BBC Executive's full response to the BBC Three Pvt provisional conclusions
The BBC Trust had requested a response from the BBC Executive when its provisional conclusions were initially published.
In order to encourage BBC Three viewers to migrate online, the BBC Executive has now pitched running a "temporary transitional channel" from January 2016 until the end of February 2016 alongside BBC Three Online.
It claims this "would be the optimal way of moving audiences over to the online offering and would avoid additional costs in the region of £4m, compared with dual running of a full linear service to April 2016."
It also rejects the possibility of running a reduced BBC Three channel "with fewer hours of first run originated content.
In June, the BBC Trust provisionally approved moving the channel online - and now the BBC Executive has published its response.
Read the BBC Executive's full response to the BBC Three Pvt provisional conclusions
The BBC Trust had requested a response from the BBC Executive when its provisional conclusions were initially published.
In order to encourage BBC Three viewers to migrate online, the BBC Executive has now pitched running a "temporary transitional channel" from January 2016 until the end of February 2016 alongside BBC Three Online.
It claims this "would be the optimal way of moving audiences over to the online offering and would avoid additional costs in the region of £4m, compared with dual running of a full linear service to April 2016."
It also rejects the possibility of running a reduced BBC Three channel "with fewer hours of first run originated content.
- 8/12/2015
- Digital Spy
The BBC Trust has said that it "cannot endorse" Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne's overhaul of the licence fee.
Osborne announced plans today for the BBC to begin covering the cost of free TV licences for over-75s starting in 2018/19, which will likely lead to large-scale service cuts.
Rona Fairhead, chairman of the BBC Trust, has since come out in opposition to the way Osborne's plan has been presented to the public.
"We accept this decision is a legitimate one for the government to take, although we cannot endorse the process by which it has been reached," Fairhead wrote in a letter posted on the BBC Trust's Twitter account.
"Clearly, beyond the current charter period it is for the government to determine both its policy on the over-75s concession and how that is funded. We could not, ultimately, obstruct any decision that you made."
Fairhead affirmed the...
Osborne announced plans today for the BBC to begin covering the cost of free TV licences for over-75s starting in 2018/19, which will likely lead to large-scale service cuts.
Rona Fairhead, chairman of the BBC Trust, has since come out in opposition to the way Osborne's plan has been presented to the public.
"We accept this decision is a legitimate one for the government to take, although we cannot endorse the process by which it has been reached," Fairhead wrote in a letter posted on the BBC Trust's Twitter account.
"Clearly, beyond the current charter period it is for the government to determine both its policy on the over-75s concession and how that is funded. We could not, ultimately, obstruct any decision that you made."
Fairhead affirmed the...
- 7/6/2015
- Digital Spy
The BBC Trust has said that it has not ignored the voice of young people in provisionally accepting proposals to move BBC Three online.
Speaking at a media briefing today, the Trust was asked about the results of a Digital Spy survey of 33,484 people where 87% of those polled said it was the wrong decision to axe the station as a broadcast TV channel.
"I think we've absolutely taken it into account," said BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead.
"The strength of feeling from the BBC audience is very clear. They are absolutely passionate about BBC Three and its programmes and that has been built up over the 11 or so years that BBC Three has been operating.
"What we have tried to do is balance two things: the fact that the direction is to go online but to accept that this audience wants and needs to have full access so that it can watch the programmes online.
Speaking at a media briefing today, the Trust was asked about the results of a Digital Spy survey of 33,484 people where 87% of those polled said it was the wrong decision to axe the station as a broadcast TV channel.
"I think we've absolutely taken it into account," said BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead.
"The strength of feeling from the BBC audience is very clear. They are absolutely passionate about BBC Three and its programmes and that has been built up over the 11 or so years that BBC Three has been operating.
"What we have tried to do is balance two things: the fact that the direction is to go online but to accept that this audience wants and needs to have full access so that it can watch the programmes online.
- 6/30/2015
- Digital Spy
The BBC Trust has recommended proposals to close down BBC Three as a broadcast channel and move it online in 2016 - but its decision is not final.
The Trust will carry out another round of consultation in the coming weeks, as it wants to feel confident that BBC Three's "risk-taking" remit and existing audience will still be served across the corporation's other TV channels and services.
BBC Trust: 'We have not ignored young people on BBC Three - they have a valid voice'
"We want a strong, sustainable BBC which is innovative, distinctive and relevant and has clear boundaries with the commercial market. We have reached our provisional conclusions with this over-arching objective in mind," said BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead.
"It is clear that the long-term future of broadcasting is online and the BBC needs to find new and exciting ways to help audiences make that transition, while bearing down on costs overall.
The Trust will carry out another round of consultation in the coming weeks, as it wants to feel confident that BBC Three's "risk-taking" remit and existing audience will still be served across the corporation's other TV channels and services.
BBC Trust: 'We have not ignored young people on BBC Three - they have a valid voice'
"We want a strong, sustainable BBC which is innovative, distinctive and relevant and has clear boundaries with the commercial market. We have reached our provisional conclusions with this over-arching objective in mind," said BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead.
"It is clear that the long-term future of broadcasting is online and the BBC needs to find new and exciting ways to help audiences make that transition, while bearing down on costs overall.
- 6/30/2015
- Digital Spy
George Osborne has insisted that a Conservative government "[doesn't] plan to replace" the licence fee.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer told Radio Times that while there are no plans to abolish the fee, it is necessary to "look at all the options" of how the BBC might be funded.
Osborne also voiced his opinion that having the BBC Trust regulate the broadcaster "has never really worked".
"I've never understood why the BBC is so frightened of regulation by Ofcom... it's not as if ITV is poorly regulated," he said. "Ofcom has proved itself to be a robust regulator."
Rona Fairhead, head of the BBC Trust, previously called for it to be shut down, arguing that that the Trust should be replaced by an external regulator.
Meanwhile, Labour party leader Ed Miliband has indicated that he would push for the renewal of the licence fee in 2016 if he wins the general election next month.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer told Radio Times that while there are no plans to abolish the fee, it is necessary to "look at all the options" of how the BBC might be funded.
Osborne also voiced his opinion that having the BBC Trust regulate the broadcaster "has never really worked".
"I've never understood why the BBC is so frightened of regulation by Ofcom... it's not as if ITV is poorly regulated," he said. "Ofcom has proved itself to be a robust regulator."
Rona Fairhead, head of the BBC Trust, previously called for it to be shut down, arguing that that the Trust should be replaced by an external regulator.
Meanwhile, Labour party leader Ed Miliband has indicated that he would push for the renewal of the licence fee in 2016 if he wins the general election next month.
- 4/14/2015
- Digital Spy
The head of the BBC Trust has called for it to be shut down.
Rona Fairhead said that the trust should be replaced by an external regulator.
Fairhead claims that a "faultline in the blurred accountabilities" has developed between the trust and the BBC management, effectively calling time on her own position.
Her sentiments echoed that of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, which called for the BBC Trust to be abolished.
The new proposal would see the broadcaster's strategic, financial and operational management handled by a new executive, with a non-executive chairman sitting alongside BBC director general Tony Hall.
"That way, there should be no possibility of vagueness or uncertainty about who will be held responsible for what, when the chips are down," Fairhead told the Oxford Media Convention today (March 4) (via The Guardian).
"The cleanest form of separation would be to transfer the trust's responsibilities for...
Rona Fairhead said that the trust should be replaced by an external regulator.
Fairhead claims that a "faultline in the blurred accountabilities" has developed between the trust and the BBC management, effectively calling time on her own position.
Her sentiments echoed that of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, which called for the BBC Trust to be abolished.
The new proposal would see the broadcaster's strategic, financial and operational management handled by a new executive, with a non-executive chairman sitting alongside BBC director general Tony Hall.
"That way, there should be no possibility of vagueness or uncertainty about who will be held responsible for what, when the chips are down," Fairhead told the Oxford Media Convention today (March 4) (via The Guardian).
"The cleanest form of separation would be to transfer the trust's responsibilities for...
- 3/4/2015
- Digital Spy
The head of the BBC Trust has insisted that plans to move BBC Three online are "in and of itself good".
Rona Fairhead told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee at a select hearing that the final review of BBC Three isn't finished, but that the way people watch television is changing.
"We haven't done our final review of BBC Three. It's a really difficult challenge," she said, as reported by the BBC's in-house magazine Ariel.
"If you look at the statistics, it will show that a group of the public are watching less, they are certainly watching very differently, although sometimes they view by appointment, typically they eat or watch on the go through devices that they have."
The BBC Trust is to hold a public conference about BBC Three's future and will publish the results thereafter.
Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the BBC has rejected approaches...
Rona Fairhead told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee at a select hearing that the final review of BBC Three isn't finished, but that the way people watch television is changing.
"We haven't done our final review of BBC Three. It's a really difficult challenge," she said, as reported by the BBC's in-house magazine Ariel.
"If you look at the statistics, it will show that a group of the public are watching less, they are certainly watching very differently, although sometimes they view by appointment, typically they eat or watch on the go through devices that they have."
The BBC Trust is to hold a public conference about BBC Three's future and will publish the results thereafter.
Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the BBC has rejected approaches...
- 10/21/2014
- Digital Spy
Former Financial Times Group CEO Rona Fairhead started her new role as BBC Trust chair on Thursday, vowing to ensure the U.K. public broadcaster's independence and focusing staff on the importance of meeting the “changing needs" of its audiences. Fairhead visited the BBC headquarters in central London Thursday morning, near the Trust's office. The Trust is the governing body of the public broadcaster and was previously led by former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten who stepped down, citing health reasons, earlier this year. She is the first female BBC Trust chair. In an email memo to BBC staff, Fairhead
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- 10/9/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A review of how the TV licence is paid is to be undertaken by ministers due to concerns over court appearance figures.
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid's review will question whether the payment system is working, as over 10% of all cases heard by magistrates involve TV licences.
The review is expected to conclude early in the next Parliament.
It will occur just as Rona Fairhead, the ministers' preferred chair of the BBC Trust, will soon face questions from the Commons Media Select Committee about her thoughts on the regulation and funding of the BBC.
Both the Conservatives and Labour have voiced calls for the decriminalisation of non-payment of the licence fee.
Speaking at the Royal Television Society later, Javid will question how the BBC enforces payment - £145.50 a year for a colour TV - and whether this could be changed.
"In 2012/13, almost 200,000 people ended up in court accused of not buying a TV licence,...
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid's review will question whether the payment system is working, as over 10% of all cases heard by magistrates involve TV licences.
The review is expected to conclude early in the next Parliament.
It will occur just as Rona Fairhead, the ministers' preferred chair of the BBC Trust, will soon face questions from the Commons Media Select Committee about her thoughts on the regulation and funding of the BBC.
Both the Conservatives and Labour have voiced calls for the decriminalisation of non-payment of the licence fee.
Speaking at the Royal Television Society later, Javid will question how the BBC enforces payment - £145.50 a year for a colour TV - and whether this could be changed.
"In 2012/13, almost 200,000 people ended up in court accused of not buying a TV licence,...
- 9/9/2014
- Digital Spy
The U.K. government’s preferred choice to head up the governing body of the BBC was questioned by members of parliament Tuesday as part of her selection process. Rona Fairhead, who is set to become the BBC Trust’s first female director if appointed, was quizzed on various aspects on her suitability for the role, her opinions regarding the public broadcaster and her previous and current positions. Fairhead denied assertions that the government had backed her appointment because she was female. “I am a woman, but I felt that the process was a standard process,” she said, pointing to her
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- 9/9/2014
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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