There will be a debate on the BBC Charter and the closure of regional TV news programmes in Westminster Hall on 12 July 2022 at 9:30. This debate will be led by Rob Butler MP.
CDP-20220136 (2 MB , PDF)
The closure of regional TV news programmes has been recently announced as part of plans to “move decisively to a digital-first BBC to better deliver value for all audiences”.
Included in these changes are the merger of South Today in Oxford with the regional programme in Southampton and the Cambridge based version of BBC Look East to merge with the broadcast from Norwich.
The move has been challenged for being “in contravention of the BBC charter, which says that all audiences should be able to engage fully with major local issues”.
CDP-20220136 (2 MB , PDF)
This briefing provides statistics on the TV licence fee and general television viewing trends. TV licence fee revenues in 2021/22 were £3.8 billion which was higher than the 2011/12 figure of £3.6 billion (in cash terms).Total BBC income in 2021/22 was £5.3 billion. TV licence fee revenues accounted for around 71/% of total income.
A Media Bill, included in the Background Notes to the Queen's Speech of May 2022 would, among other things, update broadcasting law for the digital age.
This Library Briefing looks at the future of Channel 4.