This publication sets out the argument for the introduction of ‘genre’ licences, providing commercial broadcasters with the opportunity to bid for financial support to provide specific public service broadcasting (PSB) programming, specifically news programmes, paid for by ‘top-slicing’ the BBC licence fee.
It argues that the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting removes the incentive for commercial broadcasters to make and show PSB content, particularly at peak times. Without intervention this could leave the BBC as the sole provider of peak time news and current affairs. But we need diversity in the provision of news to provide variety and promote competition.
Download The Report: PDF