Jochen Spangenberg The BBC in Transition

Transcription

1 Jochen Spangenberg The BBC in Transition

2 Jochen Spangenberg The IIC in Transition Reasons, Results and Consequences ~ Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH

3 Die Deutsche Bibliothek - ClP-Einheitsaufnahme Spangenberg,Jochen: The BBC in transition : reasons, results and consequences / Jochen Spangenberg. - Wiesbaden: Dt. Univ.-Verl., 1997 IDUV : Sozialwissenschaft) ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 1997 Ursprünglich erschienen bei Deutscher Universitäts-Verlag GmbH, Wiesbaden Lektorat: Claudia Splittgerber Das Werk einschließlich aller seiner Teile ist urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Verwertung außerhalb der engen Grenzen des Urheberrechtsgesetzes ist ohne Zustimmung des Verlags unzu- 19ssi9 und strafbar. Das gilt insbesondere für Vervielfältigungen, Ubersetzungen, Mikroverfilmungen und die Einspeicherung und Verarbeitung in elektronischen Systemen. Gedruckt auf chlorarm gebleichtem und säurefreiem Papier

4 Für Heinz and Catta There is occasions and causes wry and wherifore in all things. (William Shakespeare, Henry V)

5 Contents Preface and Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations xi Xlll Introduction 1 Broadcasting in Britain 1.1 The Early Years 1.2 From Company to Corporation 1.3 Monopoly Years 1.4 End of the Monopoly 1.5 Facing the Competitor 1.6 Broadcasting in the Seventies 1. 7 Additional Services 1.8 The Peacock Exercise 1.9 Into the Nineties 1.10 Changes in the Commercial Sector until Early Conc1uding Observations II Public Service Broadcasting The Historical Development ofpublic Service Broadcasting The Reithian Era Arrival of the Competitor The Public Service Duopoly Decisive Years Summary Public Service Broadcasting in the Marketplace Different Approaches to Public Service Broadcasting What is Public Service Broadcasting? In Search ofuniversal Principles Confusion Prevails Conc1usion

6 VIII The BBC in Transition 3 BBC Broadcasting and the Political Context Levels ofinfluence Taking Broadcasting and Politics after the Second World War Early Conflicts between Governrnent and Corporation Thateherism and Broadeasting Reforming the Publie Seetor: 'Role Model' for the BBC? Thateher's Allies Foeusing on the BBC Programme Content and Govemment Diseontent Thateher Goes, the BBC Remains A New Prime Minister - a New Broadeasting Poliey? Crueial Times Politieally Sensitive Programmes Conclusion 80 4 BBC Broadcasting and the Economic Context Approaehes towards Broadeasting From Prosperity to Problems New Paradigms in Broadeasting Privatisation and Deregulation Peaeoek Reports Broadeasting and the Marketplaee Financial Pressures Conclusion 101

7 Conlenls IX 5 Transitional Times: Change at the BBC 1987 to BBC Management A Change of Direction: Michael Checkland Organising for Change: First Steps Room at the Top: John Birt Dual Leadership The Charter Renewal Debate Setting the Framework The BBC's Response Contributors to the Debate Internal Changes New Operating Practices Producer Choice Some Consequences ofproducer Choice Efficiency and Value for Money Commercial Activities Accountability The Board of Governors Networks, Programmes and Programming BBC Television BBC BBC BBC Radio BBC Radio BBC Radio BBC Radio BBC Radio BBC Radio 5 (Live) Concluding Observations Criticism ofthe BBC's Practices Starting it Off Areas of Concern Management without Leadership? Responding to Criticism Conclusion 161

8 x 6 The BBC in Transition Concluding Comments on the Issues at Stake Organisational Aspects Questions offinance - an Omnipresent Issue Dangers of a More Commercially Orientated Approach Programmes Quality Diversity and Choice 6.5 Creativity and Innovation 6.6 National, Regional and Cultural Representation 6.7 Competition 6.8 The Audience(s) 6.9 Governance 6.10 Independence and Impartiality 6.11 Accountability to Whom and What For? 6.12 New Technologies and Implications 6.13 The International Dimension Final Observations Postscript Appendix Bib/iography

9 Preface and Acknowledgements This book is concemed with arecent phase in the history of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). As an institution at the heart of public life in the Uni ted Kingdom, and in preparation for the expiry of its sixth Charter in 1996, the 1990s proved to be aperiod of change and transition for the BBC. This made me investigate aspects of BBC broadcasting in greater detail. The book relies primarily on printed sources of which most are easily accessible. They are listed in the bibliography. The relevant govemment publications and BBC documents are central to the developments in the 1990s. Since there was no public inquiry accompanying the expiry of the BBC's sixth Charter, contributions to the seven volumes of the British Film Institute's Charter Review Series (edited by Wilf Stevenson; Steven Bamett; Sylvia Harvey and Kevin Robins; Colin Shaw; Geoff Mulgan and Richard Paterson) constitute another essential reference source. The same applies to the following publications: Bamett, Steven and Curry, Andrew (1994): The Battle for the BBC. A British Broadcasting Conspiracy. London: Aurum Press; and Horrie, Chris and Clarke, Steve (1994): Fuzzy Monsters. Fear and Loathing at the BBC. London: Mandarin. In order to keep up with more recent events it proved to be extremely valuable to regularly consult the British broadsheets, the weekly newspaper of the television and radio industry Broadcast, and the BBC's in-house magazine Ariel. Discussions with BBC employees on a variety of subjects also contributed to the assessment. The bulk of my research for this book was undertaken in The manuscript was completed on 1 May 1996, the day the seventh BBC Charter came into operation. Apart from a few minor additions, occurrences after that date do not feature in the main text. A postscript has been added in order to update the developments until April I am indebted to all those who have helped me complete this book. The first to mention are my parents Heinz and Lina Spangenberg to whom I owe more than can be expressed here. Particular thanks also go to Professor Axel Zerdick at the Freie Universität Berlin who encouraged me to start off the project as part of my Masters degree in Media Studies; Birgit Neunert, whose inspirational force and analytical skills I came to admire deeply during endless discussions about a great variety of broadcasting issues: her advice during the various stages of writing were highly valued and appreciated; Tarik Ahmia and Pip and Tony Burton for commenting on an earlier draft of the script; Heiko Schwarzburger for his technical aid; and finally, but most importantly, I would like to thank Jenny Burton for her help, support and encouragement. As always, I must remain responsible for errors of fact, interpretation or controversy. Although I have tried to keep mistakes to a minimum I apologise for any that escaped me. Jochen Spangenberg

10 List 0/ Abbreviations ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation ACTT Association ofcinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians AM Amplitude Modulation ASI Adam Smith Institute ATV Associated Television BAFTA British Academy offilm and Television Arts BARB Broadcasters' Audience Research Board BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BCC Broadcasting Complaints Commission BDB British Digital Broadcasting BECTU Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union BFI British Film Institute BRU Broadcasting Research Unit BSB British Satellite Broadcasting BSC Broadcasting Standards Council BSkyB British Sky Broadcasting C4 Channel Four CS Channel Five CLT Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Teh!diffusion CPBF Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom CPS Centre for Policy Studies DAB Digital Audio Broadcasting DBS Direct Broadcasting by Satellite DNH Department ofnational Heritage DST Digital Satellite Television DTI Department of Trade and Industry DTN Digital Television Network DTT Digital Terrestrial Television EBU European Broadcasting Union FM Frequency Modulation GDP Gross Domestic Product GMTV Good Moming Television

11 XIV HDTV HMSO HTV IBA IEA ILR INLA INR IRA ITA ITC ITN ITV LBC LWT MMC MP NAR NFT NHK NHS NUJ NVLA OBA OFT PACT PAL PBS PSB PSBC RA RAJAR RPI The BBC in Transition High Definition Television Her Majesty's Stationary Office Harlech Television Independent Broadcasting Authority Institute of Economic Affairs Independent Local Radio Irish National Liberation Army Independent National Radio Irish Republican Army Independent Television Autharity Independent Television Commission Independent Television News Independent Television (ChanneI3) London Broadcasting Company London Weekend Television Monopolies and Mergers Commission Member of Parliament Net Advertising Revenue National Film Theatre Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japan) National Health Service National Union of Journalists National Viewers' and Listeners' Association Open Broadcasting Authority Office offair Trading Producers' Alliance far Film and Television Phase Alternation Line Public Broadcasting System (United States) Public Service Broadcasting Public Service Broadcasting Council Radio Authority Radio Joint Audience Research Retail Price Index

12 List of Abbreviations xv RTS SAS S4C TCIl TSW TV TVS UHF UK VHF WAC Royal Television Society Special Air Service Sianel Pedwar Cymru Tele-Communications Inc International Television South West Television Television South Ultra High Frequency United Kingdom Very High Frequency BBC Written Archives Centre Socio-economic groups are ciassified into the following: AB professional, administrative, managerial CI other non-manual C2 skilled manual OE semi- or unskilled manual