Dear colleagues - Ivor Gaber has forwarded a message about responding to the Ofcom PSB review.
Ivor - I'm circulating this message to the Policy List, as there have been some queries to the meccsa exec as to whether meccsa is doing anything about the review. Meccsa as such doesn't formally respond to such consultations, but this is something that the policy network might consider, so I hope it's OK with you, Ivor, to circulate this email message on your behalf:
FROM IVOR GABER
PSB has begun its second review of public service broadcasting. It has issued a consultation document - available at
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/psb_review/
Responses are required by June 19th.
This is a really crucial moment. As we approach digital switchover Channel 4 says it cannot continue its PSB programming without public subsidy and ITV and 5 both appear to be wanting to opt out of all (or most) of their PSB commitments. The obvious answer is to top-slice the licence fee, or is it?
Ofcom suggests four possible PSB funding models
1. Direct public funding: possible sources of funds include direct taxation; or hypothecated proceeds from spectrum auctions or spectrum charging;
2. The licence fee: options include retaining the excess licence fee funding currently ring-fenced for the Digital Switchover Help Scheme and Digital UK's market costs, opening up core licence fee funding to other providers, or using BBC assets to support other providers; and
3. Regulatory assets: these could include access to spectrum at below-market prices, revised advertising minutage rules, or public service broadcaster status for additional channels;
4. Industry funding: a wide range of industry levies could be considered, similar to the proposals currently under consideration in France.
What do you think?
The Voice of the Listener and Viewer is keen to hear the views of the academic community prior to making its submission - three Meccsa members sit on its board (Sonia Livingstone, Maire Messenger-Davies and Ivor Gaber - Ivor is collating responses for vlv). VLV will also be working with other organisations such as the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom and the Media Standards Trust, though all three organisations will be putting in separate submissions (as can any individual - in fact the more voices the better)
Please post your thoughts to the Meccsa policy list at [log in to unmask]
END GABER MESSAGE
Ivor has agreed to collate these responses for vlv, but this exercise could also be useful for others. And, as he says, responses to Ofcom can be made by any individual, or groups.
again, just to emphasise our original brief for this network - there is no party line on this, Ivor's report for the VLV will help to reflect their views - others' views may be different.
best wishes
Máire MD
Professor Máire Messenger Davies
Director, Centre for Media Research
http://www.arts.ulster.ac.uk/media/cmr.html
Director, Media Studies Research Institute
School of Media, Film & Journalism
University of Ulster at Coleraine
Cromore Rd
Coleraine BT52 1SA
Northern Ireland
Telephone: + 44(0)28 70324069
Fax: +44(0)28 70324964
email: [log in to unmask]
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