Same old song
As required by its charter, Ofcom has announced a ‘debate’ concerning the second review of what is known as public service broadcasting (PSB). The last review followed the establishment of the quango by the Communications Act of 2003.
Since 2003 Ofcom has consistently failed to address the issue of competition in the communications industry. In the same period, the government’s Office of Fair Trading, which has competition law jurisdiction in other industries, has made frequent use of the same powers, including dawn raids.
The effect has been to exempt monopolistic practises by the BBC, in particular, from the scrutiny and censure to which any commercial enterprise is subject.
PSB providers control over 90 per cent of total investment in UK television content, excluding sport and film, and still account for two-thirds of television viewing. However, there was a 17 per cent decline in the PSB share of viewing, 22 per cent among 16-24 year-olds, in the 2003-07 period.
Needless to say, Ofcom does not see this as a growing rejection of the dreary products of PSB social and cultural orthodoxy. The problem, as Ofcom sees it, is how to justify it.
Bearing in mind that none of these consultations have any effect whatever on the predetermined findings, we will not waste readers’ time by recapitulating the terms of this so-called debate. Those who can be bothered can find them set out on the Ofcom site.
