Our commitment to audiences

In May 2009, we set out six areas where we believe we should make a public and accountable commitment to those who own and pay for the BBC. While not exhaustive, together they come close to defining the expectations we know that the public has of the BBC, they will guide the Trust, as the voice of the public, in shaping the principles underlying all that the BBC does.

• Standards: to maintain the very highest editorial standards that reflect the broad views of BBC audiences throughout the UK
• Serving all audiences: to offer value to everyone in the UK, whoever they are, wherever they live
• Content: to be a leader not a follower, offering content of the highest quality and of a kind that no-one else is doing
• Supporting public services broadcasting: to the extent possible within the obligations to licence fee payers, to support the provision of public service content by others and sustain contribution to the UK creative sector
• Value: only to spend as much money as the BBC needs to deliver the public mission set out in the Charter
• Independence: never to allow external interests to exercise undue influence on the BBC's editorial or operational independence