On-demand services

25 April 2007

Following completion on the first Public Value Test (PVT), the BBC Trust on 25 April 2007 approved the BBC Executive's on-demand proposals, subject to modifications.

What the Trust has decided

The Trust has approved the proposed on-demand services, subject to certain conditions and modifications to the proposition.

The conditions attached to the four proposed on-demand services are outlined below. For full details of the Trust's decision please see:

Seven-day catch-up television over the internet

• The storage window for catch-up television over the internet will be set at 30 days from the day of download.
• Series stacking will be limited to an annual quota of 15 per cent of all television content offered on-demand. As guidance to the BBC Executive, series most appropriate for stacking are those with a distinct run, with a beginning and end, and a narrative arc or those with exceptionally high impact. This will be reviewed in the form of a progress report at 12 months.
• The service will be provided on a platform-neutral basis within a reasonable timeframe of launch. The Trust will hold the Executive to account on the issue by auditing its progress every six months.

Seven-day catch-up television over cable

• Series stacking will be offered on the same basis as described above for seven-day catch-up television over the internet.

Simulcast Television over the internet (live streaming of television networks)

• No conditions

Non-digital rights management (non-DRM) audio downloads over the internet (podcasting)

• Book readings will be excluded entirely from the non-DRM audio download service element.
• Classical music will also be excluded, except insofar as it is used in contexts such as incidental music to programmes or as signature tunes.

In addition to the above conditions the Trust will conduct a formal performance evaluation of all the service elements at 24 months from launch.

The modifications and conditions attached to the Trust's approval are to ensure the public get the best value from the services. Information on how and why the Trust reached its final decision is available from: on-demand PVT FAQs.

Platform neutrality review

In approving the on-demand services' PVT the Trust required BBC management to make seven day catch-up TV available on a platform neutral basis within a reasonable timeframe. The Trust is conducting a six-month review of progress towards platform neutrality and has committed to publishing results of this review.

The BBC Trust is committed to a platform agnostic solution for the TV catch-up service on BBC iPlayer – as specified in the on-demand services' PVT. The Trust received a platform neutrality report from BBC management in November 2007. The Trust is satisfied that progress has been made towards achieving platform neutrality for the TV catch-up service. The Trust notes that a streaming solution has been implemented, which will be a partial solution to the issues. The Trust welcomes the addition of streaming functionality, but remains committed to the TV catch-up service being delivered as a platform agnostic application within a reasonable timeframe. The Trust received the second platform neutrality reportfrom BBC management in June 2008.

Background

Although the BBC was not required to apply a Public Value Test under the previous Charter, the BBC Board of Governors - the predecessor of the BBC Trust - decided that it would act as though the requirement was in place.

The Governors began a Public Value Test on the proposed on-demand services, which the BBC Trust is continuing.

Details of the interim regulations for the application of the Public Value Test, as well as a summary of the process can be found in the regulatory framework section on this site.

Timeline for the on-demand Public Value Test (PVT)

Date	Event
31 Aug 2006	The BBC Governors announce a PVT on the BBC Executive's proposals to launch new on-demand services
18 Sept 2006	Details of the MIA and the PVA are announced
10 Oct 2006	Additional information on the proposals is published and the period for representations extended to 7 November 2006
17 Jan 2007	Final meeting of the Joint Steering Group (JSG), which commissioned and oversaw the Market Impact Assessment (MIA). The JSG comprised Ofcom and the BBC Trust, and was chaired by Ofcom for this MIA. The JSG met four times during the on-demand PVT.
19 Jan 2007	Ofcom submits the MIA to the BBC Trust
23 Jan 2007	Ofcom publishes the MIA
24 Jan 2007	The Trust approves the Public Value Assessment as part of the PVT process. In reaching its provisional conclusions about the proposition the Trust evaluated both the MIA and the PVA.
31 Jan 2007	The Trust publishes its provisional conclusions, along with other previously unpublished supporting material. As this is a new process and due to the amount of information being released the Trust extends the consultation period on its provisional conclusions from an expected 28 days to eight weeks
28 March 2007	Consultation on the Trust's provisional conclusions closes
16 April 2007	The Trust's PVT Steering Group considers the response to the consultation
25 April 2007	The Trust considers and reaches a final decision on the proposals
30 April 2007	Final decision published

           

Further information from the on-demand PVT process

Background information on the BBC Executive's on-demand proposal is available on the supporting evidence page.