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Governors’ review of services Nations & Regions
Overview
The strategy to invest an additional £50million a year over three years in a wider range of locally produced output has helped to raise audience approval in the nations. In 2003/2004 BBC Television reach grew everywhere except in Northern Ireland (where the figure is still higher than two years ago). The BBC Where I Live websites are meeting local needs, as evidenced by the very rapid growth in use. Other initiatives such as the Voices project are also helping to strengthen the sense that the BBC takes local concerns seriously.
We are concerned that not enough material from the BBC Nations is shown on network television. It is not clear if the problem is one of supply or demand. We wish to see greater strategic collaboration between network commissioners and the BBC Nations & Regions to produce more commissions that reflect the nation in which they have been made.
The loss of some sports rights will pose difficult challenges in the years ahead.
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BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2003/2004
BBC English Regions
Remit
BBC English Regions’ aim is to be the most trusted and creative local broadcaster in England, serving a widely diverse range of urban and rural communities. It sets out to provide an accessible yet authoritative service of news, current affairs, politics, arts and music, religion, sport and weather on regional television, local radio and online.
The 40 BBC Local Radio stations play a key role in the English Regions, enabling the BBC to meet the needs of large audiences who would otherwise not be reached by our radio output. Three million BBC Local Radio listeners do not listen to any other BBC Radio and 1.7 million do not listen to any other radio at all.
The stations provide more than 228,000 hours of programmes each year, most of it original. The weighting of the programming towards speech (60% speech, 40% music, with speech at key times of the day such as breakfast and drivetime) makes their output distinctive in a highly competitive market where the majority of independent local radio stations offer a music-based service.
Average reach of BBC Local Radio across England was marginally down for the second year in a row to 20.9% in quarter one of 2004 (from 21.4% in quarter one of 2003) although time spent by listeners with BBC Local Radio was up. Programming caters predominantly for an older (age 50 plus) audience and we have encouraged management to attract a slightly younger audience. Services such as breakfast news and travel have the potential to act as entry points for younger listeners.
5.7 million people across the UK watch BBC regional early evening news
228 thousand hours of BBC Local Radio
For more broadcasting facts and figures, see pages 58 to 67 and 136 to 146
In broad terms, BBC early evening regional television news maintained its significant lead over ITV across England in 2003/2004, ending the period with an average 4.8 million viewers per programme (ITV 3 million) and an average weekly reach of 21.4%. This overall picture, however, disguises large variations in different regions. Of the 12 BBC English Regions, the BBC early evening news drew larger audiences than ITV in ten regions, but in the relatively new South-East region, ITV drew a share of 30%, compared with the BBC’s 23%; and in the North East region, the performance of the BBC and ITV closely tracked one another, with ITV ending the year slightly ahead.
The BBC English Regions’ current affairs strand Inside Out performed well during the year. Each television region has its own edition and the combined audience averaged 3.1 million. Inside Out Extra showcased the best of the output for a national audience.
BBC English Regions’ local political coverage has continued to benefit from its move from BBC Two to BBC One. The local politics segment of The Politics Show, incorporating national and regional reporting, drew an average audience of 1 million over the year – more than double, and in some places treble, the audience that used to watch on BBC Two.
Output from the BBC English Regions, particularly television, continues to be heavily concentrated in news, current affairs and politics. Extending the range of genres offered – for example in sport, the arts and regional events – is an important issue for the future.
BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2003/2004 49
Governors’ review of services Nations & Regions
BBC Scotland
Remit
BBC Scotland aims to produce a rich and broad range of high-quality and distinctive television and radio programmes for all age groups, properly reflecting the diverse nature of Scotland and celebrating all aspects of Scottish culture and heritage.
BBC Scotland carried out an extensive review of its journalism in 2003, consulting licence payers, opinion formers, special interest groups, MSPs and MPs. The question of a ‘Scottish Six’ – an integrated hour of Scottish, UK and international news, produced in Scotland, on BBC One from 6–7pm – was explored. Although a sizeable minority was in favour, the balance of opinion did not want to change the current schedule – the Six O’Clock News, followed by Reporting Scotland. As a result BBC Scotland decided not to recommend any changes.
Reporting Scotland remains the most watched news programme in Scotland and increased its audience across the year. Its average weekly reach in 2003/2004 was 24.1%. The programme delivered strong coverage and analysis during the Scottish election campaign.
A key finding from the journalism review was a demand from some audiences for the BBC to provide richer coverage of local news, and some anxiety that the M8 corridor and the pull of Glasgow and Edinburgh is dominating the Scottish news agenda at the expense of other, distinctive parts of Scotland. BBC Scotland is examining ways of responding, possibly through a combination of radio and online.
BBC Radio Scotland’s reach fell slightly to 23.4% in quarter one of 2004 (from 23.8% in quarter one of 2003).The journalism review indicated low levels of awareness of BBC Radio Scotland, but very high levels of appreciation among those who did listen – suggesting that more listeners could be attracted by stronger promotion. This is a priority for the station.
The loss of television rights for Scottish Premier League football was a severe setback, although radio and online rights were retained. Football coverage has played a significant role in driving approval and BBC Scotland faces the testing challenge of developing appropriate replacement output.
The twice-weekly television drama River City, which had a slow start, has begun to bed down in its second year, with stronger storylines and characterisation. River City represents a significant investment in nurturing Scottish writing, performing and craft talent, and continued improvement in its performance remains a priority.
BBC Scotland delivered strong output for the network including Monarch of the Glen and Two Thousand Acres of Sky for BBC One, Restoration for BBC Two, plus Restoration Secrets for BBC Four. CBBC Scotland produced output for all CBBC, including key programming such as Balamory and Byker Grove.
Gaelic output from BBC Scotland has included Air Ais air an Ran Dan – the first Gaelic comedy to transmit for six years and the successful Voices project with Lews Castle College in Stornoway on BBC Radio nan Gaidheal.
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Where I Live
Where I Live is the name of a series of local websites created by BBC Nations & Regions to provide a local dimension for bbc.co.uk. More than 50 sites are now live, with more planned, offering local news, religion, sport, weather, travel, webcams, events guides and interactive services. The Cymru’r Byd website offers a unique online news and information service in the Welsh language. Local portals also offer tailored news, information and interactivity to people in seven different Scottish regions.
Remit
BBC Cymru Wales aims to produce high-quality, distinctive programming which reflects the unique culture and history of Wales, and its social and political landscape. Its key ambition is to foster an inclusive and participatory engagement with audiences in Wales across its range of services.
BBC Wales’s news output, especially Wales Today with an average weekly reach in 2003/2004 of 25.8%, continued to perform strongly. Political coverage included the regular political programmes Dragon’s Eye,
The Politics Show and Maniffesto; and there was comprehensive reporting and analysis of the National Assembly elections, as well as coverage of the National Assembly proceedings on S4C2.
BBC Wales’s strategy of developing fewer, stronger brands for local television bore fruit over the year as evidenced by the drama series Belonging; the observational documentary series, Hospital, on the work of the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff; and the post-war history series, Wales in Our Time with John Humphrys.
BBC Wales provided network output across a range of genres, including Stalin: Inside the Terror and Carrie’s War. However, very few of these commissions reflected contemporary Wales. This is a priority for BBC Wales and the network to address together.
662 hours of Welsh language output made for S4C
976 hours of television exclusively for Scotland
For more broadcasting facts and figures, see pages 58 to 67 and 136 to 146
One of the objectives set for BBC Wales last year was to increase awareness of BBC 2W and progress has been made. Viewing figures have increased and, significantly, research shows that more than 50% of viewers are under 45 – a much younger profile than for BBC One or BBC Two. A new schedule was launched in October, and output such as I Love Wales and Combat Pilot brought new viewers to the service. BBC 2W was a major broadcaster of events throughout the year, including BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff and Brecon Jazz.
BBC Wales continues to be a very significant provider of programming for S4C, the Welsh language television service. BBC contributions including sport, news and drama gained a 40% share, rather greater than their contribution in terms of hours, and Pobol y Cwm (drama) and Newyddion (news) are cornerstones of the S4C schedule.
Reach of BBC Radio Wales fell slightly to 20.8% in quarter one of 2004 (from 21.8% in quarter one of 2003), but reach of BBC Radio Cymru rose significantly to 8.9% in quarter one of 2004 (from 6.0% in quarter one of 2003).
Some challenges lie ahead for BBC Wales. In particular, the loss of rights to the Heineken Cup Rugby and to the Football Association of Wales’s fixtures is a setback.
BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2003/2004 51
Governors’ review of services Nations & Regions
BBC Northern Ireland
Remit
BBC Northern Ireland’s aim is to provide something of value for everyone in the community through a broad range of programmes and services which inform and stimulate debate, celebrate and support cultural and sporting life, and reflect local interests and experiences for audiences within Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK.
Part of the distinctiveness of BBC
Northern Ireland lies in the range of genres across which, uniquely among competitor broadcasters, it operates. It is the only producer of television and radio drama in Northern Ireland, the only service that regularly broadcasts Irish language and Ulster Scots programmes, and the only provider of schools programming for the Northern Ireland curriculum. Its political coverage is more extensive and more diverse than the competition, and BBC Northern Ireland showcases arts and sports events of particular significance for its audiences.
100 million page impressions to Where I Live sites in March 2004
BBC Northern Ireland’s early evening news programme Newsline held its share steady at 24% in 2003/2004. Its average weekly reach was 19.8%. The programme has been enhanced during the year: additional reporters have been appointed to cover issues affecting communities in Armagh and South Down; and the interactive feature Newsline Listens has been developed. The current affairs programme Spotlight won its fourth RTS award in five years for its report Loyalists at War. BBC Northern Ireland’s political programmes also attracted strong audiences. BBC Northern Ireland’s election coverage was widely praised and drew large audiences.
One notable innovation was Would You Pass the 11 Plus? This was the BBC Nations & Regions’ first entirely interactive local programme in which the audience took part in an 11-plus style test. It delivered an audience share of 29%, and the results sections, which ran in the late evening, achieved a share of 38%.
The volume of drama produced for the networks was disappointing and improving this is a key priority for the coming year. That said, there was some memorable output. Holy Cross, which told the story of two fictional families caught up in the real events of 2001 on the Ardoyne Road in Belfast, made an impact, as did Murphy’s Law, Messiah, and Gunpowder Treason and Plot.
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39% of people in Northern Ireland regularly listen to Radio Ulster
For more broadcasting facts and figures, see pages 58 to 67 and 136 to 146
Memorable network factual programmes included Dinner With Portillo and Charles II: The Boy Who Would be King.
In entertainment, Just for Laughs performed well in a difficult Saturday night slot, and the political satire, Folks on the Hill, an animation series which originated as a BBC Radio Ulster series, broke new ground. But some entertainment is formulaic and a new comedy unit is to be set up to develop distinctive and innovative comedy content.
In radio, BBC Radio Ulster remains the market leader by a significant margin with a reach of 39.6% in quarter one of 2004. Progress has been made in refreshing the schedules. BBC Radio Foyle continues to perform well, with a reach of 23.5%.
Voices
Voices is an attempt to give expression to those whose voices are seldom heard. Producers from BBC Nations & Regions worked with local communities across the UK in 2003/2004, many in disadvantaged or remote areas, giving people the tools and media skills to enable them to tell their stories – and to act as a catalyst for practical projects. In Burnley, an Imam and an Anglican vicar swapped jobs to try to increase understanding between faiths and recorded audio diaries about their experiences; in Jersey, BBC staff helped people with English as a second language to improve their language skills and give them basic computer training so that they could use the BBC Radio Jersey website as a tool for improving their English; in Kent, the Romany Gypsy community recorded their experience of prejudice.
BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2003/2004 53