Audience Council for Nothern Ireland

Rotha Johnston
National Trustee for Northern Ireland and
Chair of the Audience Council

The Audience Council has published its independent assessment of the BBC’s performance in Northern Ireland in the Annual Review 2010/11. 

This was a year of solid performance for the BBC in Northern Ireland, achieved despite the stretching targets for efficiencies faced by all BBC departments. I’m particularly pleased to see the focus on covering devolved politics and that the BBC continues to drive the development of the local production sector.

BBC One increased its weekly reach to 78 per cent – up from 73 per cent in 2010, while BBC Two held its reach steady at just under 50 per cent of the Northern Ireland audience. Radio Ulster/Foyle’s reach rose to 36 per cent and the number of weekly unique users of the BBC Northern Ireland website broke the one million mark.

Coverage of politics was boosted with a new weekly programme Stormont Today giving coverage and analysis of developments at the Northern Ireland Assembly. Outside of news and current affairs, BBC Northern Ireland has been working in partnership with the local independent television sector to build local production expertise, and with editions of Panorama is on track to achieve a target of contributing three per cent of network TV output by 2016.

The Executive extended the availability of the BBC’s network digital stations in Northern Ireland, by adding new transmitters to the DAB network.

Our review also sets out audience priorities for the Trust to consider for the forthcoming year, including further improvements in DAB coverage for Radio Foyle, clearer coverage of public policy matters where these may differ in Northern Ireland compared with the rest of the UK, and consideration of the need to synchronise plans for digital switchover with the Republic of Ireland.

The BBC is now looking at how to implement a tough licence fee settlement, and the Trust will consider proposals from the Executive later this year. Audiences in Northern Ireland have told us that they place a high value on quality content and so, when we consult on these proposals we will continue to listen carefully to the views of the local audience to make sure that their concerns are accurately and fairly represented when the Trust makes its decisions about the future shape of the BBC.

The Council has asked the Trust to ensure that the difficult decisions required by a 16% drop in income for core BBC services from last year’s licence fee settlement are fairly implemented, while still maintaining the high quality content that audiences have come to expect from the BBC.

The BBC Trust has also published the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 which may be of interest to you.

BBC Northern Ireland Annual Review

Section 1 2010/11 Audience Council Review (pdf)

Section 2 2010/11 Management Review (pdf)

BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 (pdf)

We would be pleased to hear from you if you have a view which you think should inform our understanding of local audience needs and expectations of the BBC, or if you would like further information about our activities.

If you would like a copy of the Annual Review in an alternative format, please contact us at:

email audiencecouncil.ni@bbc.co.uk or
telephone 028 9033 8856 textphone 028 9033 8100