Audience Council for Nothern Ireland

The BBC Audience Council for Northern Ireland, along with Councils for Scotland, Wales and England, was established under the Royal Charter [2007]. The Council is a champion of the interests and views of the audience in Northern Ireland.

It advises the BBC Trust, the governing body of the BBC, on the performance of the BBC in Northern Ireland. How the council operates is set out in the Audience Council Protocol.

The Council helps the BBC to listen to local licence fee payers. Its role is to engage with local audiences, to understand what they need and expect from the BBC, and through that engagement to inform the work of the BBC Trust, to ensure that the Corporation is delivering in its role as a public service broadcaster.

The key activities of the Audience Council include:

• Gathering audience views and testing reaction to BBC services and content through a range of engagement activities across Northern Ireland each year.
• Discussion and assessment of the performance of the BBC in Northern Ireland at its 10 meetings each year.
• Advising the BBC Trust on the performance of the BBC in its Annual Report, by responding to BBC Trust consultations on behalf of local audiences and by request at a range of BBC Trust events.
• Identifying priority areas for action or improvement on behalf of the local audience

Audience Priorities for 2009/10

Annual Review

Minutes and Meetings