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BBC
response to Tony Ball, Chief Executive of BSkyB, giving the James
MacTaggart Memorial Lecture 2003
We
are flattered that Tony Ball should be so preoccupied with the BBC
but his comments have to be seen in the context of Rupert Murdoch's
long and hostile campaign against the BBC.
Thankfully,
for the British public, Mr Murdoch has not been successful in this
campaign.
The
BBC has recently commissioned its own research about how people
value the programmes and services we provide and it gives a very
different picture to Sky's poll.
The
new research, commissioned in July from Taylor Nelson Sofres from
a base of 1,000 people, shows that:
•
86% of people would 'stand up for the BBC' – compared to 30%
for Sky
•
82% are very happy or happy with the BBC the way it is
•
75% believe the BBC is important to British culture
The
BBC's in-depth, ongoing, monthly tracking of audience attitudes
also shows a different picture with audience approval for the BBC
running at a record high this year.
The
BBC wants audiences to feel they are getting good value for 32p
a day from the BBC's eight TV networks, 10 radio networks and 46
national and regional radio stations, plus BBCi and interactive
TV especially compared to over £1 a day for Sky's top subscription
package.
This
speech clearly reflects BSkyB's view that programmes are merely
a commodity to be bought and sold.
The
BBC – and probably the majority of British broadcasters and
producers – believe programmes are about creativity, talent
and broader cultural and social influences.
It
is worth noting that according to the latest figures just 5% of
all UK pay TV revenue is invested in original programming, compared
to 60% of the BBC's income.
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