BBC Trust rejects online local video plans
BBC's governing body rejects plans for online local video services
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Friday, 21, Nov 2008 03:05
The BBC's governing body has rejected plans for a network of web-based local video services worth some £68 million.
In May BBC management submitted proposals to the BBC Trust to introduce a network of local news websites with video content in 60 areas across the UK with an additional five Welsh language services.
But following a public value assessment (PVA) of the proposals' feasibility, the trust has refused permission for the plans on the grounds that they would not offer a sufficient improvement in service to the public.
Though the ambitious proposals had included the launch of region-centric on-demand video content, including news, sport and weather bulletins, the PVA concluded that the scheme would do little to help audiences currently ill-served by the BBC.
Sir Michael Lyons, chairman of the BBC Trust, said that while the desires of licence fee payers had been considered, the proposals were "unlikely to achieve what they want".
"We also recognise the negative impact that the local video proposition could have on commercial media services which are valued by the public and are already under pressure," he explained.
"Our decision today to refuse permission for local video means that local newspapers and other commercial media can invest in their online services in the knowledge that the BBC does not intend to make this new intervention in the market."
He urged BBC management to consider the quality of regional television expected by the British public before new proposals were put forward.
He went on: "We believe the BBC's priority should be improving the quality of existing services. The public wants better quality regional television news programmes and more programmes of all kinds produced in and reflecting their areas."
A further study of the local video scheme by media watchdog found that the approval of the plans would result in a four per cent annual revenue fall for existing commercial providers.
It could harm newspaper publishers and potentially deter local commercial media from improving their own online features, a report added.
While RadioCentre, the industry body for commercial radio stations, called the trust's decision "sensible", the National Union of Journalists (NJU) said it was a "missed opportunity" and called for greater investment in local journalism.