British regulator Ofcom warns that the BBC will become “out of step” with the public and technological developments without reform

Updated reply from the BBC: According to British media regulator Ofcom, the BBC needs to change its operating license to focus on online services or “not engage in public behavior and technological development”.

The bankruptcy “could hinder the transformation of the BBC,” he added today in a series of proposals to modernize the station’s operating license.

An Ofcom report says the BBC remains “at the heart of the UK television industry” and is changing and improving its approach amid the delays caused by global streaming services.

In general, this can be achieved by better incorporating online services such as BBC iPlayer Streamer, BBC Sounds Audio Service and BBC Website; Give the BBC more flexibility to respond to the needs of a new audience (while quotas are limited to areas such as news and current affairs); And the BBC’s “Great Transparency”.

The key to these changes will be to make it easier to find “meaningful” content on its online services and to reduce lists of “risky” genres such as art and music, religious performances, children’s content and comedies and original everywhere. Programs running for the first time.

Among the proposals was a plan to reduce the number of original productions on BBC Four on the Art Channel from 75% peak / prime time to 60% “all hours”. The channel is one of several services that BBC CEO Tim Davy has commissioned to discontinue as part of a plan to save around 1.515 billion ($ 2 billion) over the next few years.

The regulator also noted that its approach to regulation needs to change from a focus on TV and radio fees to better recognition of online audience behavior.

The current BBC license was created in 2017 when Ofcom took over the BBC regulator. Streamers like Apple TV + and Peacock are now live with Amazon Prime Video and Netflix (and Paramount + will be up and running from today) and regulators believe the current model needs a major overhaul to better equip it with competition from the BBC.

The UK government cites a similar argument to explain its desire to sell the BBC Channel 4 public broadcaster to private individuals.

Complaint Procedures

Under the current BBC Charter, which sets out how it will work for specific time periods, Ofcom has warned the broadcaster of concerns about complaints procedures and impartiality.

Overall, 11% of British adults have been the subject of complaints on the BBC in the past year, according to Ofcom. It nearly doubles the rate of ITV (6%) and triple channel (4%), although it is lower than that of other sectors such as online retail and energy.

However, only 21% understood the BBC First complaint process and only 7% were aware of the steps to fully register a complaint. Furthermore, less than 20% were satisfied with the review of complaints and half said the process was taking too long.

“Ofcom is clear that the BBC needs a complaints process to make browsing easier and more accessible for people,” the regulator said. “It also needs to be more transparent and open in its decision-making process.”

A BBC spokesperson replied this morning: “Like any organization, we are working on continuous improvement, which is why we published a 10-point plan on impartiality and editorial standards last year. Everyone knows this is a top priority for the BBC and Ofcom rightly recognizes that impartiality is a difficult field, the public offers us higher standards than other broadcasters and that we have a good track record of complying with broadcasting rules. Additionally, the BBC has the UK’s most comprehensive and transparent media complaint process and we are ready to be available and accountable to our audience. We will work with Ofcom to further improve this system.