Outsourcing Of BBC Radio Production

EDM number 551 in 2016-17, proposed by Helen Goodman on 17/10/2016.
Categorised under the topic of Broadcasting.

That this House is concerned by the proposal relating to BBC radio in the proposed Framework Agreement requiring the Corporation to secure competition between BBC producers and external producers for at least 60 per cent of Total Relevant Broadcasting Time by 31 December 2022; notes that the BBC Trust expressed concerns about this proposal that have not been addressed; further notes that around 20 per cent of BBC radio programming is currently commissioned from external producers, this level being reached across around 20 years since the introduction of external commissioning, so the annual rate of increase under the proposal would be far higher than has ever been attempted in radio; observes that the BBC remains virtually the only buyer in the radio market, such that the amount of additional BBC radio output opened up to tendering each year under the proposal would be many times the total annual amount of output produced by all independents for other broadcasters; believes that an increase of this magnitude and rapidity threatens the viability of smaller independent radio producers and BBC in-house radio production, and risks destabilising the radio market and damaging the quality, distinctiveness and diversity of BBC radio output; is further concerned that the proposal, if implemented, would significantly increase BBC spending on administration while reducing spending on content, and would thereby represent poor value for money; and further believes that the proposal is therefore not in the best interests of the licence fee payers.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.