BBC Charter review: MPs to question figures from world of media and broadcasting as committee begins major probe into corporation’s future
Prominent figures from the world of media and broadcasting will appear before MPs as the CMS Committee begins a major piece of work looking at what needs to be done to make the BBC fit for the future.
Meeting details
The committee’s BBC Royal Charter Review inquiry was launched in March after the Government kicked off the review process with the launch of its consultation in December. The committee plans to gather the views of a full range of witnesses over the coming weeks in order to make recommendations to help shape the new Charter, which is due to come into effect in 2028.
The first evidence session will give MPs the opportunity to get an overview of the issues of importance facing the BBC and views on what needs to be done to ensure its long-term success.
The committee will first hear from Guardian columnist and The Rest is Entertainment podcast host Marina Hyde and playwright and screenwriter James Graham. The second part of the meeting will then feature co-chair of the Creative Industries Council Sir Peter Bazalgette, former Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon and programme maker Patrick Younge, who currently chairs British Broadcasting Challenge, a group set up to promote discussion about public service broadcasting in the UK.
Members are likely to ask about the role of public service broadcasting in the current media landscape and about issues related to trust and impartiality. There could also be discussion on governance structures and independence from government, and how the BBC should be funded in the future.
There may also be questions about the corporation’s use of technology, and its approach to innovation and partnerships with other broadcasters and media platforms.