Mrs Charlotte Smallwood—written evidence (BFF0017)

House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee inquiry into BBC future funding

1. Obviously, consumer habits have changed. News and entertainment are often sourced/streamed on mobile devices and this is irreversible -as is the ability of any individual and group to post what they like from just about anywhere in the world. I don’t think the big screen in the home will disappear since ‘big screen’ experience enhances film, tv and music video consumption. Also, many films go straight to streaming and paid for live stream experience of theatre and concerts is here to stay.

2. The national broadcaster is more important than ever, I believe. Firstly, it is the source of trusted information. I think the pandemic -for instance the important messaging about the safety of vaccines- has shown this to be true. I would also add that the conflict in Ukraine has only added to that feeling. It really is wide ranging and caters for minority tastes….

• The value of a rolling news service with a wide reach and BBC correspondents. I have never felt bias-only analysis and opinion and I think the Government’s thinly (often thickly) veiled attacks on the BBC totally sickening. I recall just before the pandemic ministers refusing to come on Today- essentially refusing to be accountable-because they didn’t want to be asked questions the general- public wanted answering. I hope the sledging will stop.

• I have felt profoundly moved by the calm authority of Lyse Doucet and Clive Myrie in Kyiv this week and the courage of all those supporting their work.

• The value of high-quality children’s programming

• Wonderful variety of drama from Line of Duty to A Suitable Boy and A Very English Scandal

• Great documentaries- I loved the BBC 2 interview between Amol Rajan and Sir Ian McKellen

• BBC Radio is in my view incredible and grows with you as you age. I do remember as a child Listen with Mother and now for me it’s Woman’s Hour, More or Less, You and Yours and my Beloved Today programme. There are some great afternoon dramas too.

• World Service. Their work is magnificent. Not only News Hour (fantastic) but other services give an incredible world perspective. I know how BBC Russian web page is providing authoritative news (now blocked) to those in Russia and I believe the numbers using this service has tripled. The BBC has also revived short wave radio which can be received in Kyiv and parts of Russia during this conflict so people can have trusted information and that millions are tuning in. Magnificent. This expertise simply must not be lost. Netflix does not provide this service!!!

• BBC bite size- very useful in the pandemic for parents and young people studying.

• Regional news/radio

• For the above reasons we need a national broadcaster. The BBC has an unrivalled reputation and I can’t see for the life of me why we would seek to destroy or neuter one of our greatest British assets, respected all over the world.

3. I have thought long and hard about the funding model. General taxation would put the BBC at the mercy of a government who could stifle it when the messaging was uncomfortable. One can just imagine a culture secretary doing a PM’s bidding when the government of the day was trying to suppress a news story.

• Advertising would affect the quality of programming. Interrupting the story of suffering of the people of Ukraine for sanitary towel ads or ads for frozen peas doesn’t work and is demeaning. It also affects the perception of quality and balance. What influence can advertisers bring to bear? Do you do things to make a profit rather than fit with its mission?

• Thirdly subscription. All the previous models- and subscription-would reduce the size of the BBC. News /programming in general is very expensive and the BBC have already suffered to my mind unacceptable cuts. There would be no point in a neutered ITV style news with no World Service. I think only a minority of people would think World Service worthwhile and an increasingly narrow, Daily Mail style ‘Little England ‘approach would mean too few people would subscribe and so much would be lost. I also have a feeling the subscription model wouldn’t work for radio.

The BBC has a mission – and the principle of universality is at the heart of its mission- together with the Reithian values to educate, inform and explain which it does superbly well.

• I think we must Keep the licence fee for people who receive television in their homes and the Department for Digital, Culture and Media could be a critical friend to the BBC recognising and celebrating its role in British life rather than stirring up hostility towards it.

4. My impression is the BBC is changing, using I player as a free streaming service and in the longer term, when I hope the licence fee situation is settled, it needs to continue to reach out to regional audiences and people young and old.

5. The government needs to point out how the BBC represents good value for money. I think it costs my household about 43 p per day (I’d happily pay more) when I think my electricity bill alone will soon cost £5 per day- and I heat with oil. I think we must accept that as a society we pay for things such as libraries, social care, children’s education, and NHS services which we may not use but have available for the greater good. And, as with other taxes, people must be made to pay. Finally, changing the discourse and avoiding the BBC as a political tool would be great! Remember the Orwell quotation outside the BBC- ‘If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear’ never seemed so apt.

March 2022

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