Broadcasting Matters 2005

Broadcasting Matters 2005 is based around events around the country focused on the BBC Green Paper and highlighting the importance of public service broadcasting.

Thanks to a strong Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) sector, Britain produces some of the best television and radio in the world. An introduction to public service broadcasting (filesize is 27k).

But over the next seven years, the BBC and other British broadcasters will face more upheaval than at any time in their history, including a new Royal Charter for the BBC and the switch over from analogue to digital TV transmission by 2012.

Broadcasting Matters started with a special event hold on 3rd March in Birmingham, organised by Voice of the Listener & Viewer and CSV Media, with support from the Andrew Wainwright Trust.

Key issues discussed included:

• the renewal of the BBC’s Royal Charter – its current Charter expires in 2006;
• plans by ITV to halve its non-news regional programming by the end of 2005;
• the proposed switch from analogue to digital broadcasting in Birmingham by 2010.

Key points raised at the seminar were filmed by CSV Media, and were sent to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport as a response to the Green Paper on the future of the BBC.

The seminar was held at The Custard Factory 2, Unit 404, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AA on Thursday, 3 March 2005. from 6.30pm – 7.30pm. Amongst those attending was David Holdsworth, BBC Head of Regional and Local Programmes, West Midlands, and Duncan Rycroft, ITV Central, Controller, Regional Programmes. They were joined by media academics and policy experts.

Other seminars that have already taken place include:

• Thursday 10 March - Manchester Evening discussion held in conjunction with CSV Media at The St James Building (2nd Floor Boardroom), Manchester M1 6FQ 6.30pm - 8.00pm
• Friday 11 March - Bath Evening discussion - Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution, 16 - 18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN - 7.00 for 7.30pm
• Thursday 15 March - Edinburgh Evening discussion - The Drumlanrig Room, University of Edinburgh, 11 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh
• Tuesday 22 March - London VLV Westminster Evening Seminar on the BBC Green Paper with Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP - Palace of Westminster, London SW1
• Wednesday 23 March - London VLV briefing for MP's and VLV Members - The Jubilee Room, Palace of Westminster - Noon - 3.00pm
• Tuesday 12 April - Norwich Evening discussion at The Asembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich 6.30pm - 8.00pm - in conjunction with Charter 88
• Tuesday 3 May - Cambridge Evening discussion
• Thursday 26 May - Oxford Evening discussion at Green College, Oxford

For further details about 'Broadcasting Matters' please call 01474 352835 or e-mail info@vlv.org.uk

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