Voice of the Listener and Viewer (VLV) represents the citizen and consumer interest
in broadcasting and works for quality and diversity in British broadcasting.

What is VLV?
Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making association, funded by its members, democratically governed, and free from political, sectarian or commercial affiliations.  VLV represents the citizen and consumer interests in broadcasting and is the only organisation in the UK speaking for listeners and viewers on the full range of broadcasting issues.  VLV is concerned with the full range of issues which underpin the British broadcasting system: the structures, regulation, funding and institutions.  In particular VLV supports the principle of public service broadcasting. VLV has no connection with Media Watch, formerly known as the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association.

Why was VLV Founded?
VLV was founded as Voice of the Listener in November 1983 by Jocelyn Hay in response to the first threat to turn BBC Radio 4 into an all news and current affairs network.  Having launched and won that campaign, it was rapidly realised that issues were arising which required the attention of a consumer body that could speak on the full range of broadcasting issues. It was soon also realised that issues to do with radio and television were closely inter-linked and the word 'Viewer' was added to the title in 1991.

What does VLV do?
VLV works to keep listeners and viewers informed about current developments in British broadcasting, including proposed new legislation, public consultation on broadcasting policy and the likely impact of digital technology. We seek to raise awareness of the uniquely influential role that broadcasting plays in our society and the responsibility this places on broadcasters. 

VLV provides a collective voice through which listeners and viewers can make their views known to Members of Parliament, government departments, the BBC, ITC and other relevant bodies in the UK, Europe and world-wide.  Through its programme of public lectures and conferences VLV engages in discussion with leading figures in the broadcasting industry and with major politicians and policy-makers, providing an accessible forum where all with an interest in broadcasting can meet on equal terms.  These events include annual conferences in Scotland and Wales.   VLV does not handle complaints. 

VLV Publications
VLV produces a quarterly news Bulletin, which is mailed free to members and for a small fee to others.   It also publishes regular reports and briefings on broadcasting developments, copies of its submissions and responses to public consultations and edited transcripts of most of its public lectures, seminars and conferences.   All are available from the VLV librarian.  To view VLV's catalogue of publications or find out how to access VLV's library, click here. 

VLV Speakers' Panel
VLV maintains a panel of speakers who address a wide range of meetings, conferences and student groups each year.  No fee is charged but a contribution towards travelling expenses is appreciated.

How VLV can help Students and academics
Members of the speakers' panel and some VLV committee members are generally willing to make themselves available for short telephone interviews with Student Members of VLV or with students and academics in departments or colleges which themselves are Academic Members of VLV.   We regret that VLV does not at present have the resources to give detailed replies or free interviews to the many students who contact us for help with their studies who are not members but we would be willing to do so for a small fee.  For details of Student and Academic Membership click here.

VLV is concerned with the:

• issues
• institutions
• structures
• regulation
• funding that underpin the principle of public service in broadcasting

• Members of Parliament
• government departments
• the BBC and other broadcasters
• ITC Radio Authority, Broadcasting Standards Commission, OFTEL and other regulators
• European Commission
• European Parliament
• Council of Europe

• conferences
• seminars
• lectures
• exclusive visits (for members)
• social events relating to broadcasting

• a quarterly news Bulletin
• regular briefings on broadcasting and related developments
• responses to Government and other public consultations

A panel of speakers who address a wide range of meetings, conferences and student groups across the UK each year.  Many of our speakers are prepared to give short interviews to student members of VLV or to students in university departments which are Academic Members of VLV.   Click here for details of student and academic membership. 

VLV works with many other organizations to support public service broadcasting and high quality, diverse, independent media. 

• National Consumer Council
• Consumers' Association
• National Council of Women
• Internet Watch 
• European Institute of the Media
• Childnet International
• Public Voice - Email address: dredding@ntlworld.com

VLV has more than 20 organisations in corporate membership.  Most are registered charities which represent single interest groups and between them they represent more than one million people. 

Each corporate member is entitled to only a single  vote at the annual general meeting but their staff may attend VLV conferences and public events at the greatly discounted members’ rate.  For details of corporate membership click here.

VLV  Corporate Members Include:

• Royal National Institute for the Blind
• National Federation of the Blind
• National Federation of Women's Institutes
• Royal National Institute for the Deaf
• Deaf Broadcasting Council
• Townswomen's Guild
• National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
• The Children's Society
• Age Concern
• Help the Aged
• National Farmers' Union
• Parkinson's Disease Society
• Mothers' Union
• British Federation of Women Graduates
• Hansard Society for Parliamentary Democracy
• Society of Authors
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• British Wireless for the Blind Fund
• Communities Service for the Volunteers
• International Broadcasting Trust
• National Federation of Post Office and BT Pensioners -                                             Email address: emailnet.fed@btinternet.com

VLV has some 40 colleges and university departments in membership.  They represent a wide range of disciplines in each of the four countries of the UK.  Each Academic Member is entitled to only one vote at the annual general meeting, but they may claim a 10% discount on VLV publications and academics and students in the department may attend VLV conferences and public events at the greatly reduced members’ rate.  VLV has held many seminars, conferences and lectures on topical broadcasting issues in association with its academic members. 

VLV has held joint events in Aberystwyth, Belfast, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Wolverhampton.  VLV is always glad to consider proposals for more joint events and to provide speakers for academic events. For details of academic membership click here.

VLV has a list of distinguished patrons  who represent a wide spectrum of political opinion, broadcasting experience, cultural and social interests. 

VLV's Patrons are:

• Lord Barnett PC JP
• Archbishop Lord Eames of Armagh
• Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS
• Lady Groves
• Mary Peters CBE
• Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE
• Anthony Sampson
• Lady Solti
• Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT PC DL
• John Tusa
• Lord Inglewood MEP

Telephone: 01474 352835. 
Fax: 01474 351112. 
E-mail: vlv@btinternet.com 

Sorry, we do not have the resources to handle individual programme complaints. If you have a complaint about a programme please click here