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

Lord Currie of Marylebone will give the keynote speech at Voice of the Listener & Viewer’s 20th spring conference in London on Wednesday, 30 April.  As chair of the new communication regulator, Ofcom, he will explain and take questions on its role and powers, starting at 11.am.

The conference, ‘The Communications Bill: content or commerce - which matters most?’
will be chaired by Gillian Reynolds, Media Critic of the Daily Telegraph.

VLV’s 2002 Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting will be presented during the conference at 1.45pm.   See separate press release for names of winners.

The afternoon session of the conference will include a panel discussion on issues surrounding the Communications Bill, which received its second reading in the House of Lords on 25 March. The panel will be chaired by VLV Board Member, Professor Vincent Porter of Westminster University. 

Commenting VLV chairman, Jocelyn Hay said: ’ VLV members will be glad of this opportunity to hear and question Lord Currie on the workings of Ofcom and its subsidiary bodies.  One of these, the Content Board, will be the public face and main point of contact with Ofcom for most listeners and viewers. 

It will also be responsible for ensuring that the terrestrial television broadcasters fulfil their public service remits. Ofcom’s Deputy Chairman, Richard Hooper, will chair the Content Board.  We are therefore grateful to Richard Hooper and other members of Ofcom who are participating in a series of seminars on the role and powers of the Content Board which VLV is currently holding.  ITC/BSC research, published on 11 March, showed that many viewers felt that television standards were declining. 

VLV believes that if standards are to be raised, it is very important for the Board to have the power to give positive support to quality, diversity, innovation and risk-taking in programme making and scheduling.  Negative legislation may be necessary to protect vulnerable adults and children in the multi-channel environment of the future, but it will not be sufficient to ensure that high quality programming is made available. 

VLV is especially concerned to ensure that children have access to a wide range of diverse, high quality, original programmes, which have been made in this country primarily to meet the needs of British audiences.  We shall be looking to Lord Currie for reassurance that these matters will be on the agenda for, and within the power of, the new ‘light-touch’ regulator.’ 

For further information, contact: Linda Forbes or Jocelyn Hay. 
Tel: (00)1474-352835; Fax:  (00)1474-351112.

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

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