Opinions & VLV bulletins

You can read the VLV Bulletin which includes articles on a range of issues related to public service broadcasting free of charge here. 

What Are the Current Challenges to UK Public Service Broadcasters?

March 2022

Patrick Barwise, emeritus professor of management and marketing at London Business School, sets out the landscape for Britain’s public service broadcasters as competition with global streaming platforms drives up content costs and puts pressure on their budgets. 

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Should the Terms of Trade with independent producers be reviewed?

April 2021

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, spoke to the Westminster Media Forum conference on the UK TV and Screen Production Sector in April 2021. His speech sets out why VLV believes that Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) is essential for the health of the creative industries in the UK and why the Terms of Trade between the PSBs and independent producers might need to be reviewed to ensure the survival of the PSB system. 

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Floundering in the Mid-Atlantic

October 2019

Professor Sylvia Harvey is a visiting professor in Communication Studies at the University of Leeds and a former VLV Trustee. Here she provides an analysis of Mark Thompson, CEO of the New York Times (and former BBC Director-General)’s speech on the risks and rewards of digital global digital competition.

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MacTaggart 2019: Fear and Loathing, Truth and Lies

October 2019

VLV Trustee Professor Bob Usherwood provides a thought provoking write up of Channel 4’s Head of News and Current Affairs’ MacTaggart lecture speech.

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Elections: When Politics and Media Collide

September 2019
 
Former VLV Trustee Chris Mottershead examines the continuing difficulty in the relationship between broadcasters and politicians during the general election period.
 

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New Initiatives to Support Children’s Content

September 2019

Professor Jeanette Steemers is a Professor of Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King’s College London and a VLV Trustee. Here she summarises recent initiatives within public service broadcasting to progress, promote and support children’s content.

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The BBC, Brexit and the Bias against understanding. 

April 2019

VLV Trustee Professor Bob Usherwood explores whether the BBC has successfully maintained its position of being impartial in its coverage of Brexit. 

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Free TV Licences for the over 75s?

March 2019 

81% of VLV members who responded to a VLV questionnaire oppose the continuation of free TV licences for households which include someone aged over 75. This is because they oppose the BBC taking on the cost of what they consider to be a welfare benefit.

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Is there a Future for Traditional TV?

February 2019 

Former VLV Trustee Chris Mottershead questions whether traditional TV viewing can survive the arrival of subscription services. 

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Unintended Consequences of Set-top Boxes

9th January 2019

Former VLV Trustee Patrick McIntosh looks at the possible consequences the growth of TV, radio and online platforms will have on the future of public service broadcasting. 

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The BBC: A Matter of Distinction

14th September 2018

Professor Bob Usherwood is a VLV Trustee and former Professor of Librarianship at the University of Sheffield. Here he argues why the BBC is distinctive in that it doesn’t show adverts and he raises the risks inherent in the increased commercialisation 
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Reflections on European PSB

12th September 2018

Dr Maria Michalis is a VLV Trustee and Reader in Communication Policy, University of Westminster. Here she writes about policy developments in European public service broadcasting. 
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Public Service Broadcasting at the Crossroads?

10th September 2018

As subscriptions to TV streaming services overtake those to traditional pay TV in the UK, VLV’s Sophie Chalk asks is public service broadcasting at the crossroads? 
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Fake News: Our duty to warn

15th May 2018

Professor Bob Usherwood is a VLV Trustee and former Professor of Librarianship at the University of Sheffield. Here he looks at the use of the term “Fake News” and how it’s the duty of every VLV member to warn of its danger. 
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Reporting the World

14th May 2018

Phil Harding is a journalist and broadcaster, former editor of the Radio 4 Today programme and Controller of Editorial Policy at the BBC. Here he looks at the crucial but changing role broadcast media in the UK plays in delivering global news. 
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