VLV welcomes recommendations by the CMS Select Committee on the Draft Media Bill

PRESS RELEASE

Press release from VLV
Embargoed to 00.01 Friday 22 September 2023

VLV WELCOMES SELECT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DRAFT MEDIA BILL

VLV welcomes recommendations for the draft Media Bill made today to the Government by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the House of Commons.

VLV strongly agrees that current obligations on the PSBs to provide programming in areas such as religion, international matters and science should be retained and that the PSBs should be given ‘significant’ rather than ‘appropriate’ prominence in listings and searches for content on connected devices, so that public service content is always carried and easy to find.

In its own evidence to the Committee VLV highlighted that the proposed reduction in PSB obligations as set out in the PSB remit are likely to lead to a decline in what is considered societally valuable content.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ‘VLV works to ensure that citizens continue to have access to a diverse range of content so that broadcasting output is not solely driven by commercial considerations. We completely support all the recommendations the Committee has made today because they address the needs of audiences and society. We hope that the government will amend the Bill accordingly.’

For further information please contact Colin Browne
07733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors

1. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

2. For 40 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.

3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV welcomes the publication of the draft Media Bill

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: 29 March 2023
From: The Voice of the Listener & Viewer

VLV WELCOMES PROVISIONS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING IN THE DRAFT MEDIA BILL

VLV welcomes the publication of the Draft Media Bill which will update existing legislation with the aim to ensure the provision of high quality British content for audiences in the UK on free to air platforms.

We particularly welcome provisions to ensure that UK public service content is prominent on streaming platforms and devices, that content on the large streaming platforms will be regulated by Ofcom to protect audiences and they will be required to provide subtitles, audio description and signing to support those with disabilities; VLV also welcomes that audiences will be guaranteed access to UK radio stations on smart speakers.

However, we are concerned by the proposed relaxation of the Public Service remit which will mean the new legislation is less specific about the type of content the Public Service Broadcasters have to provide for audiences. The Bill has removed the responsibility for them to jointly provide a range of programming which includes ‘science, religion and other beliefs, social issues, matters of international significance or interest and matters of specialist Interest’.

VLV also welcomes the announcement that the Channel 3 (C3) and Channel 5 (C5) licences will be renewed, recognition of the valuable role ITV, STV and Channel 5 continue to play in the UK PSB landscape.

VLV looks forward to scrutinising the proposed Bill in detail and engaging fully in the upcoming debate to ensure that the interests and needs of citizens are met in the new legislation.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ‘As with all legislation, it will be crucial to scrutinise the detail of this Bill to ensure that a balance is struck between ensuring a wide range of public service content is provided while allowing the Public Service Broadcasters the flexibility to compete effectively with the global streaming platforms. At a time of increasing concerns about fake news and polarisation on online platforms, it is essential UK audiences continue to have free to air access to high quality content which is reliable and accurate.’

For further information please contact Colin Browne
07733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors

3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV renews call for better consultation after announcement of BBC Music cuts

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: 16 March 2023
From: The Voice of the Listener & Viewer

VLV RENEWS ITS CALL FOR BETTER BBC CONSULTATION FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MUSIC CUTS

The BBC’s announcement of cuts to BBC Music, including the disbanding of the BBC Singers, has led to significant public concern and the VLV is renewing its call for the BBC to consult with Licence Fee Payers about the cuts it is proposing, including those to BBC Music, the BBC World Service and local radio.

The current proposals to reduce or cut broadcast services stem from the BBC’s need to reduce costs following the below-inflation licence fee imposed by the Government in 2022; and also from the BBC’s new digital strategy designed to move content online.

Unlike under its old regulatory model, the BBC is no longer required to consult the public if it decides to close down or significantly reduce a service. VLV believes this has led to a reduction in the BBC’s accountability to those who fund it, Licence Fee Payers.

There has been a reduction in consultation with the public by the BBC and Ofcom since Ofcom took over regulation largely because consultations are no longer widely publicised. Before 2017 thousands of responses by members of the public were sent in response to consultations because audiences were encouraged to write in by adverts on TV, radio and online. In 2015, for example, more than 40,000 responses were sent in response to a BBC Trust consultation on Charter Review. Now BBC and Ofcom consultations attract few responses – 25 were sent in to the last BBC consultation.

VLV has highlighted its concerns to both Ofcom and the BBC consistently for the past 5 years and now urges them to increase efforts to consult with the public over BBC plans and future strategy, especially when the BBC is planning to cut services.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ’It has become increasingly clear that the proposed cuts to BBC services – the World Service, local radio and BBC Music especially – are causing real concern to audiences. We believe it would be in the BBC’s own interest to gain buy-in for its proposals by consulting much more effectively with licence payers as it develops its plans going forward.’

ENDS

For further information, please contact Colin Browne at 07733 103800, 01285 740433, or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors
1. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV Calls for better consultation with public over BBC plans

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: 8 February 2023
From: The Voice of the Listener & Viewer

VLV CALLS FOR BETTER CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC OVER BBC PLANS

Responding to an Ofcom consultation about how it regulates BBC competition issues, the Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) has highlighted the significant reduction of consultation with members of the public by the BBC and Ofcom over the past 6 years. This is because under the regulatory model introduced in 2017, the BBC and Ofcom do not publicise consultations as widely, so the public are unaware that they could have a say in the future direction of BBC strategy.

Before 2017 thousands of responses by members of the public were sent in response to consultations about the BBC because audiences were encouraged to write in by adverts on TV, radio and online. In 2015, for example, more than 40,000 responses were sent in to a BBC Trust consultation on Charter Review. Now BBC and Ofcom consultations attract few responses – 25 were sent in to the last BBC consultation which was about changes to the iPlayer.

Another important issue is that before 2017 consultations were run if the BBC wanted to close down a service, allowing licence fee payers to make their views known. That rule no longer applies – the BBC can now close down a service without consulting anyone, which is worrying when there are plans in the pipeline to move content off broadcast channels onto platforms only available via the internet.

VLV largely supports Ofcom’s recommendations in its consultation but we do not support the proposal that the BBC should work better to consult with BBC ‘stakeholders’ only. The majority of the BBC’s ‘stakeholders’ are BBC competitors and they have a vested interest in the BBC staying small. There is no mention of consulting licence fee payers, who are the intended beneficiaries of BBC services.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ’Since it is mainly the BBC’s competitors who respond to competition assessments, ironically it could be said that the BBC’s competitors have more power to influence the BBC’s ability to make changes, rather than those who fund it. This is clearly nonsensical.’

You can read VLV’s full response to the Ofcom Consultation on how it regulates the BBC’s impact on competition here.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Colin Browne at 07733 103800, 01285 740433, or colin@colinbrowne.com

3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV Autumn Conference 2022

Press release from VLV

For immediate release: 4 November 2022
From: The Voice of the Listener & Viewer

VLV ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS FOR ITS AUTUMN CONFERENCE 2022

VLV has announced the line-up for its Autumn Conference, to be held on Tuesday 22nd November, 10.30am – 4.00pm, at The Geological Society, Piccadilly, London.

At this time of political turmoil, we will be focusing on the key issues which the government and our broadcasters need to address, if Britain’s Public Service Broadcasting system is to be maintained in the future.

How will the BBC ensure there is public support for a universally funded BBC, when the Charter ends in 2027? How should the BBC and PSB be funded? What do we need from legislation and regulation to ensure that citizens’ interests in broadcasting will be protected?

The opening keynote speaker will be Rhodri Talfan Davies, BBC Director of Nations. The session will be chaired by Helen Boaden, former Chief Executive of BBC News and of BBC Radio.

The second session of the day will be a panel discussion on ‘What do we want from the Media Bill?’, chaired by Tim Suter, former Ofcom Board Member, with Professor Steve Barnett and Gareth Barr, ITV (further panelists tbc).

Another crucial issue, as the government is poised to review the BBC funding model, is ‘How to fund the BBC’. We are delighted that Mark Oliver, Professor Catherine Johnson, Baroness Bonham Carter and Roger Mosey will join us to discuss potential solutions to this challenging question as some call for the BBC to become a subscription service. This session will be chaired by Mark Damazer.

In the final session of the day, we will hear from broadcaster, Roger Bolton, who will reflect on his long career and the challenges facing Public Service Broadcasting.

Mr Davies is responsible for BBC provision for the nations and local audiences across Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland – representation of the whole of the UK’s population is a key strategic concern for the BBC and is one of Rhodri’s responsibilities; Mark Oliver is Chairman and co-founder of O&O, one of Europe’s leading independent strategic agencies in the media, entertainment and sports industries; Catherine Johnson is Professor of Media and Communications at the University of Huddersfield and advised the DCMS Select Committee during its 2021 Inquiry into the Future of Public Service Broadcasting; Baroness Bonham Carter is the Liberal Democrat Spokesman for DCMS in the House of Lords and a former TV producer; and Roger Mosey is Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, previously spending most of his career at the BBC, during which time he was Head of BBC TV News, Editor of the Today programme and Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live. Mark Damazer is Head of St Peter’s College Oxford and previously Controller of BBC Radio 4 and Radio 7 (now Radio 4 Extra).
ENDS
4 Nov 2022

Members of the press are asked to book a press pass to attend the conference by contacting the VLV Office directly, at info@vlv.org.uk

For further information, please contact Colin Browne at 07733 103800, 01285 740433, or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors
1. VLV’s Autumn Conference takes place on Tuesday 22nd November between 10.30- 4.00pm.
2. Members of the public who wish to register for this VLV online event can do so online at https://vlv.org.uk/upcoming-events/vlv-autumn-conference-2022/ or by sending an email to info@vlv.org.uk; or by calling 01474 338716.
3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found at https://vlv.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-member-or-renew-your-membership/
4. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profitmaking membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
5. For nearly 40 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
6. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.
If you no longer wish to receive information from VLV then please reply to this email with Unsubscribe in the subject box.

Jocelyn Lay Lecture 2022

Press release from VLV

EMBARGOED UNTIL: 6pm, 11 October 2022
From: The Voice of the Listener & Viewer

SIR PETER BAZALGETTE’S SPEECH
VLV’S JOCELYN HAY LECTURE 2022
TUESDAY 11TH OCTOBER, 6PM, ONLINE

VLV is delighted that, tonight, at 6pm, the Jocelyn Hay Lecture 2022 will be delivered by Sir Peter Bazalgette, and chaired by Professor Jane Martinson.

In preparation for the event, please find below Sir Peter’s speech text, for your information. Please note that this is embargoed until 6pm today.

Sir Peter’s appearance will come only days after stepping down from his role as Chairman of ITV, and following a distinguished career as one of the UK’s most successful independent TV producers. His appearance offers a unique opportunity to ask him directly about his insight and points of view about the future of Public Service Broadcasting in the UK. After his speech, Sir Peter will be in conversation with Professor Martinson, and there will be the opportunity to submit questions to him, online.

Sir Peter Bazalgette’s speech, to be delivered at 6pm, Tuesday 11th October 2022:

‘This lecture, which I promise will be brief, is named in honour of Jocelyn Hay. Jocelyn campaigned successfully to keep Radio 4 a generalist network, to prevent the privatisations of Radios 1 & 2 and for the licence fee to be kept exclusively for the BBC. One’s driven to observe that Tim Davie could do with Jocelyn’s determined support today. “Jocelyn was the great defender of Public Service Broadcasting”…that was the verdict of no less an authority than David Attenborough. And it’s PSB I’m going to talk about today. Now renamed Public Service Media by OfCom, or PSM. What, I wonder, would Jocelyn have made of Connected TV’s, of Netflix, or indeed, of Nadine Dorries? This is the world in which we have to consider the worth of PSM.

You may think I don’t need to rehearse the value of PSM to the VLV. Except that it’s crucial for all of us to make the argument strictly as it applies to our 21st Century, where we are in the early years of an industrial revolution: this is the digital century and, when it comes to media, it’s the internet age. So old certainties don’t apply, and new realities must be addressed. I’m not sure they always are.

You’ll have heard me argue before that the three lenses through which we should look at this are: democracy, culture and economy. I’ve seen this approach picked up more recently by the BBC, so it must be valid, mustn’t it?

We always knew that impartial and trusted news services are an essential ingredient of true democracy, which requires an informed citizenry. What has changed is the anarchy of the internet. All those folk who think Elvis still lives, that Paul McCartney is dead and that the moon landings were faked…they used to be isolated and propping up ill-populated bars in obscurity.
Now they can all find each other, bolster their mutual delusions and win more converts (as often as not within the ranks of the US Republican party).

So we need public service news and all that it stands for, far more than we ever did before. I was trained as a BBC News Trainee in the 1970’s. Our instructors were semi-retired journalists from the BBC World Service at Bush House. And a good number of these men in their 60’s and 70’s were originally Jewish refuges from Nazi Germany in the 1930’s. They profoundly understood what happens to a civil society when its institutions, such as a free press and independent judiciary, are subverted. I often think about these men today, because they would have instinctively grasped the dangers of our online era. With all its benefits, it has also released the dark underside of human nature – the antithesis of a civil society.

If politicians devoted even a fifth of the time they routinely dedicate to accusations of political bias against the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV…rather devoting it to public affirmation of the importance of a gold standard of well-resourced, principled news…I’d feel more sanguine about PSM in general. And to those who say that younger generations rely on the wild west of YouTube and Tiktok for their news…I say the argument for the existence of this gold standard is therefore even more compelling. Besides, PSM content can also be distributed on these platforms. An example would be ITV’s The Rundown, aimed at the grazing habits of Gen Z. And because the BBC news bulletin and website should always be there to refer to when big stories need to be verified. My last important point about PSM news is the inestimable value of BBC World Service, particularly in a time of war, when we all know what the first casualty is. It really is one of the gems in our media output. And one of the greatest champions of our somewhat fraying worldwide reputation.

That’s the democracy bit. Now culture. I like to sum this up as…programmes about us, by us, for us. Our viewing is so much richer than it used to be and the streamers have hugely enhanced this. At the moment, I’m particularly enjoying The Old Man on Disney Plus and Dopesick on Starz. But the £2.5 to £3 billion that the PSB’s invest in news, documentaries, soaps, dramas, daytime strands…these are the shows which stimulate our national conversation and help define our domestic culture and values. Long may we have a system of broadcasting designed to deliver this.

And then, the creative economy. This might have seemed a trifle novel to Jocelyn, had she been with us today. But as a country we’ve now said that the Creative Industries are one of six priority sectors for growth. And mark you this matters, because the sector now accounts for around 6% of the total economy, and tends to grow much faster. That’s more than £100 billion, and it’s now recovered to pretty well the same level as pre-Covid. The screen sub-sector itself is one fifth of the creative sector and the PSM’s are its beating heart. Not just with their production activity and their training and apprenticeship programmes, but also via their stimulus to the independent production sector, to regional development and their strong exports.

So, just to round off this part of my argument…this is how PSM’s deliver for our democracy, our culture and our economy, in the 21st Century. This is why we should value them just as much in the future as in the past. We must look forward. Let’s have no Golden Ageism here.

But the PSB system is undoubtedly facing an existential threat. And it’s one we have not spent nearly enough time concentrating on this year. In a nutshell: how can the PSM’s survive in an era, a post-network era, when their TV services are mostly streamed via foreign owned internet platforms? BBC iPlayer, All4 and the imminent ITVx all have to negotiate carriage with the likes of Amazon, Apple, Samsung and LG, as well as Sky and Virgin.

These are all powerful, foreign-owned platforms who can take shares of PSM revenue and withhold PSM viewer data, in the largely unregulated arena of the internet. In the digital age if you have no data, you have no business.

This is why we had a far-sighted media white paper published earlier this year which promised an update of the prominence rules enshrined in the 2003 Communications Act: not just prominence for PSM on home pages (and a PSM button on TV remotes…why not?), but also guaranteed access to the platforms and fair value for the services too. But have you seen these far-reaching proposals debated much in our media, let alone on the Clapham omnibus? They’re of existential importance to the survival of Public Service Media but they’ve been drowned out by something else also in that White Paper…the privatisation of Channel 4. Whatever they rights and wrongs of that idea, it’s now clear it’s become a damaging distraction from the thing that really matters: prominence in the internet age. So it’s up to us to make sure this legislation is still pursued in a timely manner…and not held up by unholy rows about Channel 4.

And this is even more pressing than some politicians realise…because ITV needs to decide whether to apply for a new PSM licence next year to start in 2024. A difficult decision to take when you don’t know what the terms are. ITV is in a stronger position than most PSM’s because, with its successful international production company and its robust cash flows, it can choose any number of commercial paths and partnerships. But you’d think it’s in the interests of UK PLC to keep ITV in the PSM fold, continuing to deliver the public good that it excels at. There’s some work to do here in Westminster and time is short.

We’re told that economic growth is the number one priority of our current government. Don’t forget what I said earlier about the PSM’s core role in the Screen sub-sector, growing fast at the moment. So the danger here is not just the loss of cultural value but a deficit in economic growth which the PSM’s can deliver, given a level playing field.

One last point about distribution. It’s true that the internet is going to dominate: just witness Sky’s admirably dynamic move to Sky Glass, away from the satellite service of old. But I think we should definitely keep DTT, transmitting digital TV to our aerials free, for the foreseeable future. It’s a matter of national resilience. There’s a war in Europe at the moment. A key gas pipeline has already been sabotaged. Are internet cables or satellites the next target? The international infrastructure of our digital age is one of its greatest boons, but also one of its greatest vulnerabilities. It would be a foolish government that surrendered an alternative information network. You only have to think of the critical messages that needed to get out during the Covid crisis to realise we should keep the DTT spectrum for the PSM’s. This is a valued service for many, bringing them a range of channels beyond just the PSM’s.

Now, just as we need to update the 2003 Comms Act, there’s also a pressing need to redefine the television advertising market. According to the current definition, ITV has 45% of the TV advertising market, as recognised by the Competition and Markets Authority. This definition is so out of date as to be practically otiose. ITV (and Channel 4 & Five) have to compete every day, in the video advertising market, against the likes of YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. This is our real market. And ITV’s share of it is, by contrast, just 18%. Why does this matter?

Because it’s increasingly understood that for Europe’s domestic PSM’s to thrive in the era of powerful international streamers there will have to be greater co-operation, or even consolidation, amongst them. This is what lay behind the proposed merger of TF1 and M6 in France. That deal has now been abandoned because of all the complaints from media sales houses and others. But this reform, which is no more than realism, has to come. My warning to regulators and legislators alike is: if you value home grown production and content, don’t tie our hands behind our back. Should anyone need persuading let me give you…..DRUM ROLL PLEASE….Kangaroo, A Warning From History.

In 2009, this joint streaming service between ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC was turned down by the Competition Commission. It’s now cited as one of the most egregious errors by a regulator ever, where they showed they could look in the rear view mirror but, tragically, not at the road ahead. If it had been allowed it would now be a worldwide business worth billions and a muscular rival to Netflix, Amazon, Apple and the rest. Instead they tied our hands behind our back. Please don’t to do that again. Liberalise our advertising market. There will be howls of protest, but if you understand where we’re going, the decision has to be inevitable.

Now, what would a VLV meeting be like without touching on the BBC Licence Fee? Like a England football defeat without a penalty shoot-out.. Like Downing Steet without an illicit drinks party…I won’t go on. I just want to say one thing about this. Sometimes you could be forgiven for thinking the licence fee is the only issue that matters about the BBC. The tortuous debate seems to attract a particular sort of trainspotter who revels in ever more byzantine funding schemes, compulsory or voluntary. OK, it must be said that to question the regressive nature of the licence fee is legitimate.

However, whether it survives beyond 2027, or is replaced by a charge added to the Council Tax, or comes from direct taxation….can we please hear support for hypothecated funding, not for some voluntary subscription? The fact that there is guaranteed public funding for an organisation whose remit is specifically to hold the government to account, seems to be the most laudable expression of a liberal democracy that I can think of. Let’s not throw it away.

With that, let me just reiterate the question I posed at the beginning: is Public Service Media needed in the 21st Century? I hope you feel I have answered that this evening. Yes, in the internet age, it’s needed more than ever. Thank you very much.’

Colin Browne, VLV’s Chairman, said, “With over 40 years’ media experience, Sir Peter is uniquely qualified to give an informed perspective on the current challenges facing the broadcast industry and PSB in particular”.

Sir Peter served as Chairman of Arts Council England, President of the Royal Television Society and Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Endemol UK, and in 2017, he led the Independent Review of the Creative Industries for the Government.

Professor Jane Martinson is a British academic and journalist. She is former Head of Media for Guardian News and Media, responsible for the coverage of the media in The Guardian newspaper and its website. Since April 2018, she has been the Marjorie Deane Professor of Financial Journalism at City, University of London.

You can register to attend online at www.vlv.org.uk/news/sir-peter-bazalgette-jocelyn-hay-lecture-2022, email info@vlv.org.uk, or call 01474 338716.
VLV established the Jocelyn Hay lecture series in 2012 to provide an opportunity for eminent speakers to consider the importance of quality broadcasting, and particularly public service broadcasting, for citizens in the UK. Previous speakers have included Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the NCVO, Professor Jean Seaton, Official Historian of the BBC, Lord Puttnam, and Dame Mary Beard.
-Ends-
11 October 2022
For further information, please contact Colin Browne at 07733 103800, 01285 740433, or colin@colinbrowne.com
A press pass can be arranged by contacting Lucy Regan at lucy.regan@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors

2. For nearly 40 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.

3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV Awards 2021

Press release from VLV

24 June 2022

VLV AWARDS CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING AND LAUNCH #SaveOurBroadcasting CAMPAIGN

The Voice of the Listener & Viewer held its 30th annual VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting, yesterday.

Despite the rail strike, leading members of the broadcasting industry, including winners, Andrew Marr, Clive Myrie, Bill Nighy, Mark Steel, Sean Rafferty, Katie Derham and Chris Mason, came together to celebrate those programmes and individuals that demonstrated excellence in broadcasting during 2021.

Held at The Geological Society, London, the awards ceremony was hosted by previous award winner, Steve Punt, comedy writer, comedian, actor, and co-presenter of BBC Radio 4’s satirical news programme, The Now Show.

Celebrating different categories of television and radio/audio that contributed to broadcasting excellence in 2021, the awards were nominated and voted for by VLV’s members, the listeners and viewers, making them all the more meaningful to those broadcasters who received them.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, “Despite the adversity and challenges of the pandemic, and seismic changes in how audiences consume content, these awards demonstrate that 2021 was a year in which British broadcasters continued to provide a rich and diverse range of quality programmes for UK listeners and viewers.” He continued, “The awards include comedy, drama, and factual programmes, and, notably, feature high quality news journalists, at a time when reliable, accurate, unbiased news is valued more highly than ever.”
Echoing the importance of high quality, impartial news reporting, award winner, Clive Myrie, accepted his award for Best TV Individual Contributor, saying, “This is a tribute to the power and importance, frankly, of public service broadcasting…..”. He added later, whilst talking about his important work reporting the war in Ukraine, “We have to be on our guard in this country to prevent this society ever becoming afraid of the truth”.

VLV announced the launch of its #SaveOurBroadcasting @vlvuk social media campaign, which aims to promote awareness of public service broadcasting, and its value and importance to society and democracy, to members of the public, encouraging them to champion and protect it for the future.

This year’s awards were supported by Arqiva, whose CEO, Shuja Khan, launched their own Broadcast 2040+ campaign, which aims to ensure that free-to-air broadcasting continues, for all, to 2040 and beyond.
This year’s Award Winners were:

TV Awards

Winner of Best TV Drama – Channel 4’s ‘It’s a Sin’.
Nominations:
IMPEACHMENT (BBC Two)
IT’S A SIN (Channel 4)
RIDLEY ROAD (BBC One)
STEPHEN (ITV)
TIME (BBC One)
VIGIL (BBC One)

Winner of Best TV News & Factual Programme – BBC Two’s ‘Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution’.
Nominations:
BLAIR AND BROWN: THE NEW LABOUR REVOLUTION (BBC Two)
BROTHERHOOD: THE INNER LIFE OF MONKS (BBC Four)
FOUR HOURS AT THE CAPITOL (BBC Two)
INSIDE CHERNOBYL WITH BEN FOGLE (Channel 5)
9/11: INSIDE THE PRESIDENT’S WAR ROOM (BBC One)
TRUMP TAKES ON THE WORLD (BBC Two)

Winner of Best TV Arts & Entertainment Programme – Channel 5’s ‘Great Paintings of the World with Andrew Marr’.
Nominations:
GREAT PAINTINGS OF THE WORLD WITH ANDREW MARR (Channel 5)
HANDEL’S MESSIAH FROM ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA (BBC Two)
LEONARDO: THE WORKS (Sky Arts)
ONLY CONNECT (BBC Two)
UTOPIA: IN SEARCH OF THE DREAM (BBC Four)
WRITE AROUND THE WORLD WITH RICHARD E GRANT (BBC Four)

Winner of Best TV Individual Contributor – ‘Clive Myrie’.
Nominations:
FIONA BRUCE
EMILY MAITLIS
CLIVE MYRIE
DAVID OLUSOGA
ROBERT PESTON
BETH RIGBY

Audio Awards
Winner of Best Drama – Radio 4’s ‘A Charles Paris Mystery: a Deadly Habit’.
Nominations:
BLOOD SEX AND MONEY (Radio 4)
CITY COLLEGE (Radio 3)
A CHARLES PARIS MYSTERY: A DEADLY HABIT (Radio 4)
THE CHRISTOPHER BOY’S COMMUNION (Radio 4)
GF NEWMAN’S THE CORRUPTED (Radio 4)
THE TEMPEST (Radio 3)

Winner of Best Comedy – Radio 4’s ‘Mark Steel’s in Town’.
Nominations:
BUNK BED (Radio 4)
MARK STEEL’S IN TOWN (Radio 4)
MEET DAVID SEDARIS (Radio 4)
MY TEENAGE DIARY (Radio 4)
NATALIE HAYNES STANDS UP FOR THE CLASSICS (Radio 4)
SIMON EVANS GOES TO MARKET (Radio 4)

Winner of Best News & Factual Programme – Radio 4’s ‘The Week in Westminster’ .
Nominations:
ARCHIVE ON 4: JONATHAN MILLER: LOST MEMORIES (Radio 4)
BRITAIN’S FASCIST THREAT (Radio 4)
FARMING TODAY (Radio 4)
LAST WORD (Radio 4)
THE BRIEFING ROOM (Radio 4)
THE WEEK IN WESTMINSTER (Radio4)

Winner of Best Music & Arts Programme – Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’.
Nominations:
BREAKFAST (Radio 3)
IN TUNE (Radio 3)
POETRY PLEASE (Radio 4)
SOUL MUSIC (Radio 4)
THE ESSAY (Radio 3)
WRITTEN IN SCOTLAND (Radio 4)

Winner of Best Individual Contributor to Audio – Chris Mason.
Nominations:
ANITA ANAND
PAUL GAMBACCINI
CHRIS MASON
PADDY O’CONNELL
LINDA PRESSLY
AMOL RAJAN

Special Awards, selected by VLV Trustees, were:
Winner of the Naomi Sargant Award – Jackie Edwards.
Winner of Best TV Children’s Programme – Milkshake, Channel 5’s ‘The World According to Grandpa’.

Winner of the Award for Innovation (supported by Arqiva) – BBC Natural History Unit.
A video of the awards ceremony can be found at https://vlv.org.uk/news/vlv-awards-2021/

-Ends-
24 June 2022

For further information, please contact Colin Browne at 07733 103800, 01285 740433, or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors

3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

If you no longer wish to receive information from VLV then please reply to this email with Unsubscribe in the subject box.

VLV Spring Conference Final Reminder

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: 25 April 2022
From: The Voice of the Listener & Viewer

FINAL CALL TO BOOK PLACES AT VLV SPRING CONFERENCE 2022

With the current uncertain future of Public Service Broadcasting in the UK, VLV urges those interested to book a place at its Spring Conference. The VLV Spring Conference 2022 will be held online, on 27th April, 10.30am-1.00pm.

Attendees will hear a keynote session with Tim Davie, Director General, BBC, whose participation comes at a pivotal time, when the BBC is facing difficult decisions on whether it can maintain its current level of services and content, following a below-inflation funding settlement for the years 2022-2027.

The conference presents a valuable opportunity to ask Mr Davie how the BBC intends to continue to deliver high quality services for UK citizens, going forward. VLV’s analysis of BBC public funding since 2010 shows that, prior to the recently announced new settlement, BBC public income had already declined by 25% since 2010 in real terms. Detailed figures and briefing note are available on the VLV website.

There will also be a panel session entitled ‘Can PSBs survive and thrive in the era of global streamers?’. Given government’s recent, controversial announcement that it intends to privatise Channel 4, this is a highly topical and emotive subject, with the session offering lively discussion about the current challenges facing the PSBs.

The panellists will be: Khalid Hayat Director of Strategy and Consumer Insight for Channel 4, Claire Enders, Founder of Enders Analysis, Sian Doyle, CEO for S4C, the unique Welsh TV channel, and Gareth Barr, Controller of Policy and Regulatory Strategy for ITV.

The last session will be in conversation with Gillian Reynolds CBE, discussing her distinguished career with James Naughtie, and explaining why she feels that radio is more relevant than ever in the streaming era.

Schedule:

10.30 – 11.15
Tim Davie CBE, Director-General, BBC
Chaired by Janine Gibson, Financial Times

11.15 – 12.00
Panel discussion: Can the PSBs survive and thrive in the era of global streaming?
Chaired by Janine Gibson, Financial Times

12.00 – 12.45
‘In conversation with’ Gillian Reynolds CBE
Chaired by James Naughtie FRSE

…..//ends 25th April 2022

Members of the press are asked to book a press pass to attend the conference by contacting the VLV Office directly, at info@vlv.org.uk

For further information, please contact Colin Browne at 07733 103800, 01285 740433, or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors
1. VLV’s Spring Conference takes place on Wednesday 27th April between 10.30-13.00pm on Zoom.

2. Members of the public who wish to register for a VLV online event can do so online at https://payments.vlv.org.uk/event-search; or by sending an
email to info@vlv.org.uk; or by calling 01474 338716.

3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website www.vlv.org.uk

4. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profitmaking membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

5. For nearly 40 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.

6. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV statement in response to government announcement that it intends to proceed with Channel 4 privatisation

Press release from VLV
For immediate release 5 April 2022

VLV IS CONCERNED THAT THE PUBLIC’S VIEWS HAVE BEEN DISREGARDED OVER PLANS TO PRIVATISE CHANNEL 4

The Voice of the Listener & Viewer has expressed its concern and disappointment, following the government’s announcement that it intends to proceed with the privatisation of Channel 4.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, “While we have not seen the detailed proposals yet, we are extremely disappointed that the Government has decided to go ahead with the controversial privatisation of Channel 4, without publishing the results of its consultation, which we believe was overwhelmingly against privatisation. The onus had been on government to provide the evidence and research to demonstrate the need for privatisation, which it has failed to do.”

He added, “VLV strongly opposed the privatisation of C4 and made submissions to the DCMS and to the Lords Communications and Digital Committee. We are concerned that the privatisation of Channel 4 will have a negative impact on audiences and that a private owner will aim to attract the largest possible audience, in order to maximise commercial success, resulting in less distinctive output. We will be scrutinising the Government’s detailed proposals very closely to try to ensure that these risks are minimised.”

Channel 4 is currently delivering its remit in a way which benefits audiences, citizens and the creative community in the UK. VLV believes that its recent performance demonstrates that it would have been able to continue to do so going forward. There is a strong possibility, and perhaps probability, that many of these benefits will be lost, or at least significantly impaired, in private ownership.

ENDS 5/4/22

For further information please contact Colin Browne
07733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors

3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV statement in response to white paper announcement

Press release from VLV
For immediate release June 23 2021

VLV Statement on
White Paper announcement & Channel 4 privatisation proposal

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, which represents citizen interests in broadcasting, said:

‘We will approach the white paper consultation from the perspective of what is in the best interests of viewers, citizens and the UK production base. At first sight, it is difficult to see how the privatisation of Channel 4 can meet these criteria, but we will be responding fully to the consultation once it opens.’

VLV is holding an online event In Conversation with John Whittingdale MP, Minister of State for Media and Data in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 30th June between 10.30am and 11.30am.

The event will be chaired by VLV Chairman, Colin Browne.

For press access please contact: Sarah Stapylton Smith in the VLV Office: 01474 338716 sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk

…..//ends

For further information please contact Colin Browne
7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors

1. In Conversation with John Whittingdale takes place on Wednesday 30th June 2021 between 10.30 and 11.30 on Zoom.

2. Members of the public who wish to register for a VLV online event can do so online at https://payments.vlv.org.uk/Event-Registration/EventId/22
or by sending an email to sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk; or by calling 01474 338716.

3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.

4. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

5. For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.

6. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

If you no longer wish to receive information from VLV then please reply to this email with Unsubscribe in the subject box.

VLV event with John Whittingdale MP June 30 2021

Press release from VLV
For immediate release June 22 2021

VLV Event
In Conversation with John Whittingdale MP
Wednesday 30th June 2021 10.30am online

At a time when reform of the regulation of the UK’s broadcasting system is being actively considered by the government, John Whittingdale MP, Minister of State for Media and Data in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will be speaking at a VLV online event on 30th June between 10.30am and 11.30am.

The event will be chaired by VLV Chairman, Colin Browne.

The format will be conversational but will allow for questions to be put by the audience on the day using the Q&A function.

Issues currently under the spotlight include:
– The Public Service Broadcasting Review and a potential broadcasting white paper
– The privatisation of Channel 4
– BBC funding and governance
– The balance between the costs and benefits of being a public service broadcaster
– Whether advertising regulation should be reformed to create a more level playing field between broadcasting and online
– Prominence regulation on streaming platforms and hardware
– The regulation of on-demand and online content

Previously John Whittingdale was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in 2015-2016, during the last Charter Review period. From 2005-2015 Mr Whittingdale was Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the House of Commons.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ‘At a time when the government is re-considering privatisation of Channel 4, the governance of the BBC is under scrutiny and its future funding is being negotiated, this will be a great opportunity for VLV members and others to put questions to Mr Whittingdale. There is consensus that PSB brings huge benefits to citizens, but its future is dependent on reform of existing regulation as well as public trust and engagement.’

…..//ends
For further information please contact Colin Browne
7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press access to events please contact: Sarah Stapylton Smith in the VLV Office: 01474 338716 sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. In Conversation with John Whittingdale takes place on Wednesday 30th June 2021 between 10.30 and 11.30 on Zoom.

3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.

6. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

If you no longer wish to receive information from VLV then please reply to this email with Unsubscribe in the subject box.

VLV Awards 2020

Press release from VLV

Embargoed until 00:01 Monday 10 May 2021

VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2020 WINNERS

VLV Awards honour Channel 5 drama All Creatures Great and Small, Channel 4’s Barenboim on Beethoven, BBC Two documentary series The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty, BBC Radio 4’s The Great Post Office Trial and broadcasters Hugh Pym and Tim Harford.
The VLV Awards for Excellence covering programmes broadcast in 2020 have been announced to celebrate many aspects of television and radio with programmes, individuals and channels nominated and voted for by VLV members – their viewers and listeners.

Many of the winners are those who especially helped audiences cope during a difficult year. They include BBC News’ Health Editor, Hugh Pym, and Radio 4 presenter and economist, Tim Harford, who were on air throughout 2020 helping audiences understand Coronavirus better. The Naomi Sargent award, which has an educational focus, goes to Grayson Perry for, among other things, his work which has inspired and encouraged thousands of people to take up different forms of art. The children’s award goes to a series which helped ‘spread as much joy and positivity as possible’ among children during the pandemic: BBC Children’s Mimi on a Mission – Lockdown Party. This year the VLV has also made a special award to celebrate the best broadcasting lockdown initiative. The award goes to The BBC’s Lockdown Learning Project which provided resources and programmes during 2020 to support learners, teachers and parents.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ‘These awards demonstrate the power of broadcasting to support us all at times of need. In 2020 viewing of TV and radio listening rose significantly and broadcasting was crucial in helping many of us cope – with trusted news and information about the pandemic, but also drama and entertainment which helped distract us and educational content for children. Public service broadcasting rose to the challenge of helping us during an incredibly difficult year and we would like to congratulate and thank all those involved.’

WINNERS VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2020
Television
Best Drama Programme: All Creatures Great and Small, Channel 5
Best News and Factual Programme: The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty, BBC Two
Best Children’s Programme: Mimi on a Mission – Lockdown Party, CBBC
Best Arts and Entertainment Programme: Barenboim on Beethoven: The Lost Tapes, Channel 4
Best Individual Contributor: Hugh Pym
Radio
Best Drama: The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, BBC Radio 4
Best Comedy: Conversations from a Long Marriage, BBC Radio 4
Best News and Factual: The Great Post Office Trial, BBC Radio 4
Best Music and Arts Programme: Beethoven Unleashed: Composer of the Week, BBC Radio 3
Best individual contributor: Tim Harford
Special Awards
The Naomi Sargent Award: Grayson Perry
Best Lockdown Initiative: The BBC’s Lockdown Learning Project

……………//ends
For further information please contact Colin Browne
7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

Stills of winners are available upon request.

Notes to editors
NOMINATIONS – VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2020

BEST TV DRAMA PROGRAMME
All Creatures Great and Small Channel 5
Life BBC One
Normal People BBC Three
Quiz ITV
Small Axe BBC One
White House Farm ITV

BEST TV NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
Being Frank: The Frank Gardner Story BBC Two
Grayson Perry’s Big American Road Trip Channel 4
Once Upon a Time in Iraq BBC One
The Andrew Marr Show BBC One
The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty BBC Two
The Secret Life of the Zoo Channel 4

BEST TV ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
Barenboim on Beethoven: The Lost Tapes Channel 4
Imagine: This House is Full of Music BBC One
Mark Kermode’s Secrets of Cinema BBC Four
The Age of the Image BBC Four
The Sound of TV with Neil Brand BBC Four
Would I Lie to You? BBC One

BEST TV INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR
Monty Don
Katty Kay
Emily Maitlis
Clive Myrie
David Olusoga
Hugh Pym

BEST LOCK DOWN INITIATIVE 2020
BBC Lockdown Learning Project BBC
BBC Local Radio BBC
Grayson Perry’s Art Club Channel 4
Isolation Stories ITV
Staged BBC One
The Radio 3 Breakfast Singalong BBC Radio 3

BEST RADIO DRAMA
Blood, Sex and Money BBC Radio 4
Elegies BBC Radio 4
The Glass Menagerie BBC Radio 3
The Martin Beck Killings BBC Radio 4
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot BBC Radio 4
Where this Service will Terminate BBC Radio 4

BEST RADIO COMEDY PROGRAMME
Bunk Bed BBC Radio 4
Conversations from a Long Marriage BBC Radio 4
Fortunately…with Fi and Jane BBC Radio 4
Relativity BBC Radio 4
Rich Hall’s (US) Breakdown BBC Radio 4
Sarah Kendall: Australian Trilogy BBC Radio 4

BEST RADIO NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
Broadcasting House BBC Radio 4
Gardeners’ Question Time BBC Radio 4
Profile BBC Radio 4
The Briefing Room BBC Radio 4
The Great Post Office Trial BBC Radio 4
The Media Show BBC Radio 4

BEST RADIO MUSIC AND ARTS PROGRAMME
Beethoven Unleashed: Composer of the Week BBC Radio 3
Poetry Please BBC Radio 4
Record Review BBC Radio 3
Soul Music BBC Radio 4
The Listening Service BBC Radio 3
The Rock Show BBC Radio 2

BEST INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR TO RADIO
Jane Garvey
Tim Harford
Chris Mason
James O’Brien
Winifred Robinson
Ritula Shah

1. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.
2. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
3. For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
4. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

If you no longer want to receive news from VLV please reply to this email and put ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject box.

VLV Spring Conference 2021 Speakers Announced

Press release from VLV

For immediate release Wednesday 28 April 2021

VLV SPRING CONFERENCE 2021

Due to Coronavirus restrictions VLV will hold its Spring Conference online on April 29th between 10.30 and 13.00.

Our lead speakers will be Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, and Lord Terry Burns, who recently stood down as the Chairman of Ofcom. Their sessions will be chaired by Lord Michael Grade and Dame Colette Bowe respectively.

They speak at a time when the future of public service broadcasting is being considered by Ofcom and the government. It’s likely that regulation of PSB will need to be extensively reformed as more content is consumed online.

The final session of the morning will be a panel discussion: Is UK impartiality regulation fit for purpose? with broadcaster and political journalist Julia Hartley Brewer, Professor Stephen Cushion of the Cardiff University School of Journalism, Rachel Corp, Editor of ITV News and Stewart Purvis CBE, former Editor in Chief of ITN and Ofcom Partner for Content and Standards. This session will be chaired by Mark Damazer CBE.

Full Programme:

10.30 – 11.15
Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4
Chaired by Lord Michael Grade CBE

11.15 – 12.00
Lord Terry Burns
Chaired by Dame Colette Bowe DBE

12.00 – 13.00
Is UK impartiality regulation fit for purpose?
Rachel Corp, Editor of ITV News
Professor Stephen Cushion, Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Culture
Julia Hartley Brewer, broadcaster and journalist
Stewart Purvis CBE, former Editor in Chief of ITN and Ofcom Partner for Content and Standards
Chaired by Mark Damazer CBE

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ‘VLV is concerned that future regulation of broadcasting should make sure that citizens have full access to a range of high quality content which is relevant to our lives in the UK. We’re worried that increasing competition, driven by global media giants, is undermining the PSB system and will lead to a reduction in the investment in distinctive UK content. The government is going to have to take decisive action if it is to update regulation to safeguard a precious British asset which brings huge value to the whole population.’

If you would like to attend the VLV online Spring Conference, please email the VLV office: sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk.

You can read VLV’s response to Ofcom’s PSB Review consultation here.

…..//ends

For further information please contact Colin Browne
7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press access to events please contact:
Sarah Stapylton Smith
VLV Office: 01474 338716 sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. VLV’s Spring Conference takes place on Thursday 29th April 2021 between 10.30 and 13.00 on Zoom.

2. Members of the public who wish to register for a VLV online event can do so online at https://payments.vlv.org.uk/event-search; or by sending an email to sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk; or by calling 01474 338716.

3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.

4. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

5. For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.

6. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

If you no longer wish to receive information from VLV then please reply to this email with Unsubscribe in the subject box.

VLV Autumn Conference Speakers Announced

VLV Conference Speakers Announced and VLV Bulletin published

Press release from VLV
For immediate release Monday 2 November 2020

Due to Coronavirus restrictions VLV is replacing its Autumn Conference with a series of online events. The next event will be held on 24th November 10.30-12.30 when Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chairman of ITV, and Maria Kyriacou, CEO of ViacomCBS UK, will be keynote speakers.

Sir Peter Bazalgette has over 40 years’ media experience having served as Chairman of the Arts Council, President of the Royal Television Society and Chairman and Chief Creative Office of Endemol UK. In 2017, he led the Independent Review of the Creative Industries for the government. Prior to joining ViacomCBS, Maria Kyriacou was President of International at ITV Studios and became the Chair of the Creative Diversity Network in June this year.

They will speak at a time when the future of the PSB compact, whereby the commercial public service broadcasters have access to benefits in return for providing public service content, is up for discussion as part of the Ofcom PSB Review. The viability of the PSB system is being increasingly called into question as it is put under increased pressure by online and global streaming platforms.

After the sessions with Sir Peter Bazalgette and Maria Kyriacou we will also hold a panel discussion: Can we afford local and regional TV and radio in a global market? As content is increasingly viewed online and broadcasting models become more global, we will examine whether this will mean audiences have access to less TV and radio which reflects their lives closer to home.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ‘VLV is concerned that the future of public service broadcasting as we have known it for the past few decades is far from secure. It is under considerable strain because of global streaming platforms, the drop in advertising caused by the pandemic and the squeeze on BBC funding. The government will need to take decisive action if it is to update regulation to safeguard a precious British asset which brings huge value to the whole population.’

If you would like to attend the VLV online Autumn Conference, please register here.

You can read the VLV Autumn bulletin 2020 here. It covers a wide range of topics which are of interest to VLV and our members, including the controversy around the appointment of the new BBC Chairman, the state of local radio, why content which tells us about the world outside the UK is so important and it includes the details of the winners of the VLV Awards for 2019.

For further information please contact Colin Browne on 07733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press access to events please contact:
Sarah Stapylton Smith
VLV Office: 01474 338716 sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. VLV’s Autumn Conference takes place on Tuesday 24th November between 10.30-12.30pm on Zoom.

2. Members of the public who wish to register for a VLV online event can do so online at https://payments.vlv.org.uk/event-search; or by sending an email to sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk; or by calling 01474 338716.

3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.

6. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2019 Winners Announced

Embargoed to 00:01 Monday 2 November 2020

VLV Awards honour drama Gentleman Jack, Channel 4’s Dispatches, the 90-minute documentary about the great classical singer Janet Baker In Her Own Words, Sky News’ children’s programme FYI, and broadcasters Katya Adler and Sarah Montague.

The VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2019, which cover programmes broadcast in 2019, have been announced to celebrate many aspects of television and radio with programmes, individuals and channels nominated and voted for by VLV members – their viewers and listeners.

The winners include BBC Europe Editor, Katya Adler, and BBC World At One presenter, Sarah Montague, drama Gentleman Jack, radio comedy series The Unbelievable Truth and documentary series The Americas with Simon Reeve. News and current affairs programmes featured strongly among the winners this year with honours going to PM, Dispatches and two children’s series, Newsround, which receives the Naomi Sargant award for its longstanding work in bringing news to children, and Sky News’/Sky Kids’ children’s news series FYI. The full lists of the 2019 winners and nominees are below.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said “These awards demonstrate that 2019 was a year in which British broadcasters provided a huge range of quality and diverse programmes for listeners and viewers. They include comedies, drama and factual programmes as well as notably featuring high quality news journalism at a time when reliable, accurate news is being valued more highly than ever.”

WINNERS VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2019

Television
Best TV Drama Programme: Gentleman Jack, BBC One
Best TV News and Factual Programme: Dispatches, Channel 4
Best TV Children’s Programme: FYI, Sky News/Sky Kids
Best TV Arts and Entertainment Programme: Janet Baker in Her Own Words, BBC Four
Best international programme: The Americas with Simon Reeve, BBC Two (sponsored by the International Broadcasting Trust)
Best TV Individual Contributor: Katya Adler

Radio
Best Radio Drama: Middlemarch, BBC Radio 4
Best Radio News and Factual: PM, BBC Radio 4
Best Music and Arts Programme: Words and Music, BBC Radio 3
Best individual contributor to Radio: Sarah Montague

TV & Radio
Best Comedy Programme: The Unbelievable Truth, BBC Radio 4

Special Awards
The Naomi Sargant Award: Newsround
Best Podcast Award: Brexitcast, BBC Radio 5 Live/BBC News

For further information please contact Colin Browne
7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

Notes to editors

NOMINATIONS – VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2019

BEST TV DRAMA PROGRAMME
Catch 22 Channel 4
Cleaning Up ITV
Gentleman Jack BBC One
Killing Eve BBC One
World On Fire
Years and Years BBC One
BBC One

BEST TV NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
Beyond 100 Days BBC News Channel/BBC Four
Chris Tarrant’s Extreme Railway Journeys Channel 5
Dispatches Channel 4
Newsnight BBC Two
Spotlight on The Troubles: A Secret History BBC Four/BBC One
The Dirty War on the NHS ITV

BEST TV ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
Country Music by Ken Burns BBC Four
Janet Baker In Her Own Words BBC Four
Only Connect BBC Two
Seamus Heaney and the Music of What Happens BBC Two
The Graham Norton Show BBC One
Would I Lie To You? BBC One

BEST TV INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR
Katya Adler
Emma Barnett
Tom Bradby
Gary Gibbon
Emily Maitlis
Andrew Neil

VLV + IBT AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTENT
Chernobyl Sky Atlantic
For Sama Channel 4
Our Planet Netflix
Reggie in China BBC Two
The Americas with Simon Reeve BBC Two
The Misadventures of Romesh Raganathan BBC Two

BEST COMEDY PROGRAMME – RADIO & TV
Derry Girls Channel 4
Ed Reardon’s Week Radio 4
Fleabag BBC One
How Europe Stole My Mum Channel 4
The Last Leg Channel 4
The Unbelievable Truth Radio 4

BEST RADIO DRAMA
In Search of Lost Time Radio 4
Middlemarch Radio 4
Stalingrad Radio 4
The Effect Radio 3
The Last of the Volsungs Radio 3
The National Radio 4

BEST RADIO NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
Crossing Continents Radio 4
Farming Today Radio 4
PM Radio 4
The Archive Hour Radio 4
The Briefing Room Radio 4
The Westminster Hour Radio 4

BEST RADIO MUSIC AND ARTS PROGRAMME
Breakfast Radio 3
Counterpoint Radio 4
In Tune Radio 3
Record Review including Building a Library Radio 3
Soul Music Radio 4
Words and Music Radio 3

BEST INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR TO RADIO
Nicky Campbell
Jane Garvey
Sarah Montague
James O’Brien
Paddy O’Connell
Matthew Parris

1. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website
2. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
3. For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
4. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV Research shows 30% decline in BBC public funding since 2010

VLV publishes research showing a 30% drop in public funding for the BBC since 2010

For immediate release, Wednesday 4th March 2020

The Voice of the Listener and Viewer, (VLV) the UK’s leading charity representing the interests of audiences in UK, for the first time has conducted research which shows that the BBC’s real (inflation-adjusted) public funding for services aired for UK audiences has been slashed by 30% in the past decade. Government raids on BBC licence fee income since 2010 mean that licence fee payers are getting significantly less value for money from the TV licence since 2010.

This research comes at a time when the BBC is under mounting political pressure from the government over the licence fee. The government is currently consulting again whether to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence, having decided against it in 2015. Government sources have suggested the BBC could become a subscription service.

Public Funding 2010/11 – 2019/10

This analysis is of net public funding for content (Licence Fee income plus government grants minus the costs of additional burdens put on the BBC since 2010); it excludes the BBC’s commercial income. The focus is on funding available for UK services because this is the content which most benefits the licence fee payers who fund the BBC.

Public funding for the BBC in 2010/11 was £3.95bn, with £3.54bn of that spent on services for UK audiences. In 2019/20 the BBC’s public funding will be £3.65bn, with £3.2bn for UK services. The BBC Annual Report will confirm the 2019/20 figures, but the BBC has said that VLV’s figures are in line with expectations. Once inflation is taken into account, 2019/20 net public funding is equivalent to £2.48bn in 2010 money – just 70% of the 2010/11 budget during a time when production and distribution costs have risen considerably.

The fall in funding for UK services is due to a combination of factors:

• the cost of the TV licence was frozen between 2010 and 2017;
• in 2013/14, a number of new obligations were imposed on the licence fee: Broadband rollout, S4C, Local TV and BBC Monitoring (£250million per annum);
• from 2014 the BBC began paying the majority of the costs of running the World Service, previously funded by the Foreign Office;
• since 2018 the DWP has gradually removed funding for free TV licences for the over 75’s.
• Once income figures are inflation-adjusted the value of public funding significantly drops.

The full data report can be found here as well as a briefing note which outlines VLV’s concerns.

VLV’s objective is to ensure that UK audiences continue to have low-cost access to content which informs them about the world, broadens their horizons, engages them with a wide range of subjects, entertains them and enriches their lives. We are concerned that if there are more cuts, in addition to the £800m a year cuts the BBC has has had to make since 2016, leading to the recent 450 job cuts in news, this will undermine the BBC’s ability to deliver the range and quality of programmes audiences currently enjoy.

The BBC has mitigated declines in funding until now through its commercial success and efficiency measures, but if commercial success becomes a primary motivation this could undermine the BBC’s public service remit and VLV considers that any further cuts are likely to undermine the quality of its services.

Cuts so far have led to more repeats, especially in daytime, a narrowing news agenda and fewer current affairs and news investigations. Reductions are most likely in genres which are less popular because they cause less public outrage, but this means public service programming suffers disproportionately. BBC chairman Sir David Clementi made it clear in February that if further cuts are made, crucial public services such as the BBC’s children’s channels will have to be scrapped.

Colin Browne, VLV Chairman, said:
‘The BBC is not perfect. There are always efficiencies to be made and waste to be eliminated. However, no organisation can withstand a constant erosion of its finances on the scale shown by our research without incurring major damage and it is viewers and listeners who will suffer.

The BBC is the cornerstone of public service broadcasting in the UK. It plays a vital role in our civil society. It is small by comparison with the large global media companies, yet has an unrivalled international reputation. Diminish it further and we risk losing something unique for ever.’

These issues will be discussed in detail at the VLV Spring Conference will take place from 10.30 to 16.00 on Thursday April 30 2020 at the Geological Society, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG.

…………………………// ends

For further information please contact:
Colin Browne
07733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press tickets to the conference please contact:
Sarah Stapylton-Smith

VLV office: 01474 338716 (9.30am to 3.30pm, Tuesday and Wednesday)
or sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. Journalists are welcome to attend the VLV conference. For a media pass, please contact Sarah Stapylton-Smith on sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk or call 01474 338716.

2. Conference bookings – to book online for the conference please go to the VLV website, or email Sarah Stapylton-Smith on sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk or call 01474 338716.

3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.

4. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. The VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. The VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. The VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

5. For over 30 years the VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.

6. The VLV is run by a board of trustees, chaired by Colin Browne.

VLV Response to BBC decision on free TV licences for over 75s

VLV responds to BBC announcement it will provide free TV licences for the over 75’s

For immediate release – June 10th 2019

The VLV’s clear view is that the cost of providing free licences for the over 75’s, and the policy behind the concession, should be matters for government.

However, if the BBC is to meet the cost of a concession, the favoured option of those who responded to a VLV survey was that the concession should be linked to those who need it most, such as those in receipt of Pension Credit.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said, ‘We are very concerned that even this strategy will mean an additional substantial reduction in the BBC’s funding and therefore the quality and range of programmes to be provided for UK citizens who fund the BBC, against the background of a 24% cut in real terms since 2010.’

We welcome the BBC’s comments about the need for more transparency in the process of negotiating BBC funding in future. As the BBC Statement highlights, VLV has proposed the establishment of a Licence Fee Commission which would enable proper debate and a range of stakeholder views to be considered.

……………//ends

For further information please contact:

Colin Browne – 07733 103800 or colin@colinbrowne.com
Sophie Chalk – 07973 408 243 or sophie.chalk@btinternet.com

Notes to editors
1. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
2. For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne. Dame Colette Bowe is its President.

VLV Spring Conference 2019 Programme

VLV SPRING CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Protecting the citizen interest in today’s broadcasting market

Thursday May 9th 2019 – 10.30am to 4pm
The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG

At a time when consumer interests are driving the take up of subscription services, the VLV Conference will ask whether public service broadcasting which benefits citizens across the UK can evolve to maintain its provision of high quality content.

Featured speakers will include Mark Damazer, former Controller of Radio 4, Will Wyatt CBE, former Chief Executive of BBC Broadcasting, Claire Enders, founder of Enders Analysis, Lord Gilbert, Chairman of the Lords Communications Committee, and Gillian Reynolds MBE, The Sunday Times’ radio critic. The Annual VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting will take place at lunchtime, presented by Jan Ravens.

PROGRAMME

09.45 Registration and coffee

10.30   Politics on TV and Radio
   Dorothy Byrne, Head of News and Current Affairs, Channel 4
   Mark Damazer CBE, Master of St Peter’s College, Oxford
   Polly Toynbee, Columnist, The Guardian
   Chaired by: Torin Douglas MBE

11.30 How Should the internet be regulated?
Dr Victoria Baines, Visiting Fellow, Bournemouth University
   Lord Gilbert, Chairman of the Lords Committee for Communications
   Professor Richard Tait, Cardiff University
   Chaired by: Emma Goodman, Policy Officer, LSE Media Policy Project

12.15 Lunch

13.15 VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2018 presented by Jan Ravens

14.00 The implications of the BBC paying for free TV Licences for the over 75’s
   Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director, Age UK
   Richard Ayre, former BBC Trustee
   Claire Enders, Founder, Enders Analysis
   Chaired by: Will Wyatt CBE, former Chief Executive, BBC Broadcast

15.00 Traditional Radio – Challenges in the age of streaming
Pete Naughton, Senior Audio Producer, Telegraph Media Group
   Steve Parkinson, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media
   Helen Thomas, Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Radio 2
   Chaired by: Gillian Reynolds MBE, Radio Critic for The Sunday Times

16.00 End of Conference – tea and coffee

“Our Spring Conference will focus on key issues in broadcasting which benefits citizens – trust, quality, access to free-to-air content and the funding of public service programmes. We are fortunate to have a platform of some of the most influential figures in the industry to debate these issues which are determining the shape of broadcasting today and tomorrow. In addition, our annual awards give us the opportunity to recognise the outstanding quality of so much of our broadcasting at a time of great change in the industry”, said VLV Chairman Colin Browne.

A full list of the nominations for the VLV awards is included below

.…………………………// ends

For further information please contact Colin Browne
7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press tickets to the conference and awards please contact:
Sarah Stapylton Smith (Tuesday to Thursday during office hours)
VLV Office: 01474 338716 sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors
1. Protecting the citizen interest in today’s broadcasting market takes place on Thursday 9 May 2018 at The Geological Society in Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BG from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm.

2. The Awards will be presented between 13.15 and 14.00.

3. Journalists are welcome to attend the conference. For a media pass, please contact Sarah Stapylton Smith on sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk or call 01474 338716

4. Conference bookings – To book online for the conference please go to the VLV website or email sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk or call her on 01474 338716

5. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.

6. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

7. For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.

8, VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne. Dame Colette Bowe is its President.

VLV Awards 2018: Nominations

Press release from VLV

VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING IN 2018

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

The nominations for VLV’s annual Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2018 have been announced.

This year nominations include TV dramas The Bodyguard, Black Earth Rising and Killing Eve; ITV’s Peston on Sunday is up against BBC Two’s Newsnight; and Channel 4’s Random Acts is competing with the BBC’s Upstart Crow. Radio 5 Live’s Nicky Campell is nominated for an Individual radio Contributor award alongside Katya Adler, Paddy O’Connell, Edward Stourton and others. Matt Frei, Emily Maitlis and David Olusoga are nominated alongside others for the TV Contributor award. A full list of those nominated is below.

The awards, which will be presented on May 9^th at VLV’s Spring Conference, celebrate radio and TV programmes and those who made a particular contribution to public service broadcasting during 2018. Winners say they particularly value these awards, first introduced some thirty years ago, because they are chosen by the people who matter: their listeners and viewers.

The awards will be presented by Jan Ravens, of Dead Ringers and Spitting Image fame. Last year Jan delighted the audience with an ad-libbed acceptance speech when Dead Ringers won the award for best radio comedy.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV said, ‘The VLV Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the wealth of excellent programmes across all channels, a quality and diversity reflected in the range of nominations from VLV members’.

Full list of nominations VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2018:

BEST TV DRAMA PROGRAMME

A Very English Scandal	BBC One
Black Earth Rising	BBC Two
Bodyguard	BBC One
Killing Eve	BBC One
No Offence	Channel 4
Vanity Fair	ITV

BEST TV NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME

A House through Time	BBC Two
Beyond 100 Days	BBC News Channel and BBC Four
Newsnight	BBC Two
Peston on Sunday	ITV
Portillo’s Hidden History of Britain	Channel 5
They Shall Not Grow Old	BBC Two

BEST TV ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME

Have I Got News for You	BBC One
Only Connect	BBC Two
Random Acts	Channel 4
Raymond Briggs: Snowmen, Bogeymen and Milkmen	BBC Two
Upstart Crow	BBC Two
Would I Lie to You	BBC One

BEST TV INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR

Matt Frei

Katty Kay

Emily Maitlis

Andrew Neil

David Olusoga

Jon Sopel

VLV + IBT AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTENT

A Dangerous Dynasty: House of Assad	BBC Two
Dispatches: Myanmar’s Killing Fields	Channel 4
Drowning in Plastic	BBC One
Mediterranean with Simon Reeve	BBC Two
Michael Palin in North Korea	Channel 5
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Fashion’s Dirty Secrets	BBC Three

BEST SPORTS PROGRAMME – RADIO & TV (sponsored by Arqiva)

European Rugby Champions Cup	Channel 4
2018 Football World Cup	BBC/ITV
2018 Formula 1 Grand Prix	Channel 4
2018 French Open Tennis	ITV
Test Match Special	Radio 4/Radio 5 live Sports Extra/BBC Sport
2018 Winter Olympics	BBC

BEST RADIO DRAMA AND COMEDY PROGRAMME

Drama on 3: Pinter’s The Birthday Party	Radio 3
Gloomsbury	Radio 4
Home Front	Radio 4
Meet David Sedaris	Radio 4
The Now Show	Radio 4
Tommies	Radio 4

BEST RADIO NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME

Brexit: A Love Story?	Radio 4
Feedback	Radio 4
In Our Time	Radio 4
The James O’Brien Show	LBC
Last Word	Radio 4
Pienaar’s Politics	Radio 5 live

BEST RADIO MUSIC AND ARTS PROGRAMME

Barry Humphries: Barry’s Forgotten Musical Masterpieces	Radio 2
Breakfast	Radio 3
Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review	Radio 5 live
Saturday Review	Radio 4
Soul Music	Radio 4
Words and Music	Radio 3

BEST INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR TO RADIO

Katya Adler

Nicky Campbell

Lyse Doucet

Paddy O’Connell

Ritula Shah

Edward Stourton

//…………….ends

Notes to Editors
Press contact Colin Browne

colin@colinbrowne.com
Tel: 07733 103800 or 01285 740433

General inquiries

Sarah Stapylton Smith (Tuesday to Thursday during office hours)

VLV, The Old Rectory Business Centre, Springhead Road, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 8HN

VLV Office: 01474 338716

email: info@vlv.org.uk
website: archive.vlv.org.uk

In addition to the awards voted on by VLV members, there will be three additional awards chosen by VLV’s Trustees – the Naomi Sargant Award for someone who has contributed to the field of education, the award for innovation in broadcasting and the children’s broadcasting award.
Journalists are welcome to attend the VLV conference and awards. For a media pass, please contact Sarah Stapylton Smith sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk or call 01474 338716.
The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne. Dame Colette Bowe is its President.

VLV Members oppose the BBC paying for free TV licences

14 February 2019

VLV, which promotes the interests of listeners and viewers, responded this week to the BBC consultation on whether it should continue to provide free TV licences for households which include a person who is 75 or older. The charity’s response comes having consulted with its members on their views. In response to a survey, 81% disagreed with the existing concession if it is funded by the BBC.

Colin Browne, Chairman of the VLV, said ‘It is clear that VLV members overwhelmingly oppose the BBC paying for free TV licences for the over 75’s. They support some form of help for the poorest elderly, but they believe that since this is a welfare payment the question of whether it is continued should be a decision for the government and the government should fund it. The BBC is an unelected body and should not make decisions about or fund welfare policies’.

VLV has strongly opposed the last two BBC funding settlements, agreed in 2010 and 2015, which in 2020 will have led to a 37% cut in the BBC budget if the BBC funds free TV licences for those over 75. These cuts are going to inevitably result in the BBC having to reduce TV and radio services which are popular among audiences across the UK. VLV proposes that the BBC, government and Parliament should seriously consider whether this move is in the best interests of the country and UK society as a whole.

VLV members were outraged when the announcement was made that the BBC would be taking on the cost of the free licences in 2015. At the time it said, ‘The independence of the BBC should be at the heart of public service broadcasting in the UK. We believe that independence was severely compromised by the manner and nature of the last two licence fee negotiations, which were carried out in secret, with no public consultation nor reference to licence fee payers.’

In response, the VLV is proposing the establishment of a statutory body, the Licence Fee Body, to help determine the level of future BBC funding settlements. This would help to underpin the independence of the BBC, including protection from political decisions by the Government of the day to ‘top slice’ the TV licence fee and divert it to fund other projects.

VLV’s full response to the BBC Consultation on the provision of free licences for the over 75’s and a report on its membership survey can be found here.

Notes to Editors

Press contact: Colin Browne

Email: colin@colinbrowne.com
Tel: 07733 103800 or 01285 740433

General inquiries

Sarah Stapylton Smith (Tuesday to Thursday during office hours)

VLV, The Old Rectory Business Centre, Springhead Road, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 8HN

VLV Office: 01474 338716

email: info@vlv.org.uk
web: archive.vlv.org.uk

1. VLV has written responses to the many consultations about the future of the BBC. All submissions can be read here

2. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV web site archive.vlv.org.uk

3. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

VLV AWARDS 2018 -WINNERS

Embargoed to 13:00 Thursday 9 May 2019

VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE VLV CONFERENCE

Thursday May 9th 13.15pm
The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG

VLV Awards honour drama A Very English Scandal, Have I Got News for You, historical radio series In Our Time, They Shall Not Grow Old, the innovative documentary about the First World War, broadcasters Lyse Doucet and Matt Frei and cricket coverage in Test Match Special.

The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) award winners’ ceremony, hosted by Jan Ravens of Dead Ringers’ fame, took place on Thursday 9 May 2019 in London during VLV’s Annual Spring Conference.

The VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2018, which cover programmes broadcast in 2018, were presented to celebrate many aspects of television and radio with programmes, individuals and channels nominated and voted for by VLV members – their viewers and listeners.

The winners included newscasters BBC Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, and Channel 4 News Europe Editor, Matt Frei, drama A Very English Scandal, long-running entertainment show Have I Got News for You, radio arts programme Saturday Review and BBC cricket coverage in Test Match Special. The team behind They Shall Not Grow Old, the documentary which featured original First World War footage, were presented with an award for innovation; documentary makers Norma Percy and Brian Lapping were awarded the Naomi Sergent award for their work over many years which has provided audiences with significant insight into issues and stories from around the world. The full list of the 2018 winners and nominees are below.

Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said “Despite the huge challenges and seismic changes in how audiences consume content, these awards demonstrate that 2018 was a year in which British broadcasters provided a huge range of quality and diverse programmes for listeners and viewers. They include comedies, drama and factual programmes as well as notably featuring high quality news journalists at a time when reliable, accurate news is being valued more highly than ever.”

WINNERS VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2018

Television Best Drama Programme: A Very English Scandal, BBC One

Best TV News and Factual Programme: A House Through Time, BBC Two

Best TV Children’s Programme: My Life: Mumbai Street Strikers, CBBC

Best TV Arts and Entertainment Programme: Have I Got News for You,

BBC One Best international programme: Drowning in Plastic, BBC One (sponsored by the International Broadcasting Trust)

Best TV Individual Contributor: Matt Frei

Radio

Best Drama and Comedy Programme: The Now Show, BBC Radio 4

Best Radio News and Factual: In Our Time, BBC Radio 4

Best Music and Arts Programme: Saturday Review, BBC Radio 4

Best individual contributor to Radio: Lyse Doucet TV & Radio

Best Sports Programme: Test Match Special, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport

Special Awards

The Naomi Sargant Award: Norma Percy and Brian Lapping

The VLV Award for Innovation: They Shall Not Grow Old, BBC Two

……………//ends

For further information please contact Colin Browne
7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press tickets to the conference and awards please contact:
Sarah Stapylton Smith (Tuesday to Thursday during office hours)
VLV Office: 01474 338716 sarah.stapyltonsmith@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors
NOMINATIONS – VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2018

BEST TV DRAMA PROGRAMME
A Very English Scandal -BBC One
Black Earth Rising -BBC Two
Bodyguard -BBC One
Killing Eve -BBC One
No Offence – Channel 4
Vanity Fair – ITV

BEST TV NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
A House through Time -BBC Two
Beyond 100 Days -BBC News Channel and BBC Four
Newsnight – BBC Two
Peston on Sunday – ITV
Portillo’s Hidden History of Britain – Channel 5
They Shall Not Grow Old – BBC Two

BEST TV ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
Have I Got News for You – BBC One
Only Connect – BBC Two
Random Acts – Channel 4
Raymond Briggs: Snowmen, Bogeymen and Milkmen – BBC Two
Upstart Crow – BBC Two
Would I Lie to You – BBC One

BEST TV INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR
Matt Frei
Katty Kay
Emily Maitlis
Andrew Neil
David Olusoga
Jon Sopel

VLV + IBT AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTENT
A Dangerous Dynasty: House of Assad – BBC Two
Dispatches: Myanmar’s Killing Fields – Channel 4
Drowning in Plastic – BBC One
Mediterranean with Simon Reeve – BBC Two
Michael Palin in North Korea – Channel 5
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Fashion’s Dirty Secrets – BBC Three

BEST SPORTS PROGRAMME – RADIO & TV (sponsored by Arqiva)
European Rugby Champions Cup – Channel 4
2018 Football World Cup – BBC/ITV
2018 Formula 1 Grand Prix – Channel 4
2018 French Open Tennis – ITV
Test Match Special – Radio 4/Radio 5 live Sports Extra/BBC Sport
2018 Winter Olympics – BBC

BEST RADIO DRAMA AND COMEDY PROGRAMME
Drama on 3: Pinter’s The Birthday Party – Radio 3
Gloomsbury – Radio 4
Home Front – Radio 4
Meet David Sedaris – Radio 4
The Now Show – Radio 4
Tommies – Radio 4

BEST RADIO NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
Brexit: A Love Story? – Radio 4
Feedback – Radio 4
In Our Time – Radio 4
The James O’Brien Show – LBC
Last Word – Radio 4
Pienaar’s Politics – Radio 5 live

BEST RADIO MUSIC AND ARTS PROGRAMME
Barry Humphries: Barry’s Forgotten Musical Masterpieces – Radio 2
Breakfast – Radio 3
Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review – Radio 5 live
Saturday Review – Radio 4
Soul Music – Radio 4
Words and Music – Radio 3

BEST INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR TO RADIO
Katya Adler
Nicky Campbell
Lyse Doucet
Paddy O’Connell
Ritula Shah
Edward Stourton

VLV Autumn Conference 2018 Programme

FUTURE-PROOFING PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

Tuesday 27 November 2018

10.30 to 15.30 at the Geological Society, Piccadilly, W1J 0BG

Tim Davie CBE, Chief Executive Officer of BBC Studios and Director, BBC Global, and Ian Katz, Director of Programmes at Channel 4, will speak at the VLV Autumn Conference.

There will be two panel sessions. The first, chaired by Alan Yentob, will explore the impact of the global giants on UK public service broadcasting and will include independent producer Peter Kosminsky. The second will debate who sets the news agenda, chaired by Stewart Purvis CBE, former Editor in Chief and Chief Executive of ITN, with John Ryley, Head of Sky News, Janine Gibson, Editor in Chief at Buzzfeed UK, and Jamie Angus, Editorial Director of BBC World Service Group.

Tim Davie will lead off the conference, in a session chaired by Torin Douglas MBE. He will speak at what is a crucial time for the BBC’s future, when Ofcom has reported it has to do more to attract younger audiences if it is to remain relevant.

The second session of the day will explore whether the rise of subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple is threatening the future of the UK’s public service broadcasting system. Broadcaster Alan Yentob, presenter of Imagine, former BBC Creative Director and Controller of both BBC One and BBC Two, will chair this session. He will be joined by director, producer and writer Peter Kosminsky.

In the afternoon Ian Katz, Director of Programmes at Channel 4, will provide an update on developments at Channel 4 since he joined the broadcaster in January this year. This follows the recent announcement of Channel 4’s strategy for its regional HQ and hubs.

Finally, Stewart Purvis CBE will chair a panel debate about who sets the news agenda as headlines and rundowns seem to have been dominated by Brexit and events in America for the past two years. He will be joined by John Ryley, Head of Sky News, Janine Gibson, Editor in Chief at Buzzfeed UK and Jamie Angus, Editorial Director of BBC Global News.

“Broadcasting in the UK stands at a crossroads. Nothing is certain. This conference will explore many of the key issues through the eyes of some of the key players and decision makers”, said VLV Chairman Colin Browne.

Further information

For further information please contact Colin Browne 7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press tickets to the conference and awards please contact: Sue Washbrook (Tuesday to Thursday during office hours) VLV Office: 01474 338716 or email sue.washbrook@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors

Future proofing public service broadcasting takes place on Tuesday 27 November 2018 at The Geological Society in Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BG from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm.
Journalists are welcome to attend the conference. For a media pass, please contact Sue Washbrook on sue.washbrook@vlv.org.uk or call 01474 338716
Conference bookings – To book online for the conference please go to the VLV website or email Sue Washbrook or call her on 01474 338716
The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.
The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne. Dame Colette Bowe is its President.

VLV Comment on the DCMS Contestable Fund

Press release from Voice of the Listener & Viewer

STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER

VLV comment on DCMS Contestable Fund

VLV, which represents the interests of listeners and viewers, responded today to the DCMS announcement on the Contestable Fund.

Colin Browne, Chairman of the VLV, said ‘While we support the Government’s ambition to boost children’s content on TV and radio, we have concerns about the Contestable Fund. It is important that this is genuinely new money and does not lead to a further raid on the BBC’s Licence Fee funding.

It will be vital to monitor the pilot phase very closely to ensure that it is in practice delivering quality UK programming for our children and not just boosting the revenues of the commercial operators.’

//…………….ends
Notes to Editors

Further information from Colin Browne on
01285 740433 or 07733 103800

For all general press and media enquiries please call:
Sophie Chalk 07973 408 243

Notes to Editors
1. The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

2. For 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
3. VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne. Dame Colette Bowe is its President. She succeeded Jocelyn Hay, who founded VLV in 1983, its president until her death in 2014.

Jocelyn Hay Lecture 2018: Mary Beard

Press release from VLV

Notification of Event

Jocelyn Hay Lecture 2018: Professor Mary Beard DBE

Tuesday October 23^rd 2018 6-8.30pm
The Geological Society, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BG

VLV is delighted to announce that Professor Mary Beard DBE has agreed to deliver the Jocelyn Hay Lecture 2018.

Jocelyn Hay founded the VLV in 1983 and was its inspirational leader for more than a quarter of a century. We established the Jocelyn Hay lecture series in 2012. The lecture provides an opportunity for eminent speakers to consider the importance of quality broadcasting, and particularly public service broadcasting, for citizens and consumers in the UK. Previous speakers have been Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the NCVO, Professor Jean Seaton, Official Historian of the BBC, and Lord Puttnam.

Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge, is Britain’s best known classicist. For over a decade Mary has been bringing the Romans to life through her much-loved TV programmes. Her scholarly but accessible style has made her hugely popular in print and on the screen, from Meet The Romans to her 2015 bestseller SPQR and most recently one of the authors and presenters of the BBC’s Civilisations series.

‘VLV plays an important role by highlighting the benefits high quality TV and radio programmes bring to British audiences. For the past decade Mary Beard inspired audiences, bringing to life ancient history for millions of viewers and broadening our horizons. We are delighted that she will be delivering the Jocelyn Hay lecture in 2018’ said VLV Chairman Colin Browne.

Ticket price: £15.00

For further information please contact Colin Browne

7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press tickets to the lecture please contact:

Sue Washbrook (Tuesday and Wednesday during office hours)

VLV Office: 01474 338716 sue.washbrook@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website
The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne. Dame Colette Bowe is its President.

VLV Spring Conference 2018 Programme

Press release from VLV

For immediate release 17 April 2018

VLV SPRING CONFERENCE PROGRAMME REVISION

Challenges for public service broadcasting in a digital age

Thursday 19 April 2017 – 10.30am – 4pm

There has been a change in the programme for the VLV conference. Damian Collins MP, Chairman of the DCMS Select Committee, will now be speaking at 11.30am. Mr Collins’ Committee is currently leading an inquiry into Fake News which has included investigation of data breaches by Facebook. The Committee’s inquiry has been instrumental in highlighting the inadequacy of online regulation which has led to potential breaches in the security of people’s data. Now questions are being asked whether the UK’s regulatory system for online platforms is out of date and the misuse of data influenced the outcome of the Brexit Referendum. This replaces the session with Margot Jones MP, Minister of State for the Digital and Creative Industries, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport who has withdrawn because of diary problems.

BBC Chairman Sir David Clementi will begin the day at 10.30 in a session titled Serving all our audiences: the BBC in a digital age chaired by Stewart Purvis CBE, non-executive Director at Channel 4, former Chief Executive and Editor in Chief of ITN and former Partner for Content and Standards at Ofcom.

Ofcom Content Group Director Kevin Bakhurst will be the afternoon’s featured speaker at 2pm in a session titled After The Crown: supporting the Crown Jewels of UK Broadcasting. This session will be chaired by Sarah Thane CBE, Patron of VLV, former Director of Programmes and Advertising at the ITC and Advisor to Ofcom on content standards.

Finally at 3pm, Gillian Reynolds MBE, radio critic of The Sunday Times, will chair a panel debate on the contribution commercial radio makes for UK audiences. Broadcaster Nick Ferrari will join Siobhan Kenny, CEO of Radiocentre, Matt Deegan, Fun Kids Radio and Creative Director of Folder Media, and Dr Tony Stoller CBE, former Chief Executive of the Radio Authority.

The Annual VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2017 will be presented at lunchtime by Jon Snow.

“The VLV Annual Awards ceremony gives the VLV the opportunity to recognise the excellence of so much of our broadcasting at a time of great change in the industry and to pay tribute to some of the people who contribute so much to this achievement” said VLV Chairman Colin Browne.

A full list of the nominations for the VLV awards is attached to this email.

…………………………// ends

For further information please contact Colin Browne

7733 103800 or 01285 740433 or colin@colinbrowne.com

For press tickets to the conference and awards please contact:

Sue Washbrook (Tuesday to Thursday during office hours)

VLV Office: 01474 338716 sue.washbrook@vlv.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Challenges for public service broadcasting in a digital age takes place on Thursday 19 April 2017 at The Geological Society in Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BG from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm.
The Awards will be presented between 13.15 and 14.00.

Journalists are welcome to attend the conference. For a media pass, please contact Sue Washbrook on washbrook@vlv.org.uk or call 01474 338716

Conference bookings – To book online for the conference please go to the VLV website or email Sue Washbrook or call her on 01474 338716

The Voice of the Listener & Viewer welcomes new members. Details on how to join can be found on the VLV website.
The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) is an independent, non-profit-making membership association, free from political, commercial and sectarian affiliations, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting content. VLV represents the interests of listeners and viewers as citizens and consumers across the full range of broadcasting issues. VLV is concerned with the structures, regulation, funding and institutions that underpin the British broadcasting system. VLV is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
For over 30 years VLV has played a unique role in keeping a citizen’s eye on major legislative proposals and action taken by regulators and broadcasters, enabling the voice of consumers to be heard, independently from the interests of political parties, industry players and other pressure groups.
VLV is run by a board of Trustees, chaired by Colin Browne. Dame Colette Bowe is its President.

Pre 2018 Press releases

To find press releases issued by VLV prior to April 2018 please go here

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VLV Press Releases

VLV Conference Speakers Announced and VLV Bulletin published

VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2019 Winners Announced

VLV publishes research showing a 30% drop in public funding for the BBC since 2010

Public Funding 2010/11 – 2019/10

VLV responds to BBC announcement it will provide free TV licences for the over 75’s

VLV SPRING CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Press release from VLV

FUTURE-PROOFING PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

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