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Government begins review of the BBC's governance, public
obligations and funding as part of the process to renew its
Royal Charter
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Options in Green Paper to futureproof the BBC so that it
commands public trust, drives regional growth and is
sustainably funded
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People across the UK encouraged to have their say via public
consultation
The Culture Secretary has launched the once-in-a-decade review of
the BBC's Royal Charter with the aim of bolstering trust in the
broadcaster and putting it on a sustainable financial footing.
As part of the Charter renewal process, the Government is
considering options to ensure the BBC is sustainably funded for
decades to come, commands the public's trust - being independent
and accountable to the public it serves, represents all
communities across the UK and drives growth, opportunity and good
jobs.
The BBC is the cornerstone of the UK's creative industries,
generating £5 billion for the UK economy each year. It is the
single biggest investor in UK content, employs more than 20,000
people and supports a highly trained workforce. The corporation
also showcases British culture to the world, reaching 453 million
people globally each week.
In the decade since the last Charter Review, technological change
has led to shifts in how and where people consume content, with
audiences moving away from traditional broadcasting to online
content.
The Charter Review is an opportunity to futureproof the BBC to
make sure it not only survives, but thrives for decades to come.
It will seek to ensure that audiences continue to have access to
high quality British drama, entertainment and educational
content, as well as the corporation's world-class journalism.
Culture Secretary said:
“We want the BBC to continue to enrich people's lives, tell
Britain's story and showcase our values and culture at home and
overseas, long into the future.
“My aims for the Charter Review are clear. The BBC must remain
fiercely independent, accountable and be able to command public
trust. It must reflect the whole of the UK, remain an engine for
economic growth and be funded in a way that is sustainable and
fair for audiences.
“As a government, we will ensure that this Charter Review is the
catalyst that helps the BBC adapt to a rapidly changing media
landscape and secures its role at the heart of national life.”
Today (16 December) the Government has published a Green Paper
which consults on a wide range of options being considered for
the future of the BBC.
As set out in its Terms of Reference, the Charter Review will
focus on the following three, interrelated objectives:
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A BBC that commands the public's trust, is independent and
accountable to the public it serves, and represents all
communities across the UK.
Options in the Green Paper that the Government is considering
and seeking views on in this area include:
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Updating the BBC's Mission and Public Purposes to give
accuracy equal importance alongside impartiality and
improving transparency of editorial decision-making to ensure
the BBC explains journalistic processes and how its coverage
evolves, especially during high profile events;
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Giving the BBC new responsibilities to counter
mis/disinformation, potentially alongside additional
requirements on media literacy to help the public navigate
technological change and develop digital skills, including
around AI;
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Introducing specific duties around workplace conduct to
ensure BBC staff are protected and the organisation sets the
standard for the rest of the sector to follow - including new
responsibilities for the BBC Board to ensure action is taken
against workplace misconduct.
Options that the Government is considering and seeking views on
in this area include:
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Reform of the licence fee, whether licence fee concessions
should be updated, and options for the BBC to generate more
commercial revenue;
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Options for funding the World Service and supporting
sustainable funding for minority language broadcasting,
including S4C.
Options that the Government is considering and seeking views on
in this area include:
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Ways in which the BBC can further support the production
sector across the nations and regions, including by ensuring
that budgets and decision-making power for commissioners are
spread across the UK, and by supporting minority language
broadcasting;
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Empowering the BBC to be an ethical and economic leader in
adapting to new digital technologies, and enabling it to
invest in Research and Development to support growth and
drive public service benefits;
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Encouraging the BBC to deliver more through collaborations
and partnerships for growth and public value outcomes,
including with organisations across the creative economy, and
with local news outlets.
People across the UK are being encouraged to give their views on
the Government's Green Paper public consultation and answer a set
of questions. Responses will be used to help inform policy
changes which will be set out in a White Paper expected to be
published in 2026.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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The Royal Charter is the constitutional basis for the BBC as
a public service media provider and the government is
responsible for renewing it. The current Charter expires in
December 2027. The Charter Review will be a thorough, open
and inclusive process, starting today with a public
consultation that will close on 10 March. A draft of the new
Charter will then be published and debated in Parliament
before the current Charter expires. The Charter Review will
complete with the granting of a new Charter for the BBC from
2028.
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The Government has today published amendments to the BBC's
Framework Agreement which were agreed with the BBC and Ofcom,
and which implement the outstanding recommendations from the
2024 Mid-Term Review of the Charter. The changes streamline
Ofcom's competition assessments; extend Ofcom's regulation to
the BBC's online written public service content; and extend
the BBC Board's oversight of the BBC First complaints
process.