大象传媒

In February, following a Public Value Test, the Trust rejected the Executive's plans to provide an on-demand local video news service, concluding that there was inadequate public value generated by the proposal, and that the likely public value did not outweigh potential negative market impact.

Unlike the local video proposal, the new plans build upon the 大象传媒's existing linear services, and improve the range and quality of regional television and radio output.

As part of its decision, and in response to licence fee payers' wishes for more local content, the Trust invited the 大象传媒 Executive to return with new proposals which would:

1. Improve the quality and depth of news provision in the nations and regions
2. Deliver more effectively the 大象传媒's citizenship and community purposes

The Trust has decided that while these plans offer an increase in public value, they do not require a Public Value Test.

Diane Coyle, 大象传媒 Trustee and Chair of the Trust's Public Value and Fair Trading Committee, said:

"Licence fee payers have told us that they want the 大象传媒 to improve services for audiences in the nations, regions and communities of the UK. After very careful consideration, the Trust is satisfied that the revised plans meet this challenge with minimal impact on commercial providers. We will monitor output closely to ensure this is the case.

"Existing local television and radio services will be enhanced by initiatives such as substantial improvements to news coverage, and additional funding for local factual programming in the devolved nations. The Trust believes that this will allow the 大象传媒 to meet its public purposes and help close the gap between the importance that audiences attach to the 大象传媒's local role and their view of its current performance."

The revised plan contains the following measures:

1. An annual 'state of the nation/region' journalism initiative in each nation and region
2. A fund for programming in the English regions
3. More landmark factual programming in the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
4. Geographically targeted sports coverage
5. Improvements to nations and regions linear TV and radio news including coverage of local government
6. A more geographically representative newsgathering operation
7. Distinctive factual programming in the devolved nations
8. Regional radio opt outs on national radio services in Wales and Scotland

The cost of delivering these measures will be fully covered by efficiency savings within the 大象传媒's current portfolio of nations and regions services. There will be annual investment of up to 拢8.5 million in 2009/10, peaking at 拢15.3 million in 2012/13.

Examples of the changes will include two additional weekend news bulletins in each nation and English region, and improved local news provision at breakfast and late evening. The introduction of regional radio news opt outs for Wales, and the enhancement of six opt outs for Scotland, will help address the purpose gap deficit in the devolved nations.

Investment in linear services may also generate a consequential small increase in the amount of video material that is also available online, although 大象传媒 management expects this to be very limited and in line with the terms of the Service Licence for bbc.co.uk. The Trust intends to monitor this closely.

The Executive will therefore be invited to return within 12 months to feedback on the following:

1. Details of the volume of local news video stories that appear on 大象传媒 Local sites as a result of the new proposals
2. Reach and usage figures across linear and online services
3. An update on the effectiveness of linking arrangements with local news groups

Ends

Notes to editors

Research carried out for the Trust in 2007 showed a gap in the importance attached to the following priority statements and the 大象传媒's current performance:

• The 大象传媒 represents my area and my community to other people in the UK

All adults (Importance 60%, Performance 42%, Gap -18 points)

• The 大象传媒 helps me feel more involved in my local communities

All adults (Importance 53%, Performance 32%, Gap -21points)