ISBA Calls For BBC Ofcom Inclusion

ISBA has added its voice to those calling for the BBC to be regulated under the new communications super regulator Ofcom.

The call was made by Bob Wootton, director of media and advertising affairs, at an IPA conference on Wednesday afternoon where the needs of advertisers in the forthcoming Communications Bill were up for discussion.

The feeling of the industry appears to be that the BBC should use its position of being funded by licence fees to back less commercially viable programmes, rather than taking its recent populist approach, which has been encroaching on the share of commercial channels.

Under present proposals, the BBC’s affairs would only partly be overseen by Ofcom, while much power would remain with its board of governors. Earlier this week, newly instated chair of the BBC, Gavyn Davies, defended the broadcaster’s position and dismissed claims that the playing field of UK television was not level (see New BBC Chair Dismisses Unfairness Claims).

ISBA: 020 7499 7502 www.isba.org.uk

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