The BBC is being forced to make massive cuts across its budget. Its Delivering Quality First consultation outlines how they are intending to do this. Sports rights will be cut by 15%, although it is expected that most of this will be absorbed by the sharing of the Formula One rights with Sky.
While the Alliance appreciates that cuts must be made, several concerns arise from the consultation, particularly around the removal of local sports coverage on local radio stations. Sport is unique and, with more programming being consumed in recorded form, the importance of live sport for broadcasters is becoming greater, not less. Because the value of sport is in the live product, sport drives live traffic to TV, radio and websites like no other form of entertainment and the BBC should continue to invest in it. The Alliance believes:
- Sports rights are great value for money. Sport, like no other form of entertainment, can drive live traffic to TV, radio and website.
- As a public service broadcaster, the BBC should provide more coverage of women’s sport and minority sports. The Danish and Czech models are good European comparisons
- The red button has proved a successful outlet for sport on the BBC and should not be decommissioned until Internet Protocol Television can fill the void
- AM transmitters should not be decommissioned until the DAB network allows the option for local radio stations to provide simultaneous coverage of parallel sports events
- Proposals which would prevent local sports magazine shows on local radio stations in the evening should be reconsidered
- Local radio stations should not be forced to share match commentary
The consultation is now closed (21 December), but if you feel strongly about the proposed changes, you can still help influence the direction by contacting your MP. The Alliance is backing the RFL’s campaign which gives briefing notes and letter templates for you to get in touch with your Parliament.
The Alliance’s response to the BBC consultation can be found here.
The BBC consultation can be found here.
