In Parliament I organised and hosted a roundtable with the Media Reform Coalition so MPs could understand the opportunities for progressive reform of the BBC, in the context of the upcoming Charter Review.
MPs were briefed by experts from across the media sector. We discussed the role of the BBC in supporting employment in the creative industries and the benefits of universal, independent and publicly funded media.
The BBC faces a funding cliff-edge and reform is needed to fix the license fee model. Tom Chivers (Media Reform Coalition), warned that an advertising and subscription-based model would change the progressive character of the BBC without fixing its funding issues.
Following the publication of the BBC Charter Review, it is expected that the Government will publish a White Paper to reform the BBC. The Media Reform Coalition are expected to put forward an alternative Green Paper, presenting a progressive vision of BBC reform.
We heard from Lee Edwards (Media Reform Coalition), Paul Fleming (Equity – Performing Arts and Entertainment Union), Pip Eldridge (Voice of the Listener and Viewer), Diane Kemp (Sir Lenny Henry Centre), Yasamin Alttahir (Involve UK) and Tom Chivers (Media Reform Coalition).
