British Broadcasting Corporation Race Equality Scheme
BBC objectives relating to Digital UK activity
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- Overview of other BBC public functions (ii)
- Other BBC public functions (under the BBC Agreement) – objectives
- 1 Introduction
BBC objectives relating to Digital UK activity1 To aim to provide appropriate, responsive and sensitive communications advice to different ethnic and cultural communities. 2 To ensure that the transition to digital-only broadcasting is a fully inclusive process. 3 To ensure that all digital switchover related information and modes of communication are appropriate, flexible and accessible for target audiences. 4 To consult with a range of ethnically and culturally diverse communities in the planning and rollout of digital switchover. 5 To gather and use information effectively in order to monitor and assess the impact of current and planned digital switchover policies and practices with regard to race equality. 6 To ensure effective internal monitoring and Race Equality Scheme outcomes evaluation. Supporting each of these objectives is a list of specific actions. Examples of some of these are:
Providing accessible information Regularly tracking levels of awareness and understanding of the switch to digital on the basis of disability and taking any action to address any significant differentials between disabled people and non-disabled people Undertaking research to further understand differentials in understanding and behaviour between different groups, including disabled people Working with voluntary and community sector organisations Evaluating experience of the switch to digital region by region to inform future communications Overview of other BBC public functions (ii)Under the terms of the Agreement, the BBC must meet a series of access commitments relating to the provision of all UK public services and ensure that important public, security and defence announcements are accessible to diverse communities, as well as public documents such as the Annual Report. Various key departments across the BBC contribute to meeting these commitments. As public functions of the BBC, these are now clearly documented within this Scheme in respect of their relevance to the General Duty. Systematic processes for assessing and monitoring current or future access as effective and appropriate for diverse communities have been in place for the last three years, and will continue during 2010-11. Other BBC public functions (under the BBC Agreement) – objectives1 To anticipate and wherever practicable meet the diverse needs of the diverse communities who access or seek to access UK public services. 2 To ensure that specific financial information is fully accessible, through meeting the various communication needs of different communities. 3 To ensure that people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds have equal access to specific public information announcements.
The BBC will, when planning or developing future access services, consider the potentially differing impact or needs requirements of people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The BBC will ensure that copies of the Annual Report and Accounts take account of the communication needs of all groups and of any specific access needs. 1 Introduction1.1 The BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is established as a corporation by Royal Charter. The first Royal Charter was granted on 20 December 1926 and the BBC has subsequently been continued by further Royal Charters, the most recent of which was granted on 19 September 2006. This continues the Corporation for a period of 10 years from 1 January 2007. The Royal Charter essentially defines the powers of the BBC and its constitutional arrangements, and states that the BBC is to be independent in all matters concerning the content of its output, the times and manner in which this is supplied and in the management of its affairs. In addition to the Royal Charter, the BBC has entered into a Framework Agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This Agreement deals with a number of important matters, including the following:
A statement of the services which the BBC is to provide as at the commencement date of the Charter The process which is to be followed for subsequent additions or changes to the BBC’s public services, including the use of the Public Value Test under which the public value of the BBC’s services is to be compared with any potential market impact which a new or varied service may have The obligations on the BBC in relation to the achievement of digital switchover including managing delivery of the Digital Switchover Help Scheme The regulatory obligations which apply to the BBC UK public services The arrangements relating to the provision of the World Service Fair trading and competitive impact provisions The BBC’s commercial services Complaints The BBC’s relationship with Ofcom A number of other miscellaneous and general matters The BBC is mainly funded by the television licence fee, the collection of which by the BBC is authorised by section 365 of the Communications Act 2003. After collection the BBC is obliged to pay the sums received to the Government. Under the terms of the BBC Agreement, sums equal to the amounts collected by the BBC are paid to the BBC, after deduction of the Government’s administration costs. The World Service is funded separately by the provision of grant-in-aid from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. There are also separate companies which operate at arm’s length from the BBC. These carry out a number of commercial activities (for example, the sale of magazines, books, DVDs and CDs). The profits arising from these activities are returned to the BBC and used in support of licence fee-funded services. Download 0.85 Mb. Share with your friends:
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