Dundee LibDems call for a secure future for public service broadcasting

6.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Apr 2008

Dundee LibDems call for a secure future for public service broadcasting

Dundee LibDems today (Thursday 10th April) called for a secure future for public service broadcasting, following the publication of radical suggestions put forward by media regulator Ofcom.

Taxing viewers, top-slicing the BBC's licence fee and ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five axing their non-commercial programmes are among the Ofcom's suggestions, which it claims will ensure the future of public service broadcasting.

One proposal is that some of the licence fee be given to commercial broadcasters, to help them pay for public service programming, such as news and children's shows.

Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said, "All the evidence shows that support for public service broadcasting hasn't wavered. However, funding for programmes made in the UK, local and regional content and high quality children's programming, which viewers say they want, are clearly under threat.

"This report lays down a clear challenge that new approaches to providing and funding public service content must be found. We urgently need a wide-scale public debate about the way forward."

Here in Dundee, City Council LibDem Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, said, "I totally concur with Don Foster's comments. There's a clear need for a public debate on the future of public service broadcasting to ensure we enhance and protect services."

Related Link:

Ofcom unveils first stage of PSB review - The Guardian.