BBC: Far from former glories, BBC is fighting for its own survival as audiences move away

 

The British Broadcasting Corporation BBC is fighting for survival

When a formerly reputable mass media organization contracts the services of a 26 year old "business prodigy" to save a mass media patient that has been in Intensive Care for a very long time, the announcement speaks for itself.

There was a time when "I heard it on the BBC" was more than enough to inspire respect. Those were the days when accuracy was more important than speed, when the BBC used to report news, not make news, when real content was more important than agenda, when balance was more important than partisan views. The public broadcaster was financed with what we call in the United Kingdom the TV License. TV License is a tax for all intents and purposes, but the BBC counts on the income produced by its commercial branch. In the era of big mass media organisations, it has often been said that BBC has had unfair advantage. But despite any financial advantage, the fact remains that the BBC has been losing audiences in both television and radio networks.

Some years ago, the BBC World Service ceased to exist for all intents and purposes. Its flagship headquarters at Bush House were left behind and whatever was left of the BBCWorld Service after the closure of one language service after another was transferred to Broacasting House in Central London. The BBC World Service used to have its own budget. After the transfer to Broadcasting House, budgets were amalgamated. And we cannot forget other BBC services like the ones operated from Caversham, a monitoring service that kept track of whatever was said or printed across the world. 

From time to time, BBC staff numbers were reduced. More and more was not actually made by the BBC, but for the BBC by private companies. So staff numbers, including presenters, editors, producers, have been coming down. 

At one point, the idea came of moving operational resources from London to other locations within the United Kingdom and part of the operation is done from Miami, Florida ie satellite rebrodcasting. A series of scandals, both political and due to sexual issues, did not help. There has also been a generational change and this has made the BBC less and less relevant. Would the BBC survive without a national tax called TV License? How much can the BBC rely on its commercial branch? Many well known BBC stars moved out or were thrown out.

The BBC is now seemingly looking for miracles, but how far is too far? BBC, like much of Britain, lives in the past. Jo Redfern, a former BBC insider and digital media expert talks about a sence of urgency, about audience participation.

The reputation of the BBC was built on accuracy and quality. Gimmicks will not do. If this turns out to be yet another gimmick then the prospects are not very encouraging.