News Release
24 June 2008
BBC PLANS WOULD STIFLE LOCAL MEDIA ONLINE
DEVELOPMENT
The BBC has published proposals to
expand its local news services online with local video content
focused mainly on local news, sport, weather and user generated
content across 60 geographic regions of the UK.
In its initial response to the plans, David Newell, director
of the NS, said:
“The BBC should not spend public money duplicating local
news services already provided by existing local media companies.
This was acknowledged by the BBC when it withdrew its plans for
ultra-local television last year. Yet today’s proposals to
strengthen the BBC’s local online news services are simply ultra
local TV in a different guise.
The BBC’s 60 local websites already compete head-to-head
with regional newspaper websites and its expansion plans, combined
with its cross-promotional power, threaten to steal away audiences
and undermine the ability of publishers to pursue their own digital
development strategies, which are so important to the future of
local media in the UK.
The regional press has evolved into a successful
multimedia industry in recent years, employing many thousands of
journalists and news gatherers dedicated to providing local news
and information to readers and viewers across a multitude of
platforms – paid, free, print, online and broadcast.
As well as 1300 core regional and local newspapers, the
industry has over 1100 websites, many with video streaming and
online audiovisual services, plus a variety of online service and
mobile telephone services, 750 magazines, 36 local radio stations
and even two traditional television channels. The local market is
well-served and there is simply no gap which the BBC needs to
fill.
We know from the review of bbc.co.uk that the BBC’s local
news online services offer nothing distinctive and are among the
least valued parts of the service. Its links to external sites are
also considered poor. The BBC has been told by the Trust that it
must ensure ‘it does not stifle enterprise from others who seek to
offer excellent online services to the public.’
The risks to plurality of local news should not be
underestimated. The BBC is a highly-valued institution but it
should not be given free rein to trample over commercial rivals and
become the sole provider of local news in the UK.”
The NS, the voice of Britain’s local
media, represents 1300 newspapers, 1100 websites, 750 magazines, 36
radio stations and two TV stations.