Category: BBC; Wales
Date: 11.10.2005
Printable version
BBC Wales Controller Menna Richards says that Wales would be one of the principal beneficiaries of a rise in the TV licence fee, with the BBC proposing increased investment in Wales.
Commenting on the BBC's case for an increase based on RPI plus 2.3 per cent a year from 2007, Menna Richards said the additional money would support BBC Wales's promises to enhance its services across the board.
She said BBC Wales would be able to:
Strengthen its core services on BBC Wales television, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Wales online;
Increase the opportunities for BBC Wales to make programmes for the BBC's television and radio networks;
Create local television services in both languages in Wales;
Reinforce the BBC's commitment to Welsh language services;
Extend the BBC Wales community strategy, through its community studios, BBC buses and 'Here for You' - special seasons of broadcasting and events from local communities all over Wales;
Create more opportunities for user-generated content such as the BBC Wales Digital Storytelling project that enables viewers to make their own mini television programmes.
"These licence fee proposals would enable the BBC to deliver significant investment into Wales, providing many opportunities for BBC Wales to be an even more important part of audiences' lives, both in Wales and on the networks," said Menna Richards.
An increased licence fee would also enable the BBC to meet its proportion of the costs of making digital terrestrial television (Freeview) available throughout Wales by the end of 2009, and of launching a non-subscription digital satellite service (Freesat), making Wales one of the first regions in the UK to complete the switchover from analogue to digital.
Professor Merfyn Jones, BBC National Governor for Wales, added that the BBC's proposals have been subjected to detailed scrutiny:
"The Governors have changed the way we work, to ensure that BBC management is more accountable to those who pay the licence fee.
"The BBC listens more carefully now than it has ever done to what people say about its services, and audiences in Wales will have a stronger voice than ever under the new BBC Charter.
"I believe the case that the BBC has set out will open up a host of opportunities for BBC Wales - and will enable us to respond to our audiences across Wales in a way that is both cost-effective and relevant and responsive to their needs."
