The BBC and public service broadcasting

A tangential reply to an article about Channel 4 on the Guardian's Organ Grinder blog. Got some praise there, so I'm reproducing it here.

"The BBC would have us believe that everything they do is PSB, not because the individual programmes serve the public themselves, but because the existence of those programmes supposedly compels the commercial broadcasters to increase the standard of their programming. In other words, the BBC sees PSB as increasing the quality of TV overall, rather than producing specific kinds of programmes to meet public service needs.

There is some validity to that argument, but I think it's taking the notion of PSB far beyond what most people would feel it should be. PSB should really be about producing specific programmes that inform and/or educate. We're talking news, documentaries, some children's TV, parliamentary broadcasting and so on. The licence fee should be ring-fenced for this kind of programming and *all* broadcasters should be allowed to bid for a share. Other programming, such as pure entertainment like Doctor Who, 'Maria' etc should be commercially funded, be that via advertising or subscription.

This model would create a competitive and level playing field for all broadcasters (inc Channel 4) and ensure the continued survival (and perhaps even growth) of PSB in an increasingly commercial, increasingly entertainment and ratings-driven broadcasting landscape."