Is BBC effective at being independent from the government? Here’s what viewers say
The BBC is “ineffective” at being independent from the government, according to 38 per cent of viewers.
The company surveyed 872,701 people in its Our BBC, Our Future survey from March. Nearly 91 per cent of those surveyed said it was important for the BBC to be “independent of the government of the day”.
A total of 43 percent of viewers surveyed said the media outlet was “effective” in doing so.
BBC director general Tim Davie said: “The results of the survey are clear; our audiences want an independent BBC that delivers high-quality programs and content they can trust, telling the stories that matter to them and reflect their lives.”
“We’re here to reach UK audiences and we’ll take everything they tell us with us as we shape the future of the BBC.”
Just over half (51 per cent) of those surveyed said the BBC was currently “effective” at covering “different parts of the UK and the lives of those who live there”. While 76 percent of those surveyed said it was important, 24 percent said it was “ineffective.”
64 percent said it currently provides a “valuable public service,” 26 percent said doing so is “ineffective,” while 59 percent said the company offers “something for everyone” and 24 percent said doing so is “ineffective.”
Some 57 per cent of viewers said the BBC was “a world-class asset for the UK”, while 21 per cent said it was “ineffective” in doing so, while 73 per cent of respondents said the BBC provided “high quality digital services”, while only 10 per cent said it was “ineffective” in delivering this.
More than half of BBC viewers currently want more sports news to be broadcast, while more than 40 per cent of respondents said they would like to see more drama and documentary series and 67 per cent said they would like news coverage to remain at the current level.
Nearly 83 per cent of people said it was “important that the BBC’s core mission to inform, educate and entertain continues”.
The BBC said the survey results “will play a central role in the BBC’s future planning” and asked respondents additional questions.
Mr Davie added: “We’ve had such an incredible response to this survey, it shows how much people care about the BBC. I’d like to thank everyone who took part and shared their views with us.”
“I believe the BBC has never been more needed, both in the UK and around the world.”
