Regional UK media accuse BBC of damaging online development

Posted by Mica Swyers on June 20, 2007 at 3:20 PM

In an industry forum held on June 19, Tim Bowdler, Johnston Press chief executive, held BBC’s expansion into regional media’s Internet territory responsible for distorting local markets and for damaging the online developments of regional newspapers.

According to Bowdler, the BBC is distorting local markets with its “Where I live” websites, which compete directly with regional newspapers’ online ventures. He argued that because local newspapers must reach audiences to attract advertisers, the BBC, which benefits from a more stable license fee, is deterring the investment necessary for “diversity and plurality of voice which we would all like to see.”

“There is no clear evidence to suggest that there is an unfulfilled public need requiring the BBC to launch ultra-local TV services,” added Bowdler, who, although adamant about the threat of BBC’s local online presence, accepted the corporation’s regional television ventures as “a new challenge.”

Andy Griffee, BBC controller of English Regions, denied the accusations, calling BBC’s proposed local television ventures “local” as opposed to the “ultra-local” regional programming already in place. BBC’s local television pilots could appear as early as next fall if the corporation passes BBC Trust and Ofcom’s marketing impact assessment this summer.

Source: Press Gazette through IFRA Executive News Service