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Digital Britain sparks local news debate

The UK’s “failing” local news provision has been highlighted in the aftermath of the announcements from the government’s Digital Britain report.

The government is planning on sharing the BBC’s funding across other channels to ensure the survival of national and regional TV, according to the report.

Regional news is to benefit from the review and help from government funding after declining for years.

In a speech to the Commons introducing the report, Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Ben Bradshaw said: “Members of this house have repeatedly said they believe strong local and regional news including a plurality of provision is essential for the health and vibrancy of our democracy.

“The regulator Ofcom’s recent public service review also highlights the importance of news in the regions and nations. We welcome their report and the BBC’s response supporting partnerships.

“Partnerships are very welcome but may well be insufficient to meet the scale of the challenge and we believe this will require a secure and sustainable funding stream.”

Change not money

But questions were raised by MP Jeremy Hunt, who said the “failing” industry was in need of change, not money.

Mr Hunt said: “Does the Secretary of State accept the traditional model of regional news based on the old ITV transmitter regions has failed, and what people really want is not regional news but local news. Why does Birmingham, Alabama, have eight local TV stations when Birmingham in the UK, four times the size, has none?

“Why then is he using the public’s money to prop up a failed system when people in his own Exeter constituency have to watch the news from Plymouth or people in my constituency of Surrey have to watch news from Southampton?

“In America much smaller cities have not just one but a whole clutch of local news channels, greatly enhancing a sense of community and vibrant local democracy - none have access to a licence fee.

“So instead of putting yet more burden on taxpayers, why is the government not embracing a digital era version of syndicated local TV, something which could also be a lifeline to our local newspaper industry?”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .