Ofcom's proposals published today on public service broadcasting seem largely sensible, but its research claiming that people are willing to pay to see public service TV on a network other than the BBC holds no water. I don't buy it. No one is going to pay anything.
Even in better economic times I would find it hard to believe that people would part with extra cash, on top of the licence fee and the cash they no doubt pay to either BSkyB or Virgin Media, for any TV service.
But Ofcom says quite clearly in its report today that: "Audiences value highly PSB alternatives to complement the BBC." Okay, I can buy that, I am sure they do.
Then Ofcom goes on to say that: "Three quarters of people are willing to pay on average up to £3.50 per month for PSB services on ITV, Channel 4 and five".
While I can believe the first sentence, the second sentence that three quarters of people are willing to pay up to £3.5 or £42 a year to receive PSB on a channel other than the BBC I don't believe in the slightest. Who are these people?
Besides what people tell researchers and what they do with their cash are two different things. Getting that £42 would prove very hard if not impossible.
If Ofcom bases any future policy on insisting there is a place for public service broadcasting outside of the BBC then that would be a mistake.
Gordon Macmillan
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