Good try, Decks.
The Right Honourables wrote mostly about regulation mostly regarding competitive aspects with independents, public financing, adult content regulation and control.
The following may be the location for any follow up:
214. Programme production is the BBC's core activity representing the great bulk of expenditure. However, initiatives to increase efficiency in this area (without compromising quality) have not been the subject of clear reporting; giving rise to the suspicion that the issue has not topped the agenda of an organisation enjoying a guaranteed level of public money. It is a matter of more than anecdotal evidence that the BBC regularly sends large numbers of journalists and other staff to cover the same news or sporting event, with separate BBC outlets often replicating each other's work. While direct comparisons with the print media, or other broadcasters, would be invidious, we believe that the BBC should seek to make further efficiencies in this area.
215. We also note that the BBC has been criticised for programme acquisition,[182] including of Hollywood blockbusters, for far above their 'market' value, when in competition with other terrestrial broadcasters without, therefore, a demonstrable gain in terms of public value.
216. In 2003 the BBC Governors reported that "Over the next year programme production costs need to be benchmarked to determine if further efficiencies are achievable. We have also agreed with the Executive to look for ways to conduct a thorough review of effectiveness-based, value for money measures of BBC performance." They themselves emphasised this in going on to say: "It is timely now to conduct a thorough benchmarking exercise to ensure that the BBC's programme costs are justified in relation to the value and quality of its programmes, as compared with other broadcasters."[183]
Article 215 only discusses a criticism of having too much Hollywood content, it does not discuss a national film conservation or showing solution.
The following article discusses trimming of costs. It is here that it might be followed up that to further the goal of this article, the BBC should consider showing the finest of British film catalogues.
Furthermore, I would follow up with the MPs in charge of this committee.
Best,
Gibbie
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