BBC's Charter Renewal - Director Generals Plans North Korean/Russian TV Service

[rkolsen 1679]

BBC's Director General, Lord Tony Hall, has laid out plans for their upcoming charter renewal. The director general plans on launching a shortwave radio service to North Korea and either a satellite TV or social media service for Russian speakers. In addition they plan on adding more regionalized service for BBC Arabic.

 

I find the North Korean service idea fascinating because I thought their TV's and radios were preset to government frequencies.

 

They are planning on launching/expanding these World Services to further cement Britain's soft power among the age of state sponsored media such as Al Jazeera, RT, CCTV which all have services targeting the UK audience. It makes sense to get the western worlds point of view out to countries where media is highly censored.

 

I can't help but wonder how they'll pull this off because their license fee has been frozen and chances are it's not going to be adjusted for inflation.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34168310

 

Here's a summary of his plans:

• A pool of reporters to provide impartial reporting on councils and public services that could be used by both the BBC and other local news outlets
  
• A hub for data journalism, in partnership with a leading university, that would make BBC expertise in data journalism available to local newsgroups
  
• a children's-only iPlayer - iPlay - featuring not just television programmes but blogs, podcasts, games and educational tools is another of the proposals
  
• Either a satellite TV service for Russian speakers or a bigger digital presence on platforms such as YouTube and its Russian equivalent, Rutube
  
• A daily news programme for North Korea, broadcast on short wave radio
  
• The BBC Arabic Service is to offer more regional content, with increased coverage of North Africa and the Middle East
  
• A news service for Ethiopia and Eritrea on medium wave and short wave
  

[TheRolyPoly 1847]

So they will have the money to start news services on North Korea/Russia, but not enough money to #SaveBBCThree ?

[rkolsen 1679]

So they will have the money to start news services on North Korea/Russia, but not enough money to #SaveBBCThree ?

 

I think the foreign office will contribute to these services.

[qunewsguy 376]

Forget just gutting BBC Three, I read today that BBC Four may also get the axe to save another 42 million pounds a year.