The Digital Britain report is in the process of being finalised and is due for publication on the 15th June. SKTV has met with members of the Digital Britain review group, and we have been active in lobbying to ensure that the children’s issue is taken seriously and addressed in the report.
However, we remain concerned that an apparent emphasis on technology and distribution will mean that children’s content is not high on the agenda. It is also likely that kids’ issues will rank behind news and regional news. We await the report with interest…
On the public service broadcasting front, it looks as if there will be a deal for Channel 4, perhaps along the lines of a C4/BBC joint venture.
Again, SKTV has been lobbying hard, reinforcing our view that whatever happens there should be an alternative kid’s service to the BBC. This service should be clearly mandated to cater for all age groups, have sufficient funding and broadcast hours. It should be properly regulated to ensure that it delivers on its mandate. Our view is, and has always been, that a service for 10 pluses provided by channel 4 on an ad hoc basis is not enough.
SKTV has been encouraged to develop and represent our unique proposal for an alternative model of public service content for children. We have refined and enhanced our proposal and submitted it to the DCMS. We have already received support from a number of quarters, and we hope that the model will be taken into consideration as future models are developed.
This is probably the last opportunity we have to make our voices heard, and we encourage SKTV supporters to take any opportunity to raise the issue of children’s media content with politicians and opinion formers.
