Mind the funding gap. The potential of industry levies for continued funding of public service broadcasting

Article

The continued popularity and desire for PSB among British citizens means that addressing the funding gap and ongoing financial pressures is a matter of great urgency and importance. This report provides analysis of the current challenges facing PSBs and the Various different methods and models that have been suggested to bridge the funding gap.

An ippr report for BECTU and the NUJ

Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) - television content funded either directly or indirectly by the state and designed to meet specific societal and cultural objectives - is a culturally and economically valuable part of the UK's media landscape. It is popular and valued by citizens, and public service brands - such as the BBC and Channel 4 - are internationally respected.

The digital revolution has presented PSBs with huge challenges. Following digital switchover in 2012, the decline in value of spectrum gifted to PSB providers will cause a funding gap of between £145 and £235 million to emerge.

The continued popularity and desire for PSB among British citizens means that addressing the funding gap and ongoing financial pressures is a matter of great urgency and importance. This report provides analysis of the current challenges facing PSBs and the various different methods and models that have been suggested to bridge the funding gap.

Related items

  1. Man Writing Code on Desktop Computer With Multiple Monitors Set Up and a Laptop in Creative Office

    Bottleneck Britain: How digital competition could power UK growth and sovereignty

    Artificial intelligence could be the UK’s biggest economic opportunity in a generation, but only if its gains are spread across the economy rather than pooled within a handful of companies.
  2. A photograph of the UK houses of parliament in Westminster, with a background of pound coins

    Taxing times: Policies, politics, and principles

    This paper sets out proposals for the path to a better tax system, which is able to meet the demands of both the public and a more dangerous world.

  3. Towards a Communities Agenda 2.0

    Andy Burnham’s arrival in Downing Street creates an opportunity to go much further on the communities agenda than we’ve seen up to now. So what should more ambition look like in practice?