One of the ways Governors keep track of the BBC's activities to ensure that it is meeting its obligations, is to undertake periodic independent reviews. We have carried out seven such reviews: on TV current affairs, on religious programming, on value for money, on coverage of the European Union, on coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on the Licence Fee bid and on Business News.
These reviews are led by the Board of Governors and carried out independently of BBC Management. They each have their own terms of references, and criteria by which they judge and are judged.
In the new Charter period, all BBC television, radio and online services will have a service licence and, alongside this, a programme of comprehensive reviews will be established, in order to allow the Governors to judge how each is performing against the terms of its licence. We expect all services to be reviewed within a five year period.
Each review will draw on in-depth audience research and consultation, and take account of public value and market impact.
Additional reviews will be held of specific issues raised by audiences, based on a programme of consultation and listening run by Governors to identify them. These reviews may be service-based or on other topics such as impartiality, or how well the BBC is serving particular sections of society.
All review findings will be published.
Each year's Annual Report will report on reviews carried out that year, key findings, and the impact of actions taken in response to previous reviews.
Top