Press releases

Michael Grade has today resigned as Chairman of the BBC with immediate effect to become Executive Chairman of ITV. The Board of Governors and the BBC Trust have issued statements as follows s

The Board of Governors has today published the terms of reference and announced the Chairman and members of the independent panel it has appointed to review the impartiality of the BBC's coverage of business

The BBC Governors have today laid before Parliament two independent studies: The BBC's Management of Risk by the National Audit Office (NAO); and BBC Independent Television Commissioning by Deloitte and Touche LLP (Deloitte)

The BBC Trust - the body which will replace the BBC Governors as the BBC's sovereign body from 1 January 2007 - held its first meeting today.

The Government today announced the appointment of 8 members to join the new BBC Trust that will replace the Board of Governors from 1 January 2007.

BBC Governors have announced today their decision to restart the period for representations on the BBC's application for approval of new on-demand services, including BBC iPlayer, and published supplementary information about the proposition.

The Public Value Test for BBC management's proposals to launch new on demand services, including BBC iPlayer, is now fully underway with the two key components of the Test - the Market Impact Assessment (MIA) and Public Value Assessment (PVA) - launching today.

The BBC Governors have announced today that the first Public Value Test - to be carried out on an application from BBC Management to launch the BBC iPlayer - has begun.

The Board of Governors has today published the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) for 2005/2006 which records further progress in delivering an efficient BBC focussed on providing licence fee payers with quality content across all platforms.

We have taken note of the statement in the House of Commons today that the debate on the BBC's Charter & Agreement will be held on Monday 10 July and the comments made from both sides of the House about the timetable for publication of the BBC's Annual Report & Accounts.  Publication has long been confirmed with the Culture Media and Sports Select Committee for Tuesday 11 July with their annual hearing with the BBC that morning.

At our meeting yesterday (Wednesday 14 June) we considered detailed plans for the BBC’s proposed move to the North West of England based on two short-listed sites, one in Manchester and one in Salford.

A year after they held their first Annual General Meeting, BBC Governors are offering members of the public a further opportunity to question the Board about the programmes and services they receive in return for their licence fee. This year's AGM will be held in Norwich on Thursday 13th July 2006.

The Board of Governors has published today the Independent Panel Report into the impartiality of BBC coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In October 2004 the BBC Governors' Audit Committee commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to examine whether the BBC's human resources operation, BBC People, is achieving best value for licence fee payers.

The BBC Governance Unit has today published an independent report by Professor Patrick Barwise about the public's opinion of the BBC's licence fee bid.

In response to the Secretary of State’s announcement today of plans to ensure the new BBC Trust has a balance of change and continuity, BBC Chairman Michael Grade said: “The new BBC Trust will have to serve licence fee payers effectively from day one. I welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to balance the need for change with a measure of continuity"

On behalf of the BBC, Chairman Michael Grade today welcomed the White Paper and draft Charter and Agreement saying they marked a significant milestone in the process of BBC Charter review and signalled radical reform of the 80 year old institution.

BBC Governors are continuing their roadshow of public meetings around the country, with their next event taking place in Belfast on Wednesday 29th March 2006.

The BBC Governors have today outlined proposed changes to their complaints appeals process and are inviting licence fee payers to comment on them during a four week consultation. This is the first time the procedures for handling appeals have been clearly set out and published for the public.

BBC Governors are continuing their roadshow of public meetings around the country, with their next event taking place in Cardiff on Wednesday 22nd February 2006.