BBC Trust

This outreach event took place at BBC Broadcasting House, Cardiff, with 25 guests present. A particular focus of the event was the BBC's Delivering Quality First proposals, upon which the BBC Trust was consulting at the time.

General

There was a recognition that "expectations were high of the BBC in this multi-channel, HD world", but that the "BBC's responsibility is to provide a record of the UK's nations - rather than primarily delivering a large number of viewers". There was also a worry that people remained unaware of the excellent output from BBC Cymru Wales - and a deep worry that the DQF process would do little to address this challenge. It was also felt by several participants that BBC Cymru Wales has a civic responsibility to explain the increasing amount of legislation from the National Assembly for Wales unique to Wales e.g. the proposals for deemed consent of human organ donations.

Many participants were sceptical of the value of the introduction of HD broadcasting and there was a perception amongst some that many independent companies were suffering financially, because of S4C's insistence that material should now be in HD. There was also some scepticism about the value of BBC Three as a channel targeted at young people, with some participants making the point that the channel's target audience seemed largely to consume video and audio content on-line through the iPlayer or podcasts.

APP development was considered to be fruitful and publicising schedules through social media vehicles like Twitter - which some participants said was now their main source of information. A significant number of participants expressed their perception that the BBC was not as yet maximising the opportunities afforded by social media - in social and broadcasting terms and some even suggesting that the BBC was seriously lagging behind in its use of social media.

The views of many participants of the BBC was summed up by one who said "Overall I think we agree that the BBC is a powerful, influential, respected organisation. It is benign however. All our lives are enriched by it through programming like Frozen Planet."

News and Current Affairs

There was recognition amongst some participants that journalism had developed recently with technology now making it easier than ever before to broadcast from across the globe. Some participants considered that 'plurality' was an over-used and thus abused term in the context of Welsh news and that the real challenge was that Network News coverage of the south-east of England still swamped that from the remainder of the UK.

Another participant said "I think there is a huge democratic deficit in Wales at the moment. With the decline in newspaper circulation, the BBC is the last place to go for unbiased news re: politics for example. We need to protect this." Other participants agreed that sign-posting on BBC Network News had improved, but that some programmes remained guilty of perpetrating and 'us and them' attitude. Participants consideredBreakfast News one of the worst offenders with presenters invariably referring to England as 'here' and the other nations of the UK as 'there'.

There was a feeling that the BBC was letting itself down as a PSB in allowing audiences in Wales to remain unaware of Wales legal matters by failing to provide relevant information.

Other participants still considered that there was duplication of resources by the BBC's newsgathering operations. One participant said "When there was a mining disaster here, it was yet again duplicated at both Network and local level. Why did the boys in London not leave it to the local lads who knew everything and can at least pronounce the local place names?"

Another idea expressed at the event was that "I'd like a Welsh opt out forNewsnight. There should be enough to talk about in a Welsh context. I mean how hard is it to get a few talking heads into a studio. Surely it is a requirement of our new devolved status?"

There was also significant support for Current Affairs programming, with one participant saying "I think the University of Wales debacle has highlighted the need to continue supporting systematic investigative journalism - heaven knows what we don't know."

Another participant said "Whatever they cut it had better not be current affairs. Life in general has been dumbed done enough without the BBC joining in".

Television

While many participants shared the views of one who said "I think the BBC's documentaries are still fantastic - Frozen Planet was just fantastic, it is the BBC at its best" concern was expressed regarding the on-going reductions in funding for English language programming from Wales for Wales - particularly in the context of the BBC funding S4C in future. One participant expressed the view of many at the event when he said "I think there is paucity in some areas of English language programming in Wales now." There was a perception amongst participants that in particular the future of comedy and drama from Wales was in further jeopardy.

It was said that drama was likely to be as effective as News and Current Affairs in communicating national policy and legal developments because of higher listening and viewing figures, but a perception amongst participants that there was already a paucity in these genres with one saying "I am not happy about the level of drama provision, especially drama depicting regular Welsh life on T.V. or radio and I feel that should be improved". Two examples were given of why this was important, a) the first being that a colleague of one participant had recently travelled to Bristol and couldn't understand why single use carrier bags were free (charging for bags being a Wales only law) and b) the proposals currently being discussed for deemed consent on organ donations and the moral and legal implications if, say, a woman from Flintshire who read no Wales based newspapers and was not very interested in News and Current Affairs lost a son in an accident and had no inkling of Wales legislation in this area.

One participant said 'With drama I know it is quite expensive and there is a high bar but when you get it right like Downton Abbey look at the level of recognition and appeal that has achieved. We could start a drama cheaply on Radio Wales for example and maybe comedy too and try and transfer that to television- surely it is a cost effective way of taking risks?' There was a perception articulated by some participants that a future threat could be the competing demands of Network Out of London productions and local drama and comedy reflecting Welsh life and that it was vitally important that BBC Cymru Wales ensured this balance was maintained.

Participants felt that there was an obvious need to ensure that standards of S4C's output remained high and that the BBC had a responsibility in this regard since it supplied a large percentage of the channel's programming. Participants said that there had been a fear recently that S4C was broadcasting programming that no-one wanted to watch but this had improved recently. There was now a need to provide similar material in specific slots - so that people knew when to watch. S4C's children's programmes were considered to be of a high quality and children wanted to watch them.

One participant, making reference to one specific DQF proposal, said "I am not impressed with the plans to turn BBC Two into a repeats channel during the day. With modern technology and the BBC's online services we can manage our own repeats."

When participants were asked about their use of opt-out programming there was strong support and many said they felt there should be more.

Portrayal

There was a recognition that programmes such as Doctor Who andCasualty as well as the other productions made at the Roath Lock production facility contributed significantly to the area's employment. It was considered important by participants that programmes like Doctor Who and Torchwood were made in Wales since they showcased the experience, the quality of the ideas and production values of work created in Wales. However one participant said "I don't regard Doctor Who as Welsh programming" but another participant said "I disagree I think it shows Wales in a metropolitan multi-cultural perspective and that's good!"

One participant expressed the view of others when he said "What about the Scotland pushing for fiscal independence? If Scotland becomes independent what happens to the BBC?"

Radio

Public Service Broadcasting was considered by participants as THE platform for wide reaching debates on moral issues and the provision of a public space for related debates. To this end many felt that programmes such as Radio Wales' All Things Considered were exceptionally valuable. Another participant said "I loved the recent Jason Mohammed Show with [station editor] Steve Austin on Radio Wales. Their phone in session is so entertaining! I feel that Radio Wales hasn't been marketed enough". Another participant also said "People are listening more to the Radio now, we are always on the move. Since radio is so cheaply produced in Wales could we not take advantage of that and opportunities for developing new talent on the radio?"

On the DQF proposals one participant said "I am unimpressed with the current discussion re: cuts and what's entertaining and what's not. People seem to be suggesting Radio 3 should be cut but I think BBC Radio 3 is far more edgy and entertaining than most other BBC Radio stations."

Two guests were from the Sikh community. They were appalled at the size of the cuts suggested for the BBC Asian Network radio station. "34% it is highest percentage of cuts to a single channel. The network has to already cope with very wide audience - teenagers to old age. It has to offer programmes to interest people across that vast spectrum. The Asian Network has a cultural purpose.

Online and on-demand

Some participants considered it difficult to find Wales programmes on the iPlayer and thought it disappointing that Radio Wales and Radio Cymru had not appeared on the service initially, but were glad they were there now. One guest said "I personally now view most of my BBC content online, I think that's where they should invest."

Sports

There was a strong feeling that the proposed cuts in DQF to the sports provision should be challenged. Some sports coverage was very important to a wide range of people with sports like snooker, darts and wrestling attracting older women as well as the more obvious demographic of younger men. If these were axed as part of the DQF process, this would be a significant loss to many viewers.

Participants asked why minority sports were not given better coverage - with hockey and speedway specifically mentioned. Nicole Cook was mentioned as a world class cyclist but wasn't given adequate exposure on BBC Cymru Wales programming - and participants considered this was generally true of sportswomen.

It was felt by many participants that the BBC's failure to secure the TV rights to broadcast the Rugby World Cup tournament was disappointing and expressed the view that the coverage or lack thereof of the tournament (the Wales games in particular) had been appalling with the footage from New Zealand considered amateurish. The direction of the game had been uncertain, with many considering the ITV commentary very poor. "For the BBC not to cover an event of such magnitude is disappointing; its importance to the Welsh people is significant to say the least. How can the BBC purport to cover events that bring communities and nation(s) together if they don't cover something so fundamental?" Other participants expressed disappointment that there could not have been an agreement "about getting the highlights at least? As a rugby fan I am very unhappy that it's being reported that the rugby rights in the future seem to already have been sewn up by ITV."

Looking ahead to the London 2012 Olympic Games, one participant said "I am concerned about the level of money BBC will spend on the Olympics. I mean, is it necessary? Can they even afford it? Maybe they should cherry-pick a bit more?"

One participant expressed his satisfaction with the football coverage. "I am pleased with how the BBC localise games so that Radio Cymru and Radio Wales cover the local games- it pleases everyone that way."

When participants were asked about where they would introduce cuts, one guest mentioned that some broadcasting rights for sporting events might now simply be out of reach for the BBC and that it should be left to SKY to take up the slack.