Provision of news (IFNCs)
(Download Provision of news (IFNCs) as a PDF)
What are IFNCs?
IFNCs are consortia in which parties collaborate to provide regional and local news services. In doing so, IFNCs bring together different types of media services within consortia with the aim of better serving local communities and covering news issues relevant to them. It is about securing sustainable plural independent and high quality news for the nations, and locally and regionally through multi-platform provision.
Why are they needed?
News at the nations, local and regional level is under threat despite the popularity of regional Channel 3 news (which attracts an average 20 per cent of the available audience during the week). There are substantial pressures affecting the commercial public service broadcasters, including fragmenting audiences, shifts in advertising revenue and multichannel television. Regional and local news is important for local democracy and informing citizens about news in their communities. This is an opportunity to secure this kind of regional and local news which audiences want through an innovative multimedia model that has potentially lower production and distribution costs.
What are the benefits of an IFNC?
They will provide plurality of news, in addition to that from the BBC. They will be able to deliver a broader local and regional news offering through multi-platform delivery. A contestable selection process will extend the base of content providers and increase the scope of innovation, quality and journalistic diversity.
From where will the funding come?
The costs of the pilots will be determined through procurement processes and will depend on the extent of ambition, level of local cross-media capability and amount of commercial revenue that consortia can attract. Funding will be settled following the initial pilot stage.
What form will the consortia take?
We are not being prescriptive but essential criteria will need to be met including capability and capacity, financial integrity and ability to meet accuracy and impartiality standards.
What is the process for choosing consortia?
This will be a proper competitive process that allows genuine consortia to emerge and bid. We will want to test capability, capacity and news outputs. What is the timetable for choosing consortia? We intend to introduce the pilot IFNCs in 2010 (which the Government is delivering) and the national roll out based on lessons learned from the pilot process will follow and is expected to be in 2013.
What will the Bill clauses do?
The clause creates a new function for OFCOM to appoint providers of regional or local news (or both) and set conditions in return for funding and must consult the Secretary of State before so doing.
