Dear Sirs

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to forward my opinions regarding the BBC to you.

1. The BBC should increase the type of programme that includes such items as "Britain Goes Wild". Creating quality home grown, and fronted, programs that are informative and interactive should be a cornerstone of the BBC.

2. Too much reliance is made on American TV and radio to fill slots (especially late night on radio). A better spread of programs from around the world should be encouraged with upper limits set on how much material can be purchased from over seas. It would be better to see aspiring UK talent being given the opportunity to develop new entertainment models for late night/early morning TV and radio.

3. The scientific programming should be returned to a more factual structure. It takes a quality team to produce programs that are about subjects, that do not normally excite interest, whilst trying to appeal to a greater audience. But this must not continue to be at the expense of sensible presentation. Concentrating on extreme, but very remote, possibilities reduces the meaningfulness of the issues. Situations and reporting should be based on multiple sources of facts, not single data extrapolated to the extreme.

4. Separating the news programs, which should be appropriately researched factual items on current issues, from the speculation and discussion based activities would help reverse some of the problems related to the dumming down of the BBC news. When it is reporting news lets be clear, but when its speculation and discussion present it as so.

5. It would be a good idea to place thresholds and limits on some of the BBC activities to ensure that for instance:
    - only a certain amount of funds can ever be directed for imported programs
    - a minimum amount of screen time and funds must go into new programs and talent
    - scientific programs should be required to pass a board of appointed experts

Overall the BBC has struggled to differentiate itself from other broadcasters, but with your guidance the problems it is having can be reversed. It may take a few years but with the emphasis placed back on quality and professionalism it can be achieved.

Once again thank you for providing a process that allows my views to be expressed.

Best regards

David Kilpatrick