Jowell asks public for views on Party Political Broadcasts
098/04
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today launched a public consultation on proposed changes to modernise the Party Political Broadcasting system.
The consultation aims to ensure the current system is right for the multi-channel age. It is part of a wider cross-Government drive to engage voters more fully with the political process.
It has been launched in response to the Electoral Commission's report Voting for Change, published in June 2003, and their earlier report on Party Political Broadcasting (PPB).
The Commission made a number of recommendations about PPBs. The consultation seeks views on these, as well as alternative ways of better engaging the viewing and listening public.
Issues raised in the core consultation document published today include:
· How can we best deliver closer engagement between the political parties and voters – is the solution to require all the most popular TV or radio channels to include party political broadcasts in their schedules? They are currently only carried by the main public service TV channels – BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel Four, Channel Five and S4C, and national analogue radio services - the BBC, Classic FM, Virgin Radio and TalkSPORT.
· Alternative approaches to allocation and scheduling of PPBs – in particular, should more political parties have PPBs? Should PPBs be shorter and more frequent?
· How to bring improved transparency and predictability to the party political broadcasting system – should there be a statutory committee that oversees the process and decides on issues such as how PPBs are allocated among channels? Should the current voluntary Broadcasters' Liaison Group continue, but with a tightened-up remit?
· Are there more effective ways in which to reach those audiences most disengaged from the political process, for example through PPBs on specialist channels, or by using the Internet or mobile technologies to communicate with them?
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Tessa Jowell said:
"We nearly all have access to TV and radio. This means broadcasters are an essential conduit for political parties to speak directly to voters about their policies.
"However, the world of broadcasting has changed beyond recognition in recent years – with an explosion in choice and channels. At the same time successive elections have suffered from a declining turn out.
"This consultation will enable us to ensure that we are using the resources of the modern media to reach voters in the most effective way so that, in tandem with other steps being taken across Government, we can engage as many people as possible in the democratic system."
The consultation document also restates the Government's commitment to a ban on paid political advertising.
This consultation forms part of a package of measures the Government intends to bring forward in response to both the Electoral Commission's recommendations for electoral reform in its report Voting for Change and the drive to engage voters more fully with the political process. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the Government will bring forward legislation to implement its proposals as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
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Notes to editors
1. The document Party Political Broadcasting – Public Consultation is available on the DCMS website.
2. The consultation runs for 12 weeks. The deadline for comments is 14 October 2004. Replies should be e-mailed to ppbconsultation@culture.gsi.gov.uk
3. Alternatively, they can be sent to: Party Political Broadcasting Consultation, Broadcasting Policy Division, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.
4. Responses will be published on the DCMS site at the time of their release unless they are marked "Confidential".
5. The Electoral Commission's report Voting for Change can be accessed at www.electoralcommission.org.uk
6. The current arrangements for PPBs were introduced by the BBC in 1924 and apply only to broadcasters who use terrestrial radio spectrum (although the obligation extends to those same channels on other platforms), the public service broadcasters: BBC, Channel 3, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and national analogue radio services: the BBC, Classic FM, Virgin Radio and TalkSPORT.
7. At present, individual broadcasters have responsibility for the allocation of PPBs, although, in practice, a significant role is played by the Broadcasters' Liaison Group (BLG). Political parties are invited to make representations to the BLG about matters of concern and practical arrangements. The broadcasting regulators determine disputes between the parties and the broadcasters.
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