United Kingdom

[GB]  Competition Authority reports on BBC use of independent productions

IRIS 1997-1:1/31

Tony Prosser

University of Bristol Law School

The UK Director General of Fair Trading has issued a report on the BBC's performance in meeting its quota of programmes to be made by independent producers; he is obliged to issue such a report every year. The quota is that not less than 25% of broadcasting time must be allocated to the broadcasting of a range and diversity of independent productions. The report found that the BBC met the target for the year 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 with 28.1% of programmes made by independent producers. This represented an increase from 26.5% in the previous year. The Director General was also satisfied that the productions were of a satisfactory range and diversity.