Ofcom has today published the Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Annual Report 2013.
The report looks at audience opinions, viewing figures, spend on programmes and output, of the UK's PSB channels. They are BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - as well as the BBC digital channels and S4C.
The information in the report is used to assess how the PSB channels are delivering against their public service purposes, as defined in the Communications Act 20031.
Audience attitudes
Audiences continue to value PSB programmes. News remains the most highly rated aspect of PSB. Ofcom's research shows that 85% of viewers place high importance on the provision of trustworthy news, compared to 81% last year. There has also been an increase in the proportion of viewers who think it important to show well-made, high-quality programmes, up from 78% last year to 82% in 2012.
More than three quarters (76%) of viewers of PSB channels are satisfied with them, the same as a year ago.
Viewing figures
Viewers continue to watch the PSB channels in large numbers. The proportion of people who watched BBC One and Channel 5 in an average week has remained broadly stable over the last five years (BBC One's weekly reach was 78% in 2007 and in 2012; Channel 5's reach was 40% in 2007 and 39% in 2012).
However, weekly reach of BBC Two, ITV and Channel 4 has declined over the past five years. BBC Two's reach decreased from 58% in 2007 to 52% in 2012; ITV from 70% in 2007 to 64% in 2012; and Channel 4 from 59% in 2007 to 51% in 2012.
While each PSB channel has seen its viewing share fall over a five year period, BBC One has shown a slight increase year on year, up by 0.6% to 21.3% in 2012.
The combined viewing share of the five main PSB channels was 52% in 2012, down from 64% in 2007. However, this decline is offset by an increase in viewing to their digital portfolio channels, with combined viewing almost doubling from 12% in 2007 to 21% in 2012.
The five main PSB channels and their portfolio of channels accounted for 73% of all television viewing in 2012, a decrease from 74% in 2011.
Network programming
Total spending on national, or network', programming across the five main PSB channels and the BBC digital channels decreased by 2% in real terms compared to last year to £2.9bn in 2012.
But spending on new commissioned programmes, i.e. first shown that year, on the five main PSB channels and the BBC digital channels increased marginally, by 0.3% year on year to £2.5bn.
Spend on new commissioned sports programmes increased by 14% year on year to £563m, largely due to the London Olympics and Paralympics.
Hours of new commissioned programmes across all PSB channels increased by 187 hours, from 32,167 in 2011 to 32,354 in 2012. The rise was driven by the BBC, which increased hours of new commissions by 320 hours in the year.
Nations and regions programming
Audiences continue to value regional news bulletins, with 78% of viewers (the same as last year) saying it is important.
Spend on new nations and regions programming commissioned by the BBC3 and Channel 3 (which includes ITV, STV, UTV and ITV Wales) combined declined in real terms by 4% in 2012 to £266m. Over a five-year period from 2007 the decrease is more pronounced, down 30%.
Between 2007 and 2012, hours of programmes produced for the nations and regions were down by 857 hours (or 7%) from 11,859 hours to 11,002.
The PSB Annual Report can be found here.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The public service purposes of the public service broadcasters are defined in the Communications Act 2003. These purposes can be summarised as: dealing with a wide range of subjects; catering for the widest possible range of audiences - across different times of day and through different types of programme; and maintaining high standards of programme-making.
Ofcom has a duty to assess the designated public service broadcasters, taken together, in terms of the delivery of their public service purposes as set out in the Communications Act 2003. The designated public service broadcasters are the BBC, ITV, ITV Breakfast, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C.
The figures for the BBC exclude spend/hours of Gaelic and Welsh language programming, but includes some BBC spend/hours on Irish language programmes. The figures do not account for total spend/hours on BBC ALBA or BBC spend/hours on S4C output.
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications, wireless communications and postal services.
Viewing figures quoted are average weekly 15+ consecutive minutes reach from BARB. BARB changed its measurement panel in January 2010 and any trend data comparisons should therefore be treated with caution.
The report provides information on PSB spend and hours of first-run originations'. This content is defined in the report as programmes commissioned by or for a licensed public service channel with a view to their first showing on television in the United Kingdom in the reference year'.
For further information about Ofcom please visit: www.ofcom.org.uk. Ofcom's news releases can be found at: http://media.ofcom.org.uk/.
CONTACT
Amber Vassiliou
Ofcom Communications
amber.vassiliou@ofcom.org.uk
(+44) (0)300 123 4000
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Ofcom has today published the Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Annual Report 2013.
