Public to have role in 'root and branch' review of BBC

Extensive public consultation will form part of a "root and branch" review of the BBC, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has said.
Speaking at the Royal Television Society's conference in Cambridge, the Secretary of State said that one certain outcome of the Review would be a strong BBC, independent of government.
Tessa Jowell said: "I want this Charter Review to be characterised by vigorous and open debate about the kind of BBC the public want for the future. The BBC is paid for by the British people and it belongs to them."
Forthcoming reviews of the BBC's digital TV and radio services, an ongoing review of its online services and a wider review of the role of Public Service Broadcasting television by Ofcom would all feed into the process, she said.
The public and industry consultation will be followed by the publication of a Green Paper, expected around the turn of 2004-2005. Following consultation, a White Paper would then be published.
The process will be concluded well before the Charter expires at the end of 2006, so that the BBC and industry have time to adjust to any changes.
Abbey National Chairman and a former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury Lord Burns has been appointed independent adviser on the Review.
The rapid move to take up digital services is why government continues to be committed to switching off analogue television transmissions, said the Minister.
Studies indicate that the net benefits to the UK economy of switching off the analogue signal are between £1.5 billion and £2 billion.
"The advantages of digital are such that the question is not whether, but how and when we will achieve switchover," she said.
Tessa Jowell said that switching off the analogue signal would enable broadcasters to improve the coverage, quality and choice of their programming.
"We now know that switchover will not happen overnight, but will be a phased process, perhaps over four years: transmitters will have to be converted, and switchover will happen region by region.
"We remain committed to switching over. We remain committed to protecting the consumer and citizen interests."
(gmcg)