Future of broadcasting to be debated at VLV conference

At the Voice of the Listener & Viewer’s (VLV) 21st annual autumn conference on November 30 in London , broadcasters, politicians, academics, regulators and consumer representatives will debate the future of ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC in the multi-channel, digital future. Key speakers will include:
Luke Johnson (Chairman, Channel 4), Ed Richards (Senior Partner, Strategy & Market Developments, Ofcom), Caroline Thomson (Director, BBC Charter Review Team, Policy & Legal), Professor Patrick Barwise (London Business School and author of the DCMS review of the BBC’s Digital Television Services), Steve Hewlett (Media Writer and Consultant to OFCOM and the DCMS), and Ray Snoddy (Media Commentator and Journalist) will all take part in the event.
VLV Chair Jocelyn Hay said: "VLV’s 21st anniversary this month falls at possibly the most critical point in British broadcasting history. The new communications regulator, Ofcom, which is reviewing the future for public service broadcasting on the commercially funded terrestrial TV channels, predicts that declining audiences and revenue for ITV and Channel 4 will make it difficult for them to maintain their public service remits in the multi-channel, digital environment of the future. Meantime, the Government is aiming to switch the country to digital transmission by 2012 and also reviewing the future of the BBC, whose Royal Charter expires in 2006. In its 21st year, VLV continues to provide a unique forum for listeners and viewers, citizens and consumers to hear and question at first hand some of the key players and decision-makers involved."
(GB)