PERFORMANCEAGAINST PUBLIC
COMMITMENTS
2009/10PERFORMANCEAGAINST PUBLIC
COMMITMENTS
2009/10

Contents
S2 BBC Purposes
S4	Ofcom and BBC Trust’s responsibilities:a brief guide to the BBC’s responsibilities
to Ofcom and the BBC Trust
S5	Ofcom Tier 2 quotas
S6	Performance against Statement of
Programme Policy 2009/10
S20	Other public commitments(i)	Access services(ii) Window of Creative Competition (WOCC)

S1

1 – BBC Purposes
The BBC’s public service mission is to inform, educate andentertain audiences with programmes and services of highquality, originality and value. And the BBC’s six public purposes– built on these principles to inform, educate and entertain –underpin all that we do:
CitizenshipInform: we have a worldwide reputation forreportage and analysis of the world we live in.
Our UK-wide, international, national and local
channels and services cover a wide range of stories,
issues and information tailored for a diverse range
of users.

BBC News channel had an average weekly reach last year of over 7.9 million –and is the most watched 24 hour news channel in the UK. Picture showspresenters Matthew Amroliwala and Jane Hill.

Learning

Educate: we promote and support formal andinformal education for all age groups – frompre-school children to silver-surfer adults, across
television, radio and the web.

Alphablocks is an animated series which entertains our younger viewers,
and at the same time helps them to develop engagement and confidencewith reading and making words.

Creativity

Entertain: we offer unique and innovative content
that entertains and engages audiences, including
live music and the biggest range of radio, televisionand bespoke online drama from any broadcasterin the world.

We brought the immediacy and intimacy of theatre director Gregory Doran’s
production of Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company to BBC Two ina widely acclaimed film. We are currently co-producing a contemporary
realisation of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, from first-time director Ralph Fiennes.
S2

1 – BBC PurPoSeS ConTinued

Community

We reflect the UK’s diversity at national, regional
and local levels with services in English, Scottish
Gaelic and Welsh, and programmes in over
30 other languages. The BBC’s distinctive offer
across our portfolio means we have somethingfor everyone.
Our sporting commentary – especially football – brings together communities
united in passion. The Football League Show, shown here, averaged 1.1 million
viewers per week in its first year. Off-air, we present concerts and host events
across the UK – for more information on our outreach activities visit www.bbc.
co.uk/outreach or to apply for tickets to recordings www.bbc.co.uk/tickets.

Global

Our global news services provide independentand internationally respected news and analysis,covering the key stories of the day like the Haiti
earthquake and the future of Afghanistan. BBCWorldwide offers the best UK content to new
audiences across the globe.

Lyse Doucet interviews Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Hamid
Karzai for BBC World Service, and reported on our other outlets.

DigitalThe BBC is the most used online content provider
in the UK, and 12.1 million now listen to our radio
services via digital platforms. We are offering help
to the millions of viewers aged 75 or over, disabledor living in care homes to switch to digital TV
between now and 2012.

EastEnders marked its 25th year with a live edition, and new online spin-off E20,
shown here. Audiences are increasingly watching content via new devices andtechnologies, bringing fresh challenges and opportunities as we seek to makeour content available in the most appropriate way.
S3

2 – Ofcom and BBC Trust’s
responsibilities
Under the terms of the BBC’s Royal Charter, the Agreement, andthe Communications Act 2003 (‘the Act’), some areas of the BBC’s
activity are regulated by Ofcom, some by the BBC Trust, and someby both together.
A Memorandum of Understanding was agreed in March 2007 to clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of the Trustand Ofcom, and the key points are summarised below:
Programme standards

The BBC Executive is accountable to the BBC Trust for accuracy and impartiality ofcontent; Ofcom sets certain programme standards. Both have duties to consider
complaints.

Quotas and codes
News and current affairs

The BBC Trust sets quotas for news and current affairs on BBC One and BBC Two,
consulting Ofcom (for agreement in some cases) before imposing these requirements.

Original productions

The BBC Executive and Ofcom must agree an appropriate proportion of programming
to be original productions.

Nations and Regions programming

The BBC Trust sets quotas for programmes from the Nations and Regions, consulting
Ofcom (for agreement in some cases) before imposing these requirements.

Programmes made outside London

The BBC Executive and Ofcom must agree a suitable proportion of programming to bemade in the UK outside the M25 area.

Independent production

The BBC Trust requires the BBC to follow a code of practice for commissioning
independent productions, and reviews delivery against the Window of Creative
Competition (WOCC), within which in-house and independent producers can compete
for commissions. The BBC Trust and Ofcom monitor compliance with targets forindependent production.

AccessThe BBC Executive must observe Ofcom’s code for providing services for the deaf andthe visually impaired.

Public Value Tests (PVTs)

The BBC Trust must apply a public value test before allowing significant change to theBBC’s UK public services. Ofcom provides the market impact assessment element of
the test.

Competitive impact

The BBC Trust must consider the economic impact of the BBC on the broadcasting
sector. Adjudications on matters of competition law are the responsibility of Ofcomor the Office of Fair Trading.

Radio spectrum

The BBC Trust must ensure efficient use of the BBC’s allocated spectrum; Ofcom is
responsible for ensuring best use is made of the whole spectrum.

Some further areas of common responsibility (including public service broadcasting, media literacy and the promotion of equal
opportunities and training) are set out in the Act and Agreement

S4

3 – Ofcom Tier 2 quotas
2009
We exceeded all of the Ofcom Tier 2 Quotas last year. These are the BBC’s self assessment figures. Ofcom are due to formallyreport on our performance in its Communications Market Review 2010 due to be published later this year.
Quota

2009
Achievement

Hours of qualifying programmes across all channels

25%

40%

Hours of qualifying programmes on BBC One

25%

34%

Hours of qualifying programmes on BBC Two

25%

49%

30%

38%

25%

35%

Hours of news on BBC One

1380

1602

Hours of news on BBC One in peak

275

277

Hours of current affairs on BBC One and BBC Two

365

493

Hours of current affairs on BBC One and BBC Two in peak

105

113

BBC One70%

88%

BBC One in peak

90%

99%

BBC Two

70%

82%

BBC Two in peak

80%

95%

BBC Three

70%

85%

BBC Three in peak

70%

75%

70% approx

80%

50%

80%

80% approx

80%

CBBC channel

70%

84%

BBC News channel

90%

97%

BBC Parliament

90%

98%

Hours of regional programming

6,270

6,895

Hours of programmes made in the relevant area

95%

100%

Hours of BBC One news

3,920

4,855

Hours of BBC One news in peak

2,010

2,259

Hours of non-news programming in peak

655

763

All non-news programmes adjacent to peak

280

337

Independent production quota1

Regional programme making2
Spend on qualifying programmes
Hours of qualifying programmesNews and current affairs programmes

3

Levels of Original Production

4

BBC Four
BBC Four in peak
CBeebies

Regional Programming5

The BBC is subject to a 25% independent production quota across all channels, and on BBC one and BBC Two individually.
The BBC has used ofcom’s definitions of regional production from 1 January 2006.
3
These quotas and performance figures are for network programming only. The news quota specifically excludes overnight transmissions of BBC news channel.
4original productions include all BBC commissioned programmes including repeats.
5
These figures represent regional programmes across BBC one and BBC Two.
1
2

S5

4 – Performance against
Statements of Programme
Policy 2009/10

Statements of Programme Policy (SoPPs) are annual promises
to licence fee payers from the BBC which showcase some of
the ways that each of our services meets its service licencecommitments and delivers high quality, creative and memorable
content to them as viewers, listeners and users. SoPPs are Tier 3
Ofcom commitment, approved by the BBC Trust.
The following pages summarise the BBC’s performance against SoPPs by service for 2009/10. Unless otherwise stated, allcommitments are minimum hours or percentage and include originations, repeats and acquisitions.
The priorities for CBeebies, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC Red Button are given on the following pages but they have nocommitments to report on for the period.
SoPPs for the year ahead (2010/11) can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2010

S6

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10 continued

BBC Network Television services
BBC network Television services also have a statutory
regulatory requirement to meet Tier 2 quotas, agreed annuallywith Ofcom, for independent production, regional programme
making, news and current affairs programmes, levels of original
production, and regional programming. For performanceagainst Tier 2 quotas see page S5.
BBC OnePriorities
News and current affairs. BBC One news programmesbrought the nation together and the 8pm bulletin increased
reach to news. High quality current affairs included Panorama
and a range of one-off specials, including The Day The
Immigrants Left.
Best documentary film-making. This included the RTS
award-winning Wounded, which followed the progress of two
soldiers seriously injured in Afghanistan and Rosa Monckton’s
critically acclaimed story, When a Mother’s Love is Not Enough.
Science for mainstream family audience. New science show
Bang Goes The Theory launched successfully with an online
presence and a UK roadshow. The highly popular Jimmy’s Food
Factory brought us the science behind supermarket food to a
family audience. Life showed the diversity of animal behaviours
and survival strategies across the world.
Cultural diversity. The One Show reflected the national
conversation, whilst Inside Out offered a regional perspective.
Our drama slate, which included EastEnders, The Street,Moving On, Torchwood and Small Island, reflected the cultural
diversity of the UK.
Commitment

Actual45

53

Hours of new factual programming

700

Hours of children’s programmes(shared commitment with BBC Two)
Hours of religious programmes(shared commitment with BBC Two)

Hours of arts and music
1

BBC Two
Priorities
Quality journalism and thought-provoking current affairs.
The Love Of Money investigated the causes and effects of thebanking crisis; Sophie Raworth and Justin Rowlatt revealed
The Trouble with Working Women and This World provided
a range of award-winning documentaries.
High quality factual programming. Landmark series in peakincluded Andrew Marr’s The Making of Modern Britain,
Dan Snow’s Empire of the Seas and Stephen Fry’s Last
Chance to See.
Arts and culture. The pan-BBC Poetry Season included
several critically acclaimed documentaries, including Simon
Schama on John Donne and Armando Iannucci on John
Milton. In The Modern Beauty Season, Waldemar Januszczak
made the case for modern art in Ugly Beauty and Matthew
Collings argued Why Beauty Matters.
Documentaries. Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care
Homes? brought a new angle to a current concern. Simon
Reeves’ Tropic of Cancer explored life in the tropics and Inside
John Lewis went behind the scenes at the department store.
Commitment

actualhours of arts and music

200

317

1,064

hours of new factual programming

520

813

1,500

2,142

hours of children’s programmes(shared commitment with BBC one)

1,500

2,142

110

122

hours of religious programmes(shared commitment with BBC one)

110

122

Unless otherwise stated, hours conditions throughout this document
include originations, acquisitions and repeats.
1originations only.
S7

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10
BBC Network Television services continued

BBC Three
Priorities
New talent and risk-taking ideas. We invested in new
comedy and drama including a second series of the BBC
Three hit Being Human. Russell Howard’s Good News was
highly successful and Ballet Boyz: The Rite Of Spring brought
young audiences to modern dance.
A window on the World. Factual content for young viewers
included the highly-relevant Blood, Sweat and Takeways.
Women, Weddings, War and Me about a young Anglo-Afghan
returning to Kabul achieved the highest ever appreciation
score for a factual programme on any reported channel.
Interactive media. Our website with a BBC Three insider’sblog gives users privileged access to specially shot content,
photo galleries and interviews. We use Facebook and YouTube
to reach our target audience and have web-only ventures such
as Jail Tales.
Compelling serious factual. The highly successful Adult
Season, which examined what it means to grow up, included
Underage and Pregnant and The Autistic Me. First Time
Voters’ Question Time and advice on how to vote wastransmitted in the build up to the Election.

2
3

Commitment

ActualHours of new music andarts programming

35

54

Hours of new factual programming2

125

Hours of new current affairs3

15

BB
priorities
arts and music. andrew graham-dixon presented The Art
of Russia. Simon armitage celebrated Sir gawain in the panBBC Poetry Season and live music included 17 BBC Proms.
specialist factual programmes. Prof. diarmaid macCulloch
presented A History of Christianity. Prof. Jim al Khalili explored
Chemistry: A Volatile History. michael Cockrell achieved accessto The Great Offices of State.
best international and foreign-language films anddocumentaries. Syrian School provided poignant insightacross five hours and Storyville continued to show the best
documentaries from around the world including Napoli –City of the Damned. acquisitions such as Wallander, Mad
Men, and movies like The Lives of Others showed the bestof world drama.
archive programming. archive material online and via BBC
red Button was used to support programmes including themarking of the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Commitment

ActualHours of new music andarts programming

100

228

171

Hours of new factual programming

110

133

20

Premiere at least 20 new international
films

20

21

originations only.
originations onlyS8

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10
BBC Network Television services continued

CBBC
Priorities
Mix of news and factual programming. Blue Peter andNewsround continue to tackle issues around citizenship andcivil society, as does the BugBears website.
Informal learning. Programmes like Horrible Histories, Blue
Peter, Beat the Boss and Blast Lab encourage informal learning
across subjects ranging from history to business.
Interactive platforms. Children’s interest in learning isstimulated by the interactive content of a large portfolio
of programming, and by the BugBears website.
UK-produced programming. Innovative and popular
programmes include Spirit Warriors, Horrible Histories,
OOglies, Animals at Work and Skate Nation.
Encouraging interaction. Recent highlights includeBAMZOOKi, Sarah Jane Adventures and Tracy Beaker.
The website will be re-launched soon, with enhanced
navigation, content and functionality.
International Perspectives Newsround provides a unique
national and international news bulletin for children andBlue Peter covers the globe with adventures like Helen’s
Amazon challenge.
Commitment4

ActualHours of drama programming

665

1,306

Hours of news

85

88

Hours of factual programming

550

876

CBeebies
Priorities
Distinctive high quality programming. Timmy Time andWaybuloo both launched during the year, offering new original
programming for our young audience. Other content included
Show Me Show Me, with its engaging stories, songs and activities.
Encouraging learning. Learning is key to the CBeebies offering.
A number of CBeebies series contribute towards this priority,
including: Kerwhizz, Chuggington, Louie, Nina & The Neurons
Go Inventing, The Green Balloon Club, Green Balloon Club on
Holiday in Arran and Show Me Show Me.
Encouraging participation and interaction. CBeebies iPlayer
launched in May and the new BBC Red Button services
launched in September. The re-launch of our website offered
even greater emphasis on parental notes and the ability torelate all content to Early Years Foundation stages.
No commitments apply

Actual––BBC HD
Priorities
Best of BBC output. New content available on HD included
Children in Need, David Tennant’s performance in Hamlet
at Christmas, and the natural history epic Life. The service
launched on Freeview in December, improving viewer accessto HD content.
Less than 20% of output to be firstrun showings of sport and acquiredfeature films (except on occasionsof major sporting events)

4

Commitment

Commitment

Actual<20%

10%All CBBC hours commitments include originations, repeats, transfers
and acquisitions.
S94 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10 continued`

BBC NETWORK RADIO SERVICESBBC Network Radio has made a voluntary pledge that atleast 10% of eligible hours on its national analogue anddigital radio networks would be made by independent
producers. In 2009/10, all services met or exceeded this target.
together, bbc network radio broadcast 14.2% of eligible
output from independent producers.

Commitment

ActualHours of specialist music per week

60

66%

In daytime output, % of the music isfrom UK acts

40%

55%

In daytime output, % of the music
is new

45%

60%

Number of UK live events andfestivals broadcast

c.25

33

Number of new sessions(excluding repeats)

250

320

% of eligible hours commissioned
from independent producers

c.10%

12%

Hours of news in daytime each
weekday, including two extended
bulletins

1

1hr 8
mins

Minimum number of new
documentaries

40

40

Hours of original opt-out
programmes from Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland

c.200

292

C Radio 2
Priorities
Celebrate British songwriters. The Great British Songbook
initiative was developed, with new recordings of British songsby contemporary artists, and a series of programmes during
the Christmas season which focused on British song writing
through the decades. A song writing masterclass was held aspart of the Electric Proms.
Mark the 20th anniversary of fall of Berlin wall. Programming
broadcast in November included an outside broadcast from
Berlin as part of The Jeremy Vine Show.
Jazz. An insight into jazz was provided through a series ofprogramming on the genre’s greats like Benny Goodman and
Nat King Cole, a documentary on the life of Billie Holiday, anda dedicated evening celebrating 50 years of Ronnie Scott’s
iconic club.
Music from around the world. Programming included
an exploration of the British love of Bollywood, plus
documentaries on the Belgian singer/songwriter JacquesBrel and hip hop’s influence on popular culture.
BB

BBC Radio 1
Priorities
Audience engagement. On-demand videos included BBC
Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Scott Mills – The Musical and The
Chris Moyles Show proved popular. The week long ‘Access
All Areas,’ invited audiences to interact in a variety of ways
including live webcams, and web chats with key members ofstaff. It created BBC Radio 1’s biggest ever weekly online usage,
with 1.7 million unique users.
Next generation of listeners. We held various events,
including a BBC Switch Road Trip to club nights for under
18s around the UK. Switch Live at London’s Hammersmith
Apollo attracted 4,000 14-17 year olds.
Social action. A week long drugs campaign and an antibullying season – Bullyproof – both produced positive
reaction from listeners.

Commitment

Actual% of music in daytime is from UK acts

40%

51%

% of music in daytime is new

20%

26%

Hours of live music

260

260

Hours of specialist music programmes>1,100

1,145

Hours of arts programming

>100

102

% of eligible hours commissioned
from independent producers

c.10%

20%

Weekly hours of news and current
affairs, including regular news bulletins

16

18

Hours of religious output coveringa broad range of faiths

170

193

S10

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10 continued
BBC Network radio services continued

ctual

50%

57%

umber of live or specially recorded
performances

500

569

umber of new musical works
commissioned

30

40

umber of new drama productions
broadcast

35

43% of eligible hours commissioned
from independent producers

c.10%

umber of new documentaries
broadcast on arts and cultural topics

30% of relevant spend incurred
outside the M25

40%

Commitment

2,500

3,348

16%

ours of original drama and readings(excluding repeats)

600

655

49

180

248

44%

ours of original comedy (excluding
repeats)% of eligible hours commissioned
from independent producers

c.10%

14%

ours of original documentaries(excluding repeats)

200

422

ours of original religious
programming (excluding repeats)

200

225

H
H

H

H

N

ctual

ours of news and current affairs
programmes
H

N

N

N

% of music output is live or specially
recorded

BBC Radio 4
Priorities
Drama. We commissioned long-running series including a
dramatisation of the Smiley novels by John le Carré, the Tom
Ripley novels by Patrica Highsmith, and Our Mutual Friend by
Charles Dickens.
Landmark factual programming. Innovative series included
A History of the World in 100 Objects in partnership with the
British Museum, which included an extensive online dimension
and has been the springboard for related BBC initiatives acrossthe UK that explore local history through museum collections.
Another landmark series was the 90-part America – Empireof Liberty.
Audience engagement. We piloted a tour of universities, andhad a major presence at the Latitude and Edinburgh Festivals.
Global events. We marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of
the Berlin Wall with a season of programmes including over
100 episodes of 1989 Day by Day using archive audio, andvarious dramas, features and debates.
Online content. Our re-launched website is now easier touse. An extended range of content is now available via BBC
iPlayer, and podcasts Friday Night Comedy and the Archers
omnibus each attract over five million downloads per month.
A

Commitment

A

BBC Radio 3
Priorities
Classical music. We celebrated the work of Purcell,
Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn, marking major anniversaries
for each.
Speech programming. We covered international topics inNight Waves and Music Matters, including a special focus on
culture and music in Berlin, as part of the 20th anniversary of
the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Ideas programming. The fourth edition of Free Thinking –a festival of live events, debates and conversation, was held in
Gateshead with an impressive line-up of speakers, produced
a good response amongst those who attended, with 90%
saying that they would be more likely to listen to BBC Radio 3
as a result.

S11

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10
BBC NETWORK RADIO SERVICES continued

BBC Radio 5 live
Priorities
Distinctive news output. As part of enhanced interactivity,
we launched a new web page – 5 Live Now, to allow listeners
to see comments to the station from a variety of sources, aswell as texts, blogs, Facebook and Twitter.
Promote digital listening. We have developed on-demandcontent, with Danny Baker’s interview with Elton John
attracting over one million listeners via BBC iPlayer or BBC
Red Button. There was also a good uptake of the interview
via BBC Red Button.
Develop interest in football amongst younger audience.
We further developed the Football Player online application,
enabling younger listeners to explore and deepen theirinterest in football. The site has grown its reach to over 7%of all 15-24 year olds this year.
Innovative multiplatform sports content. We increased
the availability of coverage of key sporting events, including
Wimbledon and the Winter Olympics, via online, mobile
and BBC Red Button. The topical sports show Fighting Talk
was broadcast live in front of a studio audience, with content
available online, and via BBC Red Button.

BBC 1Xtra
Priorities
Interaction with young people. As part of a unique project,
in collaboration with BBC Blast and the BBC Academy, 21
youngsters took over BBC 1Xtra for a day in September.
They produced and presented a range of content including
an interview with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a musicguide – The Ultimate Introduction to Dubstep.
News. We changed our news output from a two-hour news
magazine show into two shorter and punchier news bulletins,
following recommendations of the BBC Trust’s review ofServices for Younger Audiences.
Social action. In collaboration with other BBC services, we ran
a series of high profile social action campaigns on drugs andanti-bullying.
Commitment

Actual% of music in daytime that is new

60%

62%

% of music in daytime from the UK

35%

40%

Number of live music events

50

56

c.10%

12%

Commitment

Actual% of eligible hours commissioned
from independent producers% of output that is news coverage

c.75%

76%

% of speech-based output each week

c.20%

29%

% of eligible hours made byindependent producers (includingSports Extra)

c.10%

17%

Hours of news during daytime each
weekday, including two extended
bulletins

1hr

1hr

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Priorities
Home of cricket. Michael Vaughan joined us as a pundit for
the South Africa Test series, further promoting the station
as the home of cricket.
Promoting the station. We used promotional and trails
campaigns to further build awareness of the station. Early
stages of the Australian Open tennis featuring Andy Murray
were carried on sports extra and heavily promoted on thesister station.
% of eligible hours made byindependent producers (withBBC Radio 5 live)

Commitment

Actual

c.10%

17%

S12

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10
BBC NETWORK RADIO SERVICES continued

BBC Asian Network
Priorities
Factual programming. Key documentaries covered subjects
relating to and affecting the UK’s Asian Communities such as
Holiday Brides and the risk of mouth cancer amongst people
who chew paan/gutka.
Revised schedule. New monthly single dramas have now
replaced the daily soap Silver Street, increasing the diversityof stories told and issues aired.
Asian music. We staged a number of events and live music
concerts in cities around the UK with significant Asian
communities, including the London Mela. We were also closely
involved with BBC Introducing… and the Electric Proms.
Commitment

ActualProportion of speech to music

50:50

46:54

% of music in daytime fromUK artists

40%

40%

% of eligible hours commissioned
from independent producers

c.10%

c.13%

Average hours of language
programming each day

3 to 5

4.5

BBC 6 Music
Priorities
New British artists. Support for emerging artists across BBC
Radio included Tom Robinson’s Introducing… show.
Music news. We offered special downloads tailored aroundmajor events like Glastonbury and the Mercury Prize. Major
interviews included Jack White, Elbow and Damon Albarn.
Commitment

Actual% of music that is more thanfour years old

50%

50%

Hours of archive concert performances

400

450

% of music that is concert tracks andsessions from the BBC’s archive

15%

15%

Number of new sessions (excluding
repeats and acquisitions)

275

350

% of eligible hours commissioned
from independent producers

c.10%

12%

Hours of speech-based features,
documentaries and essays each week10

11

Hours of news each week

6

6

BBC 7
Priorities
High-impact seasons. Comedy Playhouse and I Did It My Way
celebrated the 60th anniversary of the writing partnership
between Galton and Simpson. A series of Rumpole of the
Bailey tied-in with the memorial service for Sir John Mortimer.
Coverage of UK key events. We celebrated National
Poetry’s Day by broadcasting the works of Spike Milligan
throughout the day. Black History Month was marked, anda range of output including drama and features broadcast
over Armistice week. We strengthened our relationship with
Leicester Comedy Festival and recorded the preview show
and interviews with performers throughout the event.
Commitment

ActualHours of comedy each week

50

56

Hours of drama each week

50

74

% of eligible hours made byindependent producers (includingchildren’s)

c.10%

36%

Hours of children’s programming

1,400

1,519
S13

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10 continued

BBC News
BBC News channel and BBC Parliament each has a statutory
obligation for at least 90% of broadcast hours to beoriginations. Last year, BBC News channel achieved 99%
and BBC Parliament achieved 98%.

BBC News channel
Priorities
Parliamentary reporting on Westminster, the devolved
Parliament and Assemblies, and Europe. Parliamentary
reporting continued to cover significant debates andparliamentary occasions from Westminster and the devolved
parliament and assemblies. Political reforms remained a big
theme as the implications of the expenses scandal continued
to be felt. European coverage included live coverage of theelection for the new European President, with interviews
with representatives of all major parties.
Global news. Major international stories included the war
in Afghanistan, the earthquake in Haiti and its aftermath,the Radovan Karadzic trial in The Hague, the anniversaryof the fall of the Berlin Wall and the climate change summit
in Copenhagen. We also offered a series of special reports
on Romanian orphanages and a week long series focussing
on education around the world.
Network news in the devolved nations. Regional coveragehas been strengthened in response to a review by the BBC
Trust. Our reports included coverage of the economy fromaround the UK, the new Welsh first minister and the floodsin Cumbria. The BBC News channel was the first to breakthe story of the development of justice and policing powers
in Northern Ireland in February 2010.
Commitment

ActualMore international news coveragethan the other main continuous
news channel(s) in the UKMore local and regional news
coverage than the other main
continuous news channel(s) in theUK, in part through giving regional
perspectives to national stories



Report sports news throughout theday, rounding up the day’s main sports
stories every evening

Hours of sports news across the year

100

116

BBC Parliament
Priorities
Live coverage of Parliament. Highlights of speeches frompreceding debates are routinely broadcast during the longgaps in output during key divisions, in order to enhance viewer
engagement and develop greater relevance of proceedings.
Coverage of the Scottish Parliament and Assemblies inNorthern Ireland and Wales. The 10th anniversary of the
new Scottish Parliament was marked by an entire day ofprogramming. Live and uninterrupted broadcasting fromHolyrood, Stormont and Cardiff Bay is a regular featureof the Westminster recess.
European Parliament. We have broadcast a series ofprogrammes from Brussels and Strasbourg to help explain
the workings of the European Parliament including the weekly
look at key events and issues in The Record Europe.
Commitment

ActualHours of coverage of theWestminster Parliament during
a normal sitting week including…

70

76…hours of Select Committees during
a normal sitting week10

10

Hours of proceedings of Scottish
Parliament, Northern Ireland
Assembly and Welsh Assembly

260

346

Hours of programming (including
repeats) from Brussels and Strasbourg

100

146

S14

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10 continued

BBC Nations and Regions
Services from BBC Nations and Regions have no statutory
commitments but work with BBC television and radio networks
and interactive services to provide content for audiences
throughout the UK.

Commitment

A

ctual

60%+

60%+

inimum % speech content
at breakfast peak

100%

100%

ours each week of original,
locally made programming

85

118

H

M

M

inimum % speech-based content incore hours (6am-6pm)

Commitment

A

BBC Radio Scotland
Priorities
News. A new local government correspondent wasappointed in Scotland in November 2009. Enhanced news
coverage of local government included a new weekly politicaldebate programme – Brian’s Big Debate, in front of a live
audience. Locations included West Lothian and Dunfermline.
Original journalism. Local investigative documentaries havebeen broadcast in the daytime schedule, supported by phonein programmes and online blogs. Issues raised included thefinancial viability of Scotland’s festivals and the potential impactof the economic downturn on the Edinburgh Festival andother Scottish events.
ctual

43

ours of arts coverage on radio(including narrative repeats of dailyarts show)

200

250

im to commission % of eligible hours
made by independent producers

c10%

15%

A

H

H

ours of radio news and current
affairs each week

62

BB

C Radio nan Gàidheal
Priorities
News. We cover stories of particular interest to the core
Gaelic audience at regular intervals across the day, such as theuncertainty over the Qinetic jobs in Uist and the debate overthe concentration of economic development in Inverness at
the expense of the rest of the Highlands and Islands.
No commitments apply

Commitment

Actual––C One Scotland
Priorities
Local news. We now offer more local headlines on Reporting
Scotland, more bulletins at weekends (Saturday lunchtime andSunday evenings), a new annual ‘State of the Nation’ initiativeand increased business news coverage.
Scotland’s History project. The second half of BBC Scotland’s
landmark series A History of Scotland was broadcast on BBC
One Scotland, and had a network broadcast on BBC Two and
BBC HD. The two-year project has been supported by a fullrange of materials and outreach activities including a concert in
Edinburgh featuring the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
BB

BBC Local Radio in England
Priorities
Reporting Local Government. New local government
reporters are now in place in ten local radio stations, withmore to follow later in 2010.
Maintain reach. We are continuing with in-house training to
improve the station sound, focusing on key priority stations.
Build new audiences. Multimedia links from our websites
continue to be improved to help attract under-served
audience groups like younger adults – for example, throughthe successful collaboration over Facing the Cuts, a strand
on the public service recession.

Commitment

ActualHours of television news andcurrent affairs

265

357

Hours of other (non news)
programming

140

196

BBC Two Scotland
Priorities
Documentaries. Walking Wounded examined society’s
attitudes and responses to casualties of war. It focused on thestories of three war veterans battling with mental health issues
and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and received significant
press attention and positive audience response.
Hours of other non news
programming each year including
Gaelic language output

Commitment

Actual

190

415

S15

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10
BBC Nations and Regions continued

BBC ALBA
Priorities
Factual programming. We broadcast several documentaries
from different communities across Scotland, including Trusadh
which featured a diverse range of topics ranging from 21stCentury Clans, the famed Stornaway black pudding and lifeon the Hebridean island of Rona.
Contemporary Scottish music. Our broad music coverage
included The Hebridean Celtic Music Festival, T in the Parkand The Mod.

BBC Radio Wales
Priorities
High-quality multiplatform debates. Debates on topical andrelevant subjects included the B Word campaign on bullying
across our TV, radio and online services, and climate change
as part of the Green Wales season.
Increased public value. All reporting staff within news
have been transferred to a new coordinated planning anddeployment system, improving use of resource and providing
improved regional coverage of the general election campaign.
Audience interaction. The website now includes visualisationof radio content in order to increase audience interaction. An
inaugural Wales Music Day showcased 12 emerging bands andartists with videos available online within 24 hours.

Commitment

ActualHours of originated programming(excluding news) each week, including
programming first shown on otherBBC services

c.5

6.9

Hours per week aimed at thoselearning the Gaelic language

2

2

Hours of news and current affairs
each week

Broadcast live news programmes
each weekday evening, including
at peak time, and a longer news
review at weekends

Aim to commission % of eligible hours
made by independent producers

Percentage (by volume) of original
programming (excluding news)
commissioned from independent
producers

50%

74%

Commitment

Actual

24

36

c10%

10%

BBC Radio Cymru
Priorities
Reflecting national diversity. Diverse faith groups arereflected in our weekly religious current affairs programmes
Bwrw Golwg and Dal i Gredu, and Post Cyntaf also reflects theincreased demographic diversity of people living in Wales.
News and debate. We continue to reflect political and public
life in Wales through a range of news and debate programmessuch as Wythnos Gwilym OwenI and Tar’or Post.
Reflecting different communities. Our morning news
programme Post Cyntaf was broadcast from five locations in
Wales and guest editors have been used to reflect different
parts of Wales. Hywel Gwynfryn has also continued as a roving
reporter, increasing our connection with the local community.
Hours of news and current affairs
each week
Aim to commission % of eligible hours
made by independent producers

Commitment

Actual

16

20

c10%

10%

S16

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10
BBC Nations and Regions continued

BBC One Wales
Priorities
Landmark drama. Crash, broadcast in peaktime, performed
well. The series was able to give a peaktime platform to
new Welsh writing and acting talent under the leadershipof Tony Jordan.
National debate. We continue to provide a platform fornational debate around major contemporary issues. A miniseason on Afghanistan, illustrating the effect of war on Welsh
families, was timely and important.
Regional news. Newsgathering resources have been
increased and additional weekend bulletins from the BBC
Wales Today team have been broadcast since November,continuing to strengthen our coverage of local politics,
business, industry, ethics and arts across linear outlets.
Commitment

ActualHours of television news andcurrent affairs

250

337

Hours of other (non-news)
programming

60

75

BBC Two Wales
Priorities
Regional programming. Return to Pembrokeshire Farm and
Hidden Histories of Wales were just two examples of popularbroadcasts which celebrated and reflected Wales, its
communities and its landscape.
Hours of non-news programmingeach year

Commitment

Actual160

204

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle
Priorities
Participation and debate. Audience involvement remains
a powerful feature in debates on news and political issues
through Talk Back and The Nolan Show, among others,
providing listeners with opportunities to engage directlywith decision makers. Our coverage of the Northern
Ireland Assembly has been augmented by the launchof the Democracy Live website.
New talent and local arts. We covered all major music
festivals in Northern Ireland through programming such as
Across the Line, which showcased young musical talent. Local
writing talent was encouraged in a new radio drama and welaunched Comedy Academy to profile and encourage new
performing talent.
Indigenous language programming. BBC Radio Ulster offered
weekday Irish language programming, with coverage of Gaelic
sports in Irish language during the summer period, supported
by a new website. The station had regular radio slots for Ulster
Scots, with an increase in independent production.
Commitment

ActualHours of news and current affairs
on BBC Radio Ulster each week27

37

Hours of news and current affairs
on BBC Radio Foyle each week8

11

Hours of new comedy

20

21

Aim to commission 10% of eligible
hours made by independent
producers

c10%

11%

Hours of indigenous minority
language programming including Irish
language and Ulster Scots output

220

296

S17

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10 continued
BBC Nations and Regions continued

BBC One Northern Ireland
Priorities
News and politics. A season of programmes marked 40
years of the Troubles. On The Brink provided a national focus
on the global story of the change in the economic climate andincluded a live discussion. We launched a new audience-led
discussion programme as part of the Spotlight strand.
Regional news. Area-based reporters were appointed in
Counties Tyrone, Antrim and Down to enhance the reachand responsiveness of our newsgathering and help bring local
stories to a region-wide audience.
Innovative programming. Find The Funny followed the search
for an aspiring comic to perform at the Edinburgh Festival; andThe Friday Show included a showcase for stand-up comedy.
Coverage of the Belfast Festival showcased Irish music, art,
comedy and theatre. Landmark drama included Scapegoat,
retelling the 1952 murder of Patricia Curran, daughter of aprominent judge.
Commitment

ActualHours of television news andcurrent affairs

280

316

Hours of other (non-news)
programming

80

125

BBC Two Northern Ireland
Priorities
Northern Ireland Assembly. Stormont Live continued to offer
coverage and analysis of Assembly debates and proceedings,
while Hearts and Minds showcased in-depth interviews andreports. The Democracy Live website launched, enhancing
coverage of the Assembly’s work.
Indigenous language programming. We showcased a mix ofprogrammes in Irish, including a third series of Seacht, an Irish
language teen soap and Blas Ceoll, a blend of Irish language andculture. Ulster Scots culture featured through programmessuch as King of the Wild Frontier (broadcast on BBC One).
Hours of non-news programmingeach year

Commitment

Actual

55

84

S18

4 – Performance against Statements of Programme Policy 2009/10 continued

BBC Future Media& Technology

BBC Online
Priorities
Build citizenship. The Democracy Live website, launchedin November, allows people to access the work of
their elected representatives in the European, Nationaland Local Assemblies.
Natural history content. BBC Wildlife Finder, launched in
September, offers access to news, archive, information andbehind the scenes insights into the world of natural history.
Local sites. Redesigned BBC Local sites focused on local news,
sport, weather and also providing links to external local sights
have been rolled out across more than half the sites in England,
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Comedy. Our BBC Comedy site has been relaunched
centred around original, made-for-the-web comedy.
BBC mobile. Increased content is now available via mobiles,
with new TV and radio programme support sites and a travel
news service.
% commissions of eligible content
and services from external suppliers(by value)

Commitment

Actual25%+

26%

BBC Red Button
Priorities
Information service. We have made a number of
improvements to the digital text service and have focusedEntertainment News more on features.
New and creative BBC Red Button services. Freesat
internet-enabled devices can now access BBC iPlayer throughthe BBC Red Button homepage: both are distributed overthe internet.
On-demand content. On-demand access to BBC content
is now available to digital television audiences in Virgin Mediaand Freesat homes
No commitments apply

Commitment

Actual––S19

5 – Other public commitments(i) Access services
The BBC is committed to ensuring that its programmes
and services are as accessible as is reasonably possible to all
people, whatever their impairments or disabilities. Under Part
Three of the Disability Discrimination Act we have a legal
obligation to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that
this is the case, although what is ‘reasonable’ will evolveas technology develops.
The BBC Editorial Guidelines ( www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines) advises our programme makers and suppliers how
we can improve access to our television programmes and services for people with hearing loss and people with visual impairment.
We are committed to providing subtitling services for all programmes. In addition, we are actively involved in developing audio
description services and online support which will enhance further the access by visually impaired viewers to our programmes.
We consult with a range of disability organisations regularly, and update our Guidance as required. Our Guidance on Television
Viewers With Hearing Loss was first published in January 2007; and our guidance on Visually Impaired Television Viewers wasmost recently revised in November 2005.

Subtitling output on BBC Television* %BBC One
BBC Two
BBC Three
BBC Four
BBC HD
CBBC
CBeebies
BBC News

08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10

Target = 100% of programming

Audio description on BBC Television %Signing on BBC Television %

99.7
99.8
99.7
99.9
99.9
99.9
99.9
99.9
83.2
92.1
100.0
99.9
100.0
100.0
99.9
99.9

BBC One
BBC Two
BBC Three
BBC Four
BBC HD
CBBC
CBeebies
BBC News

08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
–
09/10 0.3
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10

Target = 5% of programming

BBC One

5.2
5.5
5.7
5.7
5.8
5.7

BBC Two
BBC Three
7.1

BBC Four

5.9
BBC HD
6.3
6.5
5.5
5.3
5.1
5.2

CBBC
CBeebies

08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10
08/09
09/10

14.7
15.7
12.1
13.3
29.3
26.3
20.7
24.1
17.4
22.9
12.3
22.4
13.7
13.9

Target = 10% of programming* Based on 52 weeks, not full year.

S20

5 – other public commitments continued(ii) Window of Creative Competition (WOCC)
The BBC’s Charter and Agreement set out arrangements for the commissioning of our network television programmes.
These arrangements require that 50% of non-news original programming (by hours) is reserved for in-house production
and a statutory minimum of 25% is reserved for the independent sector.
The remaining 25% – known as the Window of Creative Competition (or the ‘WOCC’) – is a space where in-house andexternal producers, not just independent production companies, compete for commissions.
It is a competitive process, and the amount of programming outsourced varies from year to year, with movements up anddown across the genres depending on what our channels and commissioners are looking for at the time. The revenues
generated for the independent sector also change year-on-year, subject to the genre mix, as some cost more than others.
Overall, however, independents are winning more commissions than before the WOCC existed
The WOCC was introduced mid-way through the 2005/06 financial year, and the BBC Trust’s first biennial review into its
operation was completed in July 2008. The next review is scheduled for later in 2010.
Proportion of ‘WOCC’ hours produced by independent producers for BBC television

Entertainment

ComedyChildren’s

Drama

Knowledge

Total shareof WOCC

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

59%

76%

70%

59%

75%

73%

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

64%

77%

50%

79%

70%

70%

% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE+5%+1%-20% +20% -5%-3%PROPORTION

OF ‘WOCC’ HOURS PRODUCED IN-HOUSE FOR BBC TELEVISIONEntertainment

ComedyChildren’s

Drama

Knowledge

Total shareof WOCC

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

2008/09

41%

24%

30%

41%

25%

27%

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

2009/10

36%

23%

50%

21%

30%

30%

% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE% CHANGE-5%-1%+20% -20% +5%+3%S21