The Stage

BBC’s Thompson pledges commitment to comedy and drama

Published Thursday 26 November 2009 at 13:02 by Matthew Hemley

BBC director general Mark Thompson has pledged a “long-range commitment to outstanding British drama and comedy” following digital switchover in 2012.

Speaking today as the Voice of the Listener and Viewer Conference, Thompson gave an indication as to what a strategy review into how the BBC will look post 2012, which will be concluded next year, had so far highlighted.

He said audiences could expect to see “a further shift of emphasis in favour of key priority areas”, including services for children and “content of every kind that builds knowledge and shares music and culture”.

“At a time when so many other broadcasters are struggling with programme budgets, the licence fee’s importance as an engine of creative investment in British talent is more important than ever. Expect a commitment post-switchover to spend a higher proportion of the licence fee on original British content than we are able to today,” he said.

Thompson also said that partnerships with other broadcasters would play a part in the BBC’s strategy after 2012, which would see the Corporation “sharing technology and infrastructure” to help other broadcasters to continue to support public service broadcasting.

However, Thompson warned that some programming and content would be reduced and added: “The point of the strategy review is to set out a template for a more focused BBC - a BBC that delivers better quality of higher value. It may point to a BBC which is smaller in some respects, but no less confident.”

Speaking today, Thompson also hit back at critics who have claimed the BBC had stopped taking risks, particularly in its comedy output.

“There’s also now a vigorous attempt in the press and elsewhere to suggest that strong comedy and satire are somehow unacceptable in the public space and are evidence that the BBC has lost its traditional values. We haven’t. These critics sometimes forget that, while we do of course have a duty to reflect and respect the absolute boundaries of public taste, another of our duties is to stand up for creative freedom and ambition,” he said.