VIEWERS ' INCREASED ACCESS TO BBC ACCOUNTS

AN INDEPENDENT review of BBC finances published by culture Secretary Chris Smith has recommended increased access to information and a simpler presentation of BBC public accounts.
The review states that the viewing public should have greater access to information on BBC accounts, services and performance, the information must be presented in a way that the ordinary viewer can understand.
The review, which seeks to increase transparency and accountability in BBC reporting, found that while current BBC reports meets the statutory requirements and accounting standards, and in some cases goes further than that of commercial broadcasters, the BBC’s performance should be publicly compared against both that of their commercial competitors and their own internal performance targets.
Financial information should be made less technical and easier to understand, a separate simpler document to accompany reports would help achieve this. Efficiency savings should be reported in full, and presented in a way that makes it clear where savings have been made. The review also states the contribution of the commercial arm of the BBC to their public service commitments should be reported more fully to viewers to appreciate how it improves BBC programming.
Culture Secretary Chris Smith said: “Viewers need to be satisfied that their licence money is spent sensibly and wisely. The independent review shows that the BBC meets all of its current requirements for reporting, but it also shows that the areas covered do not always match those of interest to viewers and are not always presented in a way, which is easily accessible to them. The recommendations published today will mean that in future viewers will have access to more and wider information on BBC accounts, services and performance and that they will be able to more easily access and understand that information. Greater transparency and accountability by the BBC should lead to increased public confidence in it as a public service broadcaster.”
The Government accepted the findings of the review, which follows their earlier commitment to independent report The Future Funding of the BBC, published last year.