April 3, 2017

Ofcom is consulting on detailed proposals for how it will regulate the BBC’s performance under its new Royal Charter, which outlines how it should deliver for audiences.

Ofcom becomes the first independent, external regulator of the BBC on 3 April. Its role is to hold the Corporation to account against the delivery of its public purposes, while its new unitary board will govern and run the BBC.

Ofcom says that it will carefully monitor the BBC through annual performance reviews, a “health check” halfway through the new 11-year Charter, and scrutiny of the BBC’s forthcoming annual plan on how it will fulfil its requirements.

The new Charter sets clear objectives for the BBC to serve audiences, and puts a sharpened focus on distinctive, creative and high quality programmes.

Ofcom’s draft “operating licence”, sets clear requirements on the BBC that are achievable and affordable within existing licence fee funding, and which will uphold the quality of the BBC’s programmes.

The closing date for responses to the consultation is 17 July 2017.

Ofcom has also published a suite of other documents, including an “operating framework”, which sets out its regulatory approach for the BBC. For further information, click here.