Tuesday this week saw the release of the BBC’s Annual Report. Much of the press reporting has concentrated on the amounts various executives are being paid, and whether or not they’ve received a bonus. That’s all very well, but is probably missing the somewhat bigger picture. The report also gives a “state of the nation” report on the various BBC services.
When it’s released annually, the first pages I always turn to are those that list the amount of money that is spent on the various services as well as the sections dealing with how the BBC services are performing according to the BBC Trust.
Here’s what the BBC spends on each of its main networks including content, distribution and infrastructure/support:
- Radio 1…………………………….£43.1m
- Radio 2…………………………….£51.3m
- Radio 3…………………………….£49.4m
- Radio 4…………………………..£105.5m
- Radio 5 live………………………£72.3m
- Radio 5 live S. Extra…………….£3.3m
- 1Xtra………………………………….£9.3m
- 6Music……………………………….£7.5m
- BBC 7…………………………………£7.3m
- BBC Asian Network……………£13.0m
- BBC Local Radio………………£136.5m
Some of those sums can obviously make your eyes water, but although it’s very easy to feel pangs of jealousy in the commercial radio sector, it’s just worth noting what the opposition has to spend, the majority of which is on content rather than fixed costs for the buildings, studios or transmission costs. It really just highlights how smart commercial radio has to gain market share back from the BBC.
But we must always remember that UK radio has over a billion listening hours per week, and has done consistantly over the last ten years or so. BBC Radio has played an important role in maintaining this level of listening and while we’d love more of that listening on commercial radio, we’re fortunate that radio continues to be a dominant media choice compared with a market such as the US.
It’s also worth noting that the BBC separately accounts for DAB digital radio with £9.6m spent in 2007/8 which is probably actually less than a group like GCap has been spending on the platform. However in this instance the money they spend almost certainly.
Overall the BBC Trust is pretty pleased with the performance of Radio 1 and Radio 2, highlighting Radio 1′s reach among 15-29s and the success of Switch, their TV and radio brand aimed at teens. Radio 2 has increased share, and they talk about the station’s role in developing new artists through the “Music Club Introduces…” banner.
But Radio 3 has seen audience falls which they attribute perhaps to the growth in listening for Radio 2 and Radio 4. Radio 4′s audience has the highest average listening amongst all the BBC services averaging 13 hours a week per listener. And Radio 4 podcasts have been extremely successful and they believe that the “Listen Again” opportunities that Radio 4 has presented has meant more people are now listening to live radio.
Five Live has seen some audience falls and is now concentrating on growing its digital listening. Like us, it feels that AM is a declining broadcast medium which it’s seeking to replace digitally.
There’s plenty more on all of this, as well as TV of course in the report. Read in full at http://www.bbc.co.uk/annualreport
Clive
