Theme: Society & Culture | Content Type: Journal article

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The Case for a Strong BBC. Cultural Sovereignty and Public Service Broadcasting in the Netflix Era

Mark Thompson

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NASA

| 1 min read

PSBs across the world are facing financial, technological and political pressures, yet audiences still need and want the benefits of public service media. If they are to survive, PSBs need to produce an agile response to the changing patterns of media consumption and the claims that markets can provide. Whilst the big streamers have produced great global content, they are unable to cover the range of the PSBs in reflecting the diversity and variety of British life and culture, nor take the same risks in nurturing new talent across the sector. Politicians must use the forthcoming BBC Charter renewal in 2027 to address the revolution in audience behaviour and changes in technology to reshape the choices available to the British public and beyond. The creative industries are a powerhouse of talent and contribute to some of our best prospects for global reach and economic growth. We must ensure they have a healthy future.

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    Mark Thompson

    Sir Mark Thompson is the Chairman and CEO of CNN. He was CEO of Channel 4 between 2002 and 2004, Director-General of the BBC between 2004 and 2012 and CEO of The New York Times Company between 2012 and 2020.

    Articles by Mark Thompson
Volume 95, Issue 1

Latest Journal Issue

Volume 95, Issue 1

Includes a collection on the Future of Public Service Broadcasting, edited by Suzanne Franks and Jean Seaton. This features articles such as 'The Governance of the BBC' by Diane Coyle; 'A Public Service Internet - Reclaiming the Public Service Mission' by Helen Jay; and 'BBC Funding: Much Ado about the Cost of a Coffee a Week' by Patrick Barwise. There are a wide range of other articles including 'Back to the Stone Age: Europe's Mainstream Right and Climate Change’ by Mitya Pearson and 'Labour, the Unions and Proportional Representation' by Cameron Rhys Herbert. Finally, there is a selection of book reviews such as Lyndsey Jenkins's review of Fighting For Life: The Twelve Battles that Made Our NHS and the Struggle for Its Future by Isabel Hardman, and Victoria Brittain's review of Three Worlds, Memoirs of an Arab-Jew by Avi Shlaim.

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