The BBC has an independence perception problem.
That’s one of the key findings of a major audience survey undertaken by the BBC as part of preparations to renew its operating agreement, known as the Royal Charter.
The ‘Our Future, Our BBC’ questionnaire was completed by 872,701 viewers, with only 43% of respondents stating that the BBC is “effective” in being independent from the government.
A further 38% said the BBC was “ineffective” on this measure, while 19% said they “don’t know” if the BBC is sufficiently free from state control.
The BBC’s independence matters to viewers, with 91% saying it was “important” to them. Only 5% of respondents said it was “unimportant.”
The findings are likely to raise eyebrows, given that the BBC’s independence from ministers is a foundational part of its mission and efforts to win trust among audiences.
The BBC is not a state broadcaster and receives its funding through the licence fee, though the level of the household levy is determined by the government.
The BBC is expected to emphasize audience confusion over its independence as part of charter renewal talks with the government over the coming months.
It comes after concerns were raised about Lisa Nandy infringing on the BBC’s independence over the summer. The culture secretary openly questioned director general Tim Davie‘s leadership following a string of scandals, including the MasterChef misconduct crisis and the live streaming of Glastonbury act Bob Vylan chanting “death to the IDF” on iPlayer.
James Harding, the former director of BBC News, opined on independence in his MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival. He wants the BBC to be untangled from “political interference.”
Elsewhere in the ‘Our Future, Our BBC’ survey, only half of viewers (51%) said the corporation was effective in reflecting different parts of the UK. Some 57% agreed that the BBC is an “asset” for the UK around the world.
More than 40% of viewers wanted more drama content, while 67% said they were happy with the volume of news output on the broadcaster.
In qualitative feedback, 25% of viewers raised concerns about bias or commented on the importance of impartiality. The BBC also heard from viewers who complained about “political correctness” and expressed a desire for the corporation to be “less diverse” on screen.
Davie said: “I strongly believe the BBC has never been more needed, both in the UK and around the world. The results of the questionnaire are clear – our audience wants an independent BBC, delivering high-quality programmes and content that they can trust; that tells the stories that matter to them and that reflect their lives.”
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