Ofcom fuelling decline of broadcasting in the Nations and Regions.

Ofcom’s attempts at protecting public service broadcasting are in danger of backfiring.

The broadcasting regulator has been criticised by Pat Loughrey, Director of BBC Nations and Regions.

He voiced concerns at a meeting of the Welsh Assembly’s Culture Committee.

He said that Ofcom had shown, “a sense of resignation to an inevitability of consolidation, of diminutions which I found really worrying.

“Rather then reflecting an economic or commercial trend, they were in danger of encouraging it,”

His concerns were directed at the impact on the UK nations and regions of an ongoing Ofcom review of public service broadcasting.

The comments were made as the BBC gave evidence on the future of broadcasting in Wales.

Mr Loughrey also warned that the approach by Ofcom could hit poorer parts of the community especially hard.

He said: “There is always the risk of the regulator taking an unduly gloomy view of the role of broadcasting in smaller communities where the market is less obviously buoyant and perhaps not quite taking account of the social, cultural, economic impact that a decline might bring.”

ITV News Group Chief Executive Clive Jones warned of a danger that the commercial broadcaster might “walk away” from its licences if it failed to win a battle to cut it’s licence fees.

He said: “All we are looking for is a level playing field,” noting that other broadcasters were given money to make public service broadcasting.

He told Assembly Members that ITV paid £9 million a year for its Wales and West licence, £225 million a year across the network and was also expected to make regional programming.

“ITV remains committed to broadcasting programmes about Wales with news and current affairs at the core but this programming must be commercially sustainable.”

The NUJ has been fighting a campaign to protect jobs and programme making in ITV regions. It follows hundreds of job losses in the Central and Meridian franchises.

National Broadcasting Officer Paul McLaughlin said after the hearing: “It is heartening to hear that managers at the most senior levels share our concern at the risks facing broadcasting in the UK Nations and regions.

“This re-enforces our call for Ofcom to show it has the teeth and that it will use them to protect jobs and services.

“They say viewers need plurality and diversity for the sake of democracy.

“But so far they have shown precious little enthusiasm for ensuring it in their review of public service broadcasting.”

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