Dear all,
I’m writing in response to your letter dated 9 September regarding the BBC’s local and regional programming.
I appreciate that some of you will have received this response already as you have written to me or my predecessor previously, but the points are worth repeating.
Local and regional broadcasting is a key reason why people come to the BBC – and why they value us. I can assure you that it will remain at the heart of our output:
- We are retaining a full regional TV news service, with regional TV news bulletins from South East Today beginning during BBC Breakfast and continuing throughout the day on BBC One until 10.30pm.
- We are retaining our weekly political programme for the English regions, Politics South East.
- We are retaining our network of local radio stations across England – including BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey – at the same time as investing in our digital offer in the regions.
- And we are launching a new current affairs programme for England, in which each episode will focus on a single piece of investigative journalism meaning we will be looking at issues in greater depth than ever before. I am ambitious for this new programme and I recognise that getting it right is vital, so I will be keeping a close eye on it.
As I said in my first speech as Director-General, I want to create a simpler, leaner organisation. The BBC must respond faster and offer better value to those who pay for it.
We will therefore deliver the changes that have already been announced within BBC News and BBC Nations and Regions, including the ones to which you refer but – as I hope my email has demonstrated – this does not diminish our absolute commitment to local and regional broadcasting which remains a priority for me. I am looking forward to these vital services engaging and evolving with new ideas, focussing on the future and, as they do so, providing all our audiences with the best possible coverage that is local and regional to them.
I hope this will go some way to addressing some of the concerns you raised. I want to ensure that I have a direct, open relationship with Members of Parliament and other elected representatives and I welcome your feedback.
Many thanks too for your congratulations.
Best wishes,
Tim Davie
Director-General
