The government responded to a report by a committee of peers and the July 2013 consultation on media ownership and plurality.
Source: Media Ownership & Plurality Consultation Report: Government response to the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications Report into Media Plurality, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Links: Response | Peers report
Date: 2014-Aug
A private member's Bill was published that was designed to allow for election of the trustees of the BBC by licence fee payers, and make changes to the civil enforcement of non-payment of television licence fees.
Source: BBC (Trustee Election and Licence Fee) Bill, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, TSO
Links: Bill
Date: 2014-Jun
A report by a committee of peers said that a majority of the general public expected that broadcast general election debates should take place before the 2015 United Kingdom general election. The report considered the range of codes, statements, and guidelines which constituted the legal and regulatory framework for the debates, and identified potential reforms. The report said that the committee respected the broadcasters' independence, but recommended that they should consider the balance of gender and ethnic diversity among the moderators, and that they should ensure that public interest was encouraged.
Source: Broadcast General Election Debates, 2nd Report (Session 2013–14), HL 171, House of Lords Communications Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Committee press release
Date: 2014-May
A report examined the BBC's network news and current affairs output. It said that this was generally regarded as producing high quality news, but that its content reached some audiences less effectively than others, and appeared too 'distant' to parts of its audience. It noted changes in delivery trends, with online content gaining popularity, and the risks and opportunities that arose as a result. The report made recommendations for action.
Source: BBC Trust, BBC Network News and Current Affairs, BBC Trust
Links: Report | BBC Trust press release | BBC report
Date: 2014-Apr
A report by a committee of MPs said that it had been misinformed by the BBC about the Digital Media Initiative (DMI), which had been cancelled in May 2013 at a cost of nearly £100 million. It said that the DMI programme had been poorly managed, and that the BBC Executive and Trust should overhaul their approach to managing and implementing major projects.
Source: BBC Digital Media Initiative, Fifty-second Report (Session 2013–14), HC 985, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Committee press release
Date: 2014-Apr