a

Audience Council Review 2010/11Wales

01 Foreword by the National Trustee

02 Audience Council activity

04 Audience Council Wales report on BBC performance

11 BBC performance against Public Purposes

16 Audience priorities for 2011/1218 Audience Council Wales19 Contacts

“ Having taken up this post in November 2010, I am most grateful to my predecessor as BBC National Trustee for Wales, Janet Lewis-Jones, for her hard work during the years of the setting up of the Trust and for her passion for public service broadcasting in Wales.”Elan Closs Stephens, Audience Council Chair and National Trustee

Cover imageGetting the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers across Wales and the rest of the UK. Cover picture shows the BBC National Orchestra of Wales during one of its education outreach events this year – just one example of how the BBC engages directly with licence fee payers and audiences.

1

Foreword by the National Trustee

The BBC Audience Councils advise the BBC Trust on how well the BBC is delivering its Public Purposes and serving Licence Fee Payers across the United Kingdom. The four Councils, serving Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, are supported by the Trust to provide an independent assessment of audience expectations and issues.

Hosting meetings across Wales, Audience Council Wales (ACW) hears what matters to the BBC’s audiences in Wales and advises the Trust on areas of concern. It has used the evidence gathered at these meetings to inform its submission to the Trust’s Service Review of Wales’s national radio stations, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales, and it will continue to press the BBC, through the Trust, to ensure that as many people as possible are able to access these radio stations satisfactorily.Having taken up this post in November 2010, I am most grateful to my predecessor as BBC National Trustee for Wales, Janet Lewis-Jones, for her hard work during the years of the setting up of the Trust and for her passion for public service broadcasting in Wales. I hope that I can build on those foundations and ensure that the Council’s voice – and the voice of audiences in Wales – continues to be heard loud and clear and contribute to the Trust’s thinking during the months and years to come.

Elan Closs Stephens, Audience Council Chair and National Trustee

2

Audience Council activity through the year

The BBC’s Royal Charter gives the Audience Council the remit of advising the BBC Trust on the BBC’s performance in promoting its Public Purposes, submitting a report to the Trust each year on the BBC’s performance in Wales and offering advice on issues drawn to its attention by the audience.During the year under review (April 2010-March 2011) the ACW met ten times in locations around Wales. The Council discussed strategy with BBC managers; Welsh and English language programming; distribution; future media and interactive services; News and Current Affairs; editorial standards and follow up work on the Trust Nations Impartiality review; BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales; the BBC’s future relationship with S4C; and the BBC’s formal and informal education and learning provision.

The Council recommended the 2011/12 BBC programme plan for S4C to the BBC Trust for approval and followed developments which led to the signing of a new Strategic Partnership between the BBC and S4C covering the period from 2011 to the end of March 2013. The Council will closely follow developments regarding arrangements for the future funding and governance of S4C following the UK Secretary of State’s proposals that post 2013 S4C should be largely funded from the BBC Licence Fee. The Council contributed to the BBC’s Trust’s consultation on the BBC’s Strategy Review Putting Quality First, to the Service Review of BBC Radio 3, 4, and 7; and made a major submission to the Trust Review of Nations radio, concentrating on Wales’ national radio stations BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales.

1. ACW members meet young representatives of Cardiff’s Somali community.

2. Discussing BBC Radio Cymru with audience members in Llansannan.

3. ACW members conducted audience outreach work at the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Bangor, May 2010.

21

3

The Council hosted audience events in Newport, Gwent in April, in Barry in May, with Able Radio from Pontypool in June, in Maesgeirchen, Bangor in July, with BBC National Orchestra of Wales concert-goers in August, with Wales opinion formers in September, in the Gwaun Valley and Llansannan in November, in Pontypridd in December, and with young members of the Somali community in Cardiff during March 2011. These events contributed significantly to the Council’s submissions to consultations and to the Council’s Audience Priorities for 2011/12.Issues raised at these events included the frustration that Wales’ national radio stations, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales, were not widely available on DAB and that BBC Radio Wales was not available on FM in many places. The portrayal of Wales on Network services was often raised, with participants at the ACW outreach event in Pontypridd emphasising that their enjoyment of TV programme Indian Doctor had been greatly enhanced by the fact that it was set in the south Wales Valleys.

At several events, the challenge of BBC Radio Cymru as Wales’ only national Welsh language station to be all things to all people was raised, with some saying the time had come for a second Welsh language BBC radio station or for music/speech opt-outs to be introduced. The Council bade farewell to Janet Lewis-Jones as BBC National Trustee for Wales in October 2010, thanking her for her leadership during the first four years of the Trust’s existence and welcomed Prof. Elan Closs Stephens to the post in November 2010.

3

4

Audience Council Wales report on BBC performance in Wales 2010/11

1. Discussing BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales with audiences in the Gwaun Valley.

2. Meeting volunteers who run Able Radio, based in Pontypool.

3. Audience members at a lively ACW outreach event in Barry.

1 2

OverviewDuring the period under review, the ACW received presentations from Director BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Directors and senior managers from outside Wales on how the BBC as a whole was performing in Wales and fulfilling the BBC’s Public Purposes.Using the BBC Trust’s Reach Quality Impact and Value for Money (RQIV) performance framework, the Council noted that during the past year the weekly reach of all BBC Television in Wales had increased to 88% (BARB) and that of all television opt-outs had improved from 34% to 36%. Half of all adults in Wales – 1.2 million viewers – saw at least one edition of Wales Today each week with the reach of both BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales staying broadly level and BBC Cymru’s Welsh language websites showing further growth.

On Quality, approval of the Corporation in Wales remained above the UK average at 6.96 and Wales had the highest proportion of high approvers at 44% (source: BBC Trust Purpose Remit Survey June 2010 (PRS)). However, audiences informed Council they felt that the volume of English language TV programming produced by BBC Cymru Wales for audiences in Wales was low and further financial savings could worsen the situation or impact on quality.

5

3

The Council was content that the BBC continued to have significant impact in Wales and the inclement weather in December 2010 demonstrated the importance of the BBC with Wales Today achieving some of its highest ever audiences. 86% of people in Wales agreed that they would miss the BBC if it wasn’t there (source: PRS).Based on engagement with audiences, and BBC management and Trust data, ACW concluded that the BBC’s output during 2010/11 had fulfilled its public service broadcasting responsibilities in both Welsh and English on all platforms and had contributed significantly to fulfilling the BBC’s Purposes.

ACW review of performance against 2010/11 audience prioritiesThe sections in red denote the audience priorities set by ACW for 2010/11 while the paragraphs beneath give the Council’s assessment of progress against each priority.

Digital and other distribution issues The Council is deeply worried at the references in the Digital Britain report to the proposed ‘switch-off’ of FM and AM radio services, and to matching DAB coverage to the current FM coverage. FM coverage for BBC Radio Wales is inadequate with just over 60% (68% at April 2011) of the population of Wales able to receive the station. Large numbers of BBC Radio Wales listeners in the south Wales valleys rely on a poorer quality AM service. 55-60% of people in Wales are currently unable to receive BBC Radio Wales or BBC Radio Cymru on DAB and about 70% of Welsh speakers cannot receive BBC Radio Cymru on DAB. The Council believes that the principal public service broadcaster’s services, the only national radio services in Welsh or English in Wales, should be universally accessible on their main platforms of distribution.

6

Audience Council Wales report on BBC performance in Wales 2010/11 continued

1. Members of the BBC’s audiences in Barry sharing their views with ACW members.

2. An ACW outreach event on the Maesgeirchen estate on the outskirts of Bangor.

3. Pobol y Cwm, the BBC’s longest continuing drama being filmed on set.

1

The lack of availability of broadband services in many parts of Wales and the often inadequate speed of the service on offer, when available, is constantly brought to Council’s attention by audiences as something that impoverishes their lives and deprives them of BBC services which they would otherwise access, including the huge and growing amount of PSB on line content now available.ACW met BBC Controller Distribution at two of its meetings during the period under review and has repeatedly raised the concerns of audiences regarding distribution with the BBC Trust for it to challenge the BBC Executive to seek solutions to these issues.

Digital Britain and the future of PSBThe Council feels strongly that proposals for the future of PSB in Wales must be guided by the needs and requirements of the audience and judged by whether people in Wales are provided with a meaningful range of quality television, radio and online content in both languages.

The lack of a strong indigenous printed press or strong commercial radio sector that is journalism led means that any threat to ITV Wales news has the potential to seriously compound the current democratic deficit in the context of the role of the National Assembly in deciding policy in health, education, transport and other key areas of public policy. Council has noted the disparity between the nations relating to the number of hours and funding of English language local television produced and is concerned that audiences in Wales are provided with relatively fewer hours of nation specific TV compared to the other UK nations. The Council remains deeply concerned at the level of financial cuts in recent years for producing local programming for Wales experienced by BBC Cymru Wales, despite the increased level of Network programming being produced by BBC Cymru Wales. If legitimate audience expectations are to be met the recent decline in overall investment in English language television programming in Wales must be reversed.

2

7

ACW continues to share the concerns articulated by audiences that the recent Licence Fee settlement, with its real terms cut of 16% in income during the life of the settlement, will further impact adversely on the BBC’s ability to produce local programming in and for Wales, following so closely after an extended period of cost savings during the previous five years. While the outcomes of the BBC review Delivering Quality First are yet to be seen, the Council would be troubled if one outcome were to be any dilution or diminution in the range or depth of programming specifically for Wales.

Renewal of the BBC strategic Partnership with S4CThe new Partnership should be informed by a thorough examination of both the operational and audience value of the current agreement to enable lessons to be learnt for future delivery. The needs of audiences and the delivery of the BBC’s Public Purposes must be at the heart of any agreement. Work to ensure that the BBC’s

significant contribution is acknowledged should proceed so that audiences recognise that the BBC is undertaking its public service broadcasting responsibilities on television in the Welsh language.ACW is glad that a new Strategic Partnership has been established between the BBC and S4C to last until 2013. The Council also welcomes its reference to more prominent branding for the BBC’s programmes on S4C. Research has shown awareness among the population of Wales as a whole that BBC Cymru makes Welsh language programmes for S4C remains low.

3

8

1. ACW members Ioan Evans and Aled Jones-Griffith in discussions with the BBC’s audience in the Gwaun Valley.

2. ACW member Teresa Rees at the Council’s meeting with Able Radio.

21

Portrayal The Council is following closely the Trust’s work on the way in which the BBC might better portray the full diversity of Wales and the English regions, Northern Ireland and Scotland across its Network services on all platforms.The way in which older people, and older women in particular, are represented on television should be investigated.The Council welcomes the Trust’s commitment to this matter and has followed the BBC Executive project with interest, welcoming the commitment made during a speech in Cardiff in July 2010 by BBC Director Vision, Jana Bennet, to increasing the number of programmes based “somewhere rather than nowhere”.

Impartiality Review of the Coverage of Devolved Matters The Trust should continue to monitor carefully the implementation of the BBC management’s actions regarding the 2008 Impartiality Review of Network News and Current Affairs coverage of devolved matters.The Council has been encouraged that Network News has, on the whole, become better at signposting the relevance of news items to particular nations within the UK, but considers that its coverage could be further enriched by increasing the comparative pieces focusing on more than one of the UK’s nations.

Audience Council Wales report on BBC performance in Wales 2010/11 continued

9

3. With Gavin & Stacey having been a huge hit with audiences, portrayal was a matter of importance to audiences in Barry.

4. ACW met with key opinion formers from across Wales at an event in October 2010.

43

LocalThe implementation of the BBC Executive’s alternatives to the BBC Local proposal, rejected by the Trust, should be monitored to assess their impact in addressing the gap in delivering the BBC Public Purpose of Representing the UK, its Nations, Regions and Communities. They should also be monitored for the way in which they contribute to delivering the BBC’s Public Purpose of Sustaining Citizenship and Civil Society in Wales.The Council remains concerned that further financial constraints could impact negatively on plans by the BBC Wales News and Current Affairs Department to improve local coverage by deploying staff to the various regions of Wales.

Support for formal learning in Welsh and EnglishProposals should be brought forward to enhance support for formal learning in Wales in both Welsh and English which are relevant to the Wales curriculum.The Council welcomes the plans of BBC Controller Education and Learning and will keep a careful eye on their implementation during the months and years to come. It is delighted that the Welsh language assets of the (now closed) BBC jam online educational service have been completed and made available to learners.

10

21

1. ACW member, Robert Humphreys makes a point during an audience outreach event.

2. The educational importance of the BBC’s websites and programming was emphasised at the ACW’s outreach event in Barry.

Audience Councils The Trust should build on its recent project to strengthen its relationship with audiences across the United Kingdom through the Councils. It should also seek to achieve more visible participation of the Audience Councils in its work by raising the profile of the role of the Audience Councils in reflecting the views of the BBC’s audiences and the impact they make on the thinking of the Trust.The Council welcomes the profile which the BBC National Trustee for Wales has achieved and encourages developments to further raise the profile of Council so as to better serve the BBC’s audiences and convey the views of licence fee payers to the BBC Trust.

Reviewing the performance of BBC Cymru WalesThe ACW does not believe that the nations annexes to the BBC One and BBC Two Service Licences offer an adequate framework against which to measure the performance of BBC Cymru Wales television. The situation regarding online causes greater concern being as the Wales output is not even covered by an annexe to the Service Licence. Better yardsticks should be developed. The Council welcomes the conclusions of the BBC One, Two and Four Service Review by the BBC Trust, agrees that BBC management should seek more robust ways of measuring quality and performance in programming and looks forward to receiving further information.

Audience Council Wales report on BBC performance in Wales 2010/11 continued

11

Report on BBC performance in Wales against the BBC Public Purposes

Sustaining citizenship and civil society The Council considered that both Network News and national news for Wales contributed to fulfilling this Purpose. Half of all adults in Wales saw at least one edition per week of BBC Wales Today – an average audience of 273,000 for its 6.30pm news programme. It achieved its highest ever audience for a lunch-time bulletin – 390,000 – during the peak of the snowy period in December 2010. Newyddion on S4C was an important contributor to this Purpose. 100,000 viewers see at least one Newyddion bulletin each week and the 7.30pm programme has an average audience of 18,000. The BBC’s Newsround-style programme, Ffeil, on S4C also contributed to this Purpose. News programming on BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales contributed significantly to this Purpose with Post Cyntaf serving an average audience of 40,000 and Good Morning Wales 80,000. Week in Week Out, Eye on Wales, Manylu, Wythnos Gwilym Owen, Taro Naw and Pawb a’i Farn all provided important opportunities for discussing current affairs, thus contributing to this Purpose.Audiences in Wales regularly told Council that the BBC’s politics coverage was important. Coverage by the BBC, both in Wales and on Network, of the March 2011 referendum on primary legislative powers for the National Assembly had been important in educating the electorate and informing decisions. CF99, Dragon’s Eye,

The Politics Show, Dau o’r Bae and Sunday Supplement all provided extensive and varied coverage of politics in Wales and beyond. Council considered the blogs of Vaughan Roderick, Betsan Powys and David Cornock to be a useful addition to the BBC’s coverage of politics in Wales giving fresh perspectives on politics in Wales and Westminster. Coverage of the UK General Election in May 2010 was generally positively viewed according to comments at outreach events.The Council commended the BBC’s Welsh language TV programming broadcast on S4C, which at 745 hours during 2010 was significantly above the 520 of the BBC’s statutory obligation, but noted the total number of hours of programme supply in the plan for the 2011/12 financial year was a significantly reduced 648 hours. Of S4C’s total audience hours, 42% arose from BBC Cymru Wales programmes – a high proportion when the BBC’s output was only 20% of S4C’s total hours (albeit with a high proportion in peak).

Promoting education and learningThe Council noted that the BBC’s support for formal learning for all ages was increasingly online and on-demand. It commended the vision of BBC Controller Learning, to “inspire a life full of learning for all our audiences”. At all its outreach events, Council heard from students and others of the educational importance of the BBC’s websites and programming.

12

1. Filming Pobol y Cwm.

2. BBC NOW Christmas Concert at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.

Report on BBC performance in Wales against the BBC Public Purposes continued

The Council’s outreach meeting with Able Radio – a community radio station staffed by and providing output for disabled people – heard of the importance of programmes such as Breaking Boundaries and Dancing on Wheels in educating the general population about disability.Informal learning through entertainment was delivered to viewers through programmes such as Springwatch, Snowdonia 1890, Iolo’s Wild Times, Hidden Histories and Rolf on Welsh Art.The Council was disappointed at BBC Cymru’s decision to axe the Factual O Flaen dy Lygaid strand, which it considered to have been an important high quality series, but recognised that the decision had been taken following S4C’s introduction of its own Factual strand, O’r Galon.The BBC Radio 4 series The History of the World in a 100 Objects, was mentioned by many as a supreme example of learning through entertainment – the series having been greatly appreciated when broadcast and as a podcast.

Stimulating creativity and cultural excellenceWhile this purpose encompassed almost all the BBC’s activity the Council considered that there were some outstanding examples. BBC Four was specifically mentioned as “having come of age recently” during an outreach event. Another participant said “the difference in output is what is appreciated. I really love Eastenders, but I also love Wonders of the Solar System”. Snowdonia 1890 very successfully took the Coal House format to north Wales and delivered BBC Wales’s second highest ever series average of 309,000. Pobol y Cwm boosted its audiences to its highest level for five years, with each origination now attracting 50,000 viewers, and over 90,000 when repeats are included.

1

13

2

Scrum V live, Clwb Rygbi and Sport Wales all demonstrated that BBC Cymru Wales’ in-house sport production expertise was world class. Y Clwb Rygbi regularly delivered S4C’s highest origination audience of the week at around 69,000. The return of Formula 1 Grand Prix motor racing to BBC TV was also appreciated by ACW outreach events participants.The BBC National Orchestra of Wales continued its programme of concerts across Wales and beyond as well as its extensive output for BBC Radio 3 from its home in BBC Hoddinott Hall. BBC Radio 3 more generally was also appreciated by participants at ACW outreach.The BBC’s coverage of the National Eisteddfod was considered by Council to be significant, with comprehensive coverage on Radio Cymru, S4C and online and it commended the coverage provided by BBC Radio Wales of the festival during the year under review.

Reflecting the UK its nations, regions and communitiesThe Council was pleased that there had been closer cooperation between BBC Network and BBC Cymru Wales News teams recently following the BBC Trust Impartiality review of coverage of devolved policy by Network News. It felt that there had been an improvement in the representation of Wales on the BBC News. However, audiences informed Council that there was still some way to go before this matter was resolved satisfactorily on all Network news programmes.The perception of BBC Cymru Wales as being the national broadcaster for Wales had grown steadily from 38% in 2001 to the current level of 58%, with a correspondingly large increase in perceptions of it being the national broadcaster of news from Wales (from 44% to 67%). The Council strongly believes that it is as important, if not more so, for Wales to be reflected to itself as it is for it be portrayed more widely across the UK. Audiences appreciated Network

14

1. BBC Audience members in the Gwaun Valley share their views with ACW.

2. ACW member, Nicola Branson, at the outreach event in Barry.

3. Hearing the views of key opinion formers from organisations across Wales was of great value to ACW.

programmes such as Coast, which they considered reflected this Purpose, and criticised programmes such as Seven Ages of Britain, which they considered had failed to do so, despite being an otherwise high quality series. Concern is expressed at reductions in funding of English language programming for Wales. Additional funding responsibilities for S4C has led to audiences at outreach events articulating the fear that this could lead to a further diminution in the budget for English language programming for Wales. Council believes that the higher approval of the BBC as a whole should not be used as an excuse for not addressing what is becoming a matter of increasing concern for audiences in Wales.

Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UKParticipants at Council outreach events expressed the pride felt by people in Wales at the success of BBC Cymru Wales produced programmes such as Doctor Who, Torchwood, Upstairs Downstairs, Sherlock and Crimewatch, with the imminent start of the production of Casualty in Wales eagerly anticipated.

The Human Planet was described by a young man at a recent Council outreach event as “the best series I’ve ever seen.” BBC Radio 3 was also praised for the variety of its musical output, with a participant at an outreach event saying “it’s good to be exposed to all kinds of music from all parts of the world”.BBC Cymru Wales’ online services provided worldwide access to news from Wales and recent natural disasters and political unrest across north Africa have seen BBC Cymru’s journalists filing reports from many parts of the globe, which has been greatly appreciated by audiences across Wales.

Report on BBC performance in Wales against the BBC Public Purposes continued

1

15

32

Delivering to the public the benefit of emerging communication technologies and servicesThe Council remained deeply concerned that DAB coverage of BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru was inadequate at 40% coverage of the population, contrasting with 80% coverage for BBC Network Radio stations in Wales. BBC Radio Wales coverage on FM (at around 68% of the population) remained a concern and the Council welcomed the work being undertaken by BBC Distribution to increase the station’s coverage to 76% in the near future.The Council welcomed the fact that the BBC iPlayer now carries most BBC TV, BBC produced S4C programming and BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru programmes as well as having a Welsh language interface. It welcomed the introduction of the listing of S4C’s entire schedule so viewers can click on any programme to access S4C’s Clic service.The Council welcomes the development of the Roath Lock television production facility in Cardiff Bay and looks forward to early

autumn 2011 when HD drama productions begin there. It shares the concerns of audiences that nations opt-outs are absent from BBC One HD – not least since 60% of viewing in Wales is on Digital Satellite, well ahead of any other part of the UK, and Sky is in the process of prioritising HD channels in its electronic programme guide. Another concern is the rapid growth of BBC One HD viewing in Wales, growing from zero to 6% during the latter six months of the year under review. The Council considers this has serious implications for the Purpose of Sustaining Citizenship and Civil Society in Wales – particularly after the outcome of the March 2011 referendum on introducing direct primary legislative powers for the National Assembly for Wales.

16

Audience priorities for 2011/12

Universality of accessCouncils were concerned about access to BBC services by some audiences who are unable to receive them, particularly on some digital platforms. There were particular concerns about the quality and extent of DAB coverage. In addition, Councils would like to see a coherent UK-wide strategy on the roll-out of Nations and Regions programming in HD. ACW expressed concern that, in spite of the addition of new DAB transmitters for Network services, only a minority of people can receive BBC Radio Wales or BBC Radio Cymru on DAB. ACW outreach work indicates that there are big questions in the minds of audience members over DAB and whether the BBC should be promoting this when the commercial sector is not responding to the Government’s request to expand the network.Any discussion of the BBC fulfilling its Purposes in Wales should take account of the differentials in access to BBC services. Lack of access has a profound effect on the BBC’s ability to fulfil these Public Purposes effectively.

Sustaining citizenship and civil society The Councils believe the BBC should play a stronger role in facilitating public debate with informed coverage of issues across the UK, and an increasing depth and breadth in the BBC’s international reporting. ACW welcomes the significant progress in reporting by Network News from around the UK following the Trust Impartiality Review on reporting devolved issues. However it considers that there is still a significant way to go until the reporting of the devolved nations on all BBC Network’s news programmes meets the standards of accuracy and quality expected from the BBC. The opportunity to enrich programmes further with policy comparisons from around the UK is not taken to its full potential at present.

Promoting education and learningThe Councils welcome the BBC’s strategy for formal and informal learning, and looks forward to understanding more about how it will impact on diverse audiences such as older people, those not in employment, or learners in the devolved nations where different circumstances apply.

17

Stimulating creativity and cultural excellenceThe hours of English-language programmes produced in Wales by BBC Wales has reduced from 824 (324 in general programming) in 2005 to 696 hours in 2009 (276 in general programming). ACW considers the decrease in hours and spend worrying and regrettable, particularly in the context of the Ofcom Market Report Wales 2010 which showed that the overall decrease (including both BBC and ITV output) during the previous year was 16% and that over five years spend was down 44% in total.The Council has been concerned with the recent developments relating to Welsh language television and fears that the Welsh speaking audience will suffer following recent announcements. It looks to renew the BBC’s commitment to ensuring that the Welsh speaking audience will be provided with a full public service broadcasting provision on all platforms, across all genres and of the highest quality. ACW thinks it is essential to safeguard and strengthen the core services which are specifically aimed at Wales in both Welsh and English.

Bringing the world to the UK and the UK to the worldAudiences told Council that the range of international news is not adequately diverse with a strong bias in overseas news on Network towards the USA, and a perception that the rest of Europe is hardly covered. For this reason many members

of the audience greatly appreciate the different perspective provided by the BBC World Service. There is a feeling that the BBC should be informing the debate and helping the audience understand different perspectives.

Portrayal and network supplyThe Councils asked the Trust to continue to challenge the Executive to produce tangible enhancements to the full, authentic and accurate portrayal of different communities and identities across the UK.

Strategy Review and licence fee settlement The Councils want to ensure that value for money is pursued fairly for all audiences across all strands of work, particularly as difficult decisions are made as a result of the licence fee settlement.

Quality and distinctiveness The Councils welcome the commitment to quality and distinctiveness in the BBC Strategy Review and want to see the tangible benefits for audiences in BBC services at Network, national and local levels. In particular, audiences wish to see consistent standards of quality continuing to be met in both Network and opt out TV programmes.

Older audiences The Councils raised concerns about how well the needs of older audiences were being met, and how any gaps might be addressed.

18

Audience Council Wales

Elan Closs Stephens, Chair and BBC National Trustee For Wales

Sangeet Bhullar Nicola Branson

Andrew Carter Ioan Evans, until January 2011 Robert Humphreys

Pamela Hunt Aled Jones-Griffith Sharon Mainwaring

Alexandra McMillan Arun Midha Teresa Rees

Contacts

If you have a question, comment or complaint about BBC Cymru Wales programmes or services, or any other aspect of the BBC’s work, please contact our Audience Services unit. All feedback is carefully registered and regularly distributed to editorial teams and management.Telephone: 03703 500 700Lines open weekdays 9.30am-7.30pm (except bank holidays). Calls to the 0370 UK-wide rate are charged at no more than 01/02 geographic numbers. Calls may be recorded for training.Website: www.bbc.co.uk/wales/infoWrite to: Audience Services BBC Cymru Wales Bangor LL57 2BYComplaints: for more information about the BBC’s complaints process and to submit a complaint online please visit www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

Designed by www.luminous.co.uk

British Broadcasting CorporationBroadcasting HouseLondon W1A 1AAbbc.co.uk© BBC 2011