Lords Committee to quiz BBC Director General and Chairman on broadcaster’s future
The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee will next week question BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Chairman Dr Samir Shah CBE on the corporation’s future and its handling of the Huw Edwards scandal.
The session will pick up on themes identified in the Committee’s 2022 report, 'BBC Future Funding' including the future of the BBC in the context of a declining number of licence fee payers; the need for the BBC to set out clearly a strategic vision of its purpose in the 21st century; how the BBC will change to meet that purpose, including how it will improve its offer to audiences who are turning away, such as working-class viewers; the BBC’s coverage of the recent general election; and issues relating to local news.
The session will begin with questions about the BBC’s handling of the Huw Edwards case. Issues raised by the case that will be covered include the corporation’s approach to addressing allegations of wrongdoing involving high profile presenters and its effect on the confidence of licence fee payers, as well as the BBC’s approach to archive footage featuring the presenter. These issues relate to the Committee’s ongoing work examining the extent to which the BBC is upholding public confidence in an age of expanding choice and declining audience engagement.
Mr Davie and Dr Shah will give evidence to the Committee from 2:30pm on Tuesday 10 September in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.
