The BBC has been slammed for ‘obsessing’ over the idea of a second Brexit referendum and for it ‘London-centricity’ Today programme by broadcaster Iain Dale.
Mr Dale said the BBC was “failing to gauge the public mood on Brexit” and accused the broadcaster of serving “narrow urban outlook”.
He said: “They were constantly obsessing about a second referendum and only paying lip-service to those who gently pointed out that the demand for one didn’t really exist outside Remain-supporting London – coincidentally where most BBC producers and editors live.
“It even sought to ‘correct’ the views of Brexiteers, with its ‘Reality Check’ journalists, a service that was rarely performed on claims made by Remainers.”
He went on to say the BBC were losing “viewers and listeners in their thousands” to online streaming services, such as YouTube and Netflix.
Mr Dale shamed the BBC for its “London-centricity” Today programme, which “does not reflect the public’s view”.
He added: “It regards getting out of London once a month to broadcast from a top tier university as somehow being enough to reflect the mood of the country.
“Why does it never broadcast from a factory or a call centre?”
Despite his harsh criticisms, Mr Dale said he wants to see the BBC be successful, he remarked: “I want the BBC to succeed. I admire a lot of what it does.
“But it is threatening to turn in on itself. It’s being held back by an institutionalised management more interested in covering their own backs than promoting innovation and giving viewers and listeners what they want.
“The battle for eyeballs and ears has never been more cutthroat, and if the BBC fails to acknowledge that it has no divine right to exist in its current form, there will be further trouble ahead.”
The latest BBC viewing figures revealed young viewers has fallen from 51.9 percent to 46.6 percent in a year, according to a document obtained by the trade magazine Broadcast. It comes as 16-34-year-olds turn away from watching the state-funded broadcasters three main channels: BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4.
The report warned the BBC was “dangerously close to the brink” if it fails to halt the decline, in an attempt to fight this the BBC has injected millions into iPlayer-focused content, such as by gaining the rights to The Sinner – which was previously exclusive to Netflix.
Sharon White, Ofcom chief executive, said: “The BBC is still a vital, valued part of British culture.
“But we’re concerned that a new generation is tuning out of its services.
“So the BBC must set out bolder plans to connect with younger viewers and listeners.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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