Audience Council for Nothern Ireland

The Audience Council

1. What is the Audience Council's role?
2. How does the Audience Council take account of my views?
3. How do I find out about a Council audience event ?
4. What priorities has the Audience Council identified on behalf of audiences in Northern Ireland ?
5. How are audience priorities identified ?
6. How can I become a member of the Audience Council for Northern Ireland ?
   
   

   The BBC

7. What are the BBC's Public Purposes ?
8. How much is the licence fee ?
9. How do I pay my licence fee ?
10. What do I get for my licence fee ?
    
    
    

    Audience Feedback

11. Who should I contact if I have a comment about the BBC?
12. How can I complain to the BBC ?

The Audience Council

Question 1:
What is the Audience Council's role?

Answer:
The Audience Council's role is to bring the diverse perspectives of audiences in Northern Ireland to bear on the work of the BBC Trust the governing body of the BBC. It represents the views, interests and concerns of local audiences in key decisions, for instance when the Trust is approving a new BBC service or reviewing an existing one. The Audience Council actively engages with audiences in Northern Ireland to understand how well the BBC is promoting its Public Purposes and serving licence fee payers. Each year the Audience Council identifies particular priorities for the local audience with regard to the BBC's services and brings them to the attention of the BBC Trust. It has a role in monitoring how well these issues are addressed throughout the year. It is one of four Audience Councils across the UK (Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales) that form part of the BBC's accountability framework.

Question 2:
How does the Audience Council take account of my views?

Answer:
The Audience Council aims to listen to the range of views from audiences across Northern Ireland. It has a programme of outreach activities to engage with audiences from different parts of Northern Ireland as well as a wide range of interests and perspectives. It is interested in feedback which informs specific aspects of the BBC Trust's work, as when young people and representatives of the youth sector were involved in the Review of Services for Young People.

The Audience Council also wants to understand the breadth of views about the BBC's performance in Northern Ireland and invites you to Have Your Say.

The Audience Council uses this information to understand how well the BBC is meeting the needs of local licence fee payers and to identify key issues of concern. It provides advice to the BBC Trust to inform the Trust's work and decisions throughout the year.

Question 3:
How do I find out about a Council audience event?

Answer:
If you sign up to the Audience Council's e-zine you will be kept up-to-date with details of the Council's events and other activities. We also publish details of activities and BBC Trust consultations on this website. You can contact us with any queries about the work of the Council.

Question 4:
What priorities has the Audience Council identified on behalf of audiences in Northern Ireland?

Answer:
Each year the Audience Council identifies issues that are of particular importance to the Northern Ireland audience and brings these to the attention of the BBC Trust. The Council monitors how these issues are addressed throughout the year and reports back to the Trust and also to audiences in its Annual Review.

The priorities are described here>>

Question 5:
How are audience priorities identified?

Answer:
The Audience Council goes through a rigourous process of assessing views from audiences along with research and other relevant data. It considers all of the evidence before reaching a view on the key issues of interest and concern to local audiences.

Question 6:
How can I become a member of the Audience Council?

Answer:
The Audiene Council is made up of 11 volunteers - men and women from a breadth of backgrounds, from all over Northern Ireland. There are regular recruitment rounds and any licence fee payer over the age of 16 can apply. Members are appointed through an open and transparent recruitment process based on the merit principle. They must demonstrate an understanding of the needs, concerns, interests and diveristy of the audience in Northern Ireland. All members are appointed in an individual rather than a representative capacity.

We recruit regularly for new members. Anyone over the age of sixteen is eligible to apply. Find out more here>>

The BBC

Question 7:
What are the BBC's Public Purposes?

Answer:
In order for the BBC to fulfil its mission to inform, educate and entertain, the BBC's Charter and Agreement set out six public purposes. These are:

• Sustaining citizenship and civil society.
• Promoting education and learning.
• Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence.
• Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities.
• Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK.
• Delivering to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services.

The Audience Council is interested to understand how well the Public Purposes are promoted for audiences in Northern Ireland. If you have a view please contact us.

See the BBC Trust website for more information about the BBC' Public Purposes.

Question 8:
How much is the licence fee?

Answer:
A colour TV licence costs £145.50 and a black and white licence costs £49.00. Licences have to be renewed each year.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport sets the amount of the licence fee and decides who needs one and for what equipment.

Question 9:
How do I pay my licence fee?

Answer:
Information about the different ways you can pay for your licence fee can be found here>>

Question 10:
What do I get for my licence fee?

Answer:
The licence fee pays for the BBC's UK public services. These include 8 interactive TV channels, 10 radio networks, more than 50 local TV and radio services, and bbc.co.uk. More information is available here>>

Audience Feedback

Question 11:
Who should I contact if I have a comment, complaint or query about the BBC?

Answer:
Most comments, complaints and queries about BBC programmes and services are best dealt with directly by the relevant department. Read more here>>

If you have a view about the BBC which you think should inform the Audience Council's advice to the BBC Trust, or you would like to know more about the work of the Council, please contact us.

Question 12:
How can I complain to the BBC?

Answer:
You can find out more about the BBC's complaints process and make a complaint at BBC complaints.