Audience Council for Nothern Ireland

Council represents BBC audiences in Northern Ireland, and works to ensure that the BBC delivers services that fulfil its public purposes to audiences in Northern Ireland.

Each year the four Audience Councils identify "Audience Priorities" - areas where they would particularly like to see improvements made to BBC services, in response to feedback from audiences. The Trust met with representatives of the Audience Councils to explore these issues and to understand how they could be taken forward.

Along with the Audience Councils for England, Scotland and Wales, we have identified the following audience priorities for 2011/12.

Common Audience Priorities for all four nations

1. Universality of access
   
   Councils 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 also like to see a coherent UK-wide strategy on the roll-out of Nations and Regions programming in HD.
   
   Audience Council Northern Ireland is particularly concerned to understand plans for future digital provision of BBC Radio Foyle.

2. Stimulating 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. Audience Council Northern Ireland would like to see continued progress in reflecting, and providing a Northern Ireland context for, the reporting of major public policy issues.

3. Portrayal and network supply
   
   The Councils ask 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. Audience Council Northern Ireland welcomes the increase in network drama being made in Northern Ireland, but recognises the need for continued vigilance in order to meet the vision of sustainable creative centres throughout the UK.

4. Strategic 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.
   

5. Promoting Education and Learning
   
   The Councils welcome the BBC’s strategy for formal and informal learning, and look forward to understanding how it will impact on diverse audiences such as older audiences, those not in employment, or learners in the devolved nations where different circumstances apply.
   
   
6. 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 being met in both network and opt out programmes.
   
   
7. Older Audiences
   
   The Councils raised concerns about how well the needs of older audiences were being met, and how any gaps might be addressed.
   

Other priorities identified by the Audience Council Northern Ireland specific to local audiences:

Depth and Range of Northern Ireland News Reporting

The Council believes that there is a need for local news to be appropriately structured and resourced to reflect the major changes in society, and in particular to enhance the depth and range of coverage of business, the economy, arts and culture. Council would also welcome more coverage as to how matters of public policy – such as health and education – differ in Northern Ireland, compared to the rest of the UK and what impact, if any, this might have on the future development of policy in Northern Ireland.

Digital Switchover

Plans for digital television switchover in Northern Ireland in 2012 require due synchronisation with plans for switchover in the Republic of Ireland, to avoid adverse effects on audiences in Northern Ireland who currently receive, and enjoy, analogue television services from across the border. The Audience Council for Northern Ireland also seeks assurance that any communications strategy around digital switchover will be sufficient to meet the needs of all audiences, including those in vulnerable groups.