BBC survey sees viewers ask broadcaster ‘make programmes less diverse’

A survey on BBC’s programmes and coverage showed that viewers want the broadcaster to deliver “for our society in today’s fast-changing world”. The broadcaster is renowned for its news, drama, documentaries and sport, serving the public for generations. Now, survey participants have called for “the best homegrown storytelling” asking for content from across the UK that “brings people together”.

There was “strong support for a BBC that seeks to pursue truth with no agenda” after a total of 872,701 people aired their views on the broadcaster’s content – and what they want to see going forward. In the survey, 11% of participants gave feedback about diversity, representation and inclusion, including comments about “political correctness”. Some gave their opinion that the BBC should be “less diverse on screen and on air”, while many called for “increased representation of different parts of the UK” outside of London.

Some viewers asked for less content on diversity saying the broadcaster had “lost touch” and there were “concerns about the balance of representation between different audience groups’”

There were calls for the BBC to be “both less diverse on screen and on air as well as more diverse”, but a total of 85% voted for the importance of “homegrown” storytelling.

In the “what the BBC should stand for section”, 93% agreed that to “pursue truth with no agenda” was imperative. The broadcaster has summarised the results and will now take on the feedback for future programmes.

In the summary BBC wrote: “You are looking for a BBC that delivers for our society in today’s fast-changing world. There is strong support for a BBC that seeks to pursue truth with no agenda, that backs the best homegrown storytelling and content from across the UK, and that brings people together.”

In the survey, 91% voiced it to be important that the BBC is “independent from the government of the day”, but 5% said this was “unimportant”.

Across the 872,701 participants, regarding whether the BBC “offers something for everyone”, 59% voted it as effective while 24% thought it was ineffective.

When it came to reflecting the views of people across the UK, including different parts of the UK, 51% said it was effective and 24% said it was ineffective. The remaining percentage voted “don’t know”.

Director-general of the BBC Mr Tim Davie said: “We have had such an incredible response to this questionnaire, which shows just how much people care about the BBC. I want to thank everyone who took part and shared their views with us.

“I strongly believe the BBC has never been more needed, both in the UK and around the world.

“The results of the questionnaire are clear – our audience wants an independent BBC, delivering high quality programmes and content that they can trust; that tells the stories that matter to them and that reflect their lives.”

In the results report the BBC made clear that it wants “to make sure we are on the right track, especially when it comes to key issues like independence and how well we reflect the lives of everyone in the UK”.

It also shared that it will keep listening to viewers, addinf that it wanted to “hear more from younger people as the next generation of BBC audiences”.