Our BBC, Our Future

In total, 872,701 account holders shared their views, giving us a powerful picture of what people across the UK want and need from the BBC as we reinvent what we do for the future.

• 872,701 took part in 'Our BBC, Our Future'
• 83% of respondents said it’s important the BBC continues to inform, educate and entertain in the future (unimportant: 9%)

What the BBC should stand for

The findings demonstrated strong backing for a BBC that plays a critical role for the UK, with 83% of respondents saying it is important that the BBC’s core mission to inform, educate and entertain continues in the future.

There were also high levels of 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.

• 93% of respondents said it’s important the BBC seeks to pursue truth with no agenda (Unimportant: 3%)
• 85% of respondents said it’s important the BBC backs the best homegrown storytelling (Unimportant: 6%)
• 75% of respondents said it’s important the BBC brings people together (Unimportant: 10%)

What kind of organisation should the BBC be?

The results also sent a clear message about the kind of organisation respondents want the BBC to be.

More than three-quarters of respondents said that in future it is important that the BBC: is independent from the government of the day; provides a valuable public service; offers something for everyone; has high-quality digital services; reflects areas around the UK; and is an asset for the UK across the world.

How is the BBC doing now?

A significant majority of respondents said the BBC is already doing well in some of these areas that are considered important, especially offering high-quality digital services and providing a valuable public service.

However, in other areas there are clear gaps between how well respondents think we are doing now and how important they think it is for the future.

For example, 51% of respondents said the BBC is effective in reflecting different parts of the UK and the lives of those who live there – which 76% of respondents think is important. And 43% of respondents think the BBC is effective in being independent from the government of the day – which 91% said is important.

What the BBC should do in the future

When it comes to programmes and content, the questionnaire findings showed that respondents value the range in the BBC’s offer. Most said that in the future they wanted the BBC to provide either more or the same amount as it does now.

In particular, over 40% said they want more drama and documentaries, and over 30% want more sport, comedy and entertainment. For news, 67% said they want the same amount as now in the future.

We also asked respondents to give us their thoughts on anything else important to them or their family that the BBC could offer or improve in the future. There were over half a million comments, covering the full range of views on all aspects of what the BBC does. The three most common themes mentioned related to our programmes, content and online services (raised by 28% of respondents); impartiality and bias (from 25% of respondents); and the TV licence fee and funding (from 17% of respondents).

What we are doing with the feedback

A summary of the findings was sent to all account holders who replied, and a website was also created showing the results in more detail. We also undertook a further listening exercise – UNBOXD – with young people aged 16 to 24 to find out what matters to this age group and to ensure we meet their media needs.

What we heard from audiences is now helping us to shape our plans for the future so that the BBC can serve all in the years ahead.