BBC Digital Transformation Plan: How the Media Organization Will Become a Digital-first Public Service

Media organization BBC may be in hot water after their pledge to become a digital media leader.

In a recent address to employees, Computer Weekly reports that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Director-General Tim Davie unveiled a strategy outlining the organization's future course to become an organization for the digital age.

According to the report's main message, the BBC needs to adapt and reinvent its services to become more focused on digital. In May 2022, the BBC first unveiled its digital transformation strategy. Director-general Tim Davie pledged to become a digital media leader with a significant positive impact on culture, the economy, and society.

"Too many of our resources are focused on broadcast and not online. And less than 10% of our usage is signed in, so we can't offer a properly tailored service, unlike all our global competitors. If we do not respond faster to these changes we will cede too much ground to those who are not driven by public service values." According to Davie.

What Is BBC's Digital Transformation Plan?

According to BBC's official statement, the media outlet announced that it would reallocate funds to content that thrives in the on-demand world, such as the iPlayer on-demand, live, and catch-up TV platforms, as well as make tough choices regarding traditional distribution and increase its investment in online services, in order to meet these goals. In fact, the BBC had a five-year plan that called for its digital services to have at least a third of the UK market share.

The NAO examined whether the organization could provide value to its users from its Strategic Technology Review (STR) of 2021 in its assessment of the BBC's aspirations and performance to date.

However, Panorama Consulting reports that for the BBC to deliver its goal more successfully and quicken its digital growth, its digital leadership needed to change. Additionally, it emphasized how the BBC had fewer resources available for creating digital products than the majority of other media companies, many of which were only available online.

This digital-first strategy will be supported by a total investment of £300 million or $366,153,000. Services like the BBC's OTT platform, iPlayer, and their audio platform, Sounds, will receive funding. The goal is for 75% of viewers to access iPlayer each week. The digital delivery of news, bulletins, and local services will all be improved.

UK Parliament on BBC's Digital Transformation Plan

Computer Weekly previously reported that the financial watchdog, the UK Parliament, warns broadcasters that it may lack resources to achieve its desired digital ambitions, with particular worry over the best practice in acquiring, storing, and securing personal data and potential exposure to reputational risks.

The UK Parliamentary Accounts are still questioning the BBC's senior management about plans to restructure the company to be suitable for the current media sector and meet the multiplatform needs of license fee payers.

Additionally, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the BBC's capability to achieve its digital ambitions, with MPs expressing particular concern over any pushback on previously stated guarantees in how it could manage a vast increase in acquiring.