Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ publishes Annual Report for 2014/15

Date: 14.07.2015     Last updated: 09.12.2015 at 10.36

The voice of the audiences who pay for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ must be heard in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s Charter Review debate following the agreement reached with the Government on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ licence fee, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust Chairman Rona Fairhead said today, launching the . 

The report shows that in 2014/15 the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ continued to reach almost every household around the UK, reaching 97 per cent of adults with highlights including Wolf Hall on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two, Poldark on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Happy Valley, The Fall, and award-winning Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three drama Murdered By My Boyfriend. 

On radio, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music became the first digital-only radio station to reach two million listeners each week, and Radio 4 Extra is also now reaching more than two million listeners per week.  Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio also held major events including Radio 1 Big Weekend from Glasgow, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Music Awards and the 6 Music Festival. 

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s digital services had a record-breaking year; the Trust approved the move of iPlayer from seven to 30-day catchup, and in January 2015 iPlayer had its best month on record, with 343 million downloads.  The new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Weather app reached five million downloads within five months of launch – an average of fifteen downloads per minute. 

Throughout the year, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ also marked the centenary of World War One with content across TV, radio and online.

Savings and efficiencies continued across the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ; the Delivering Quality First efficiency programme is on track to save £700 million by 2016/17 with £484 million saved this year, contributing to a total of £1.5 billion per annum of cumulative annual savings that will have been delivered by the end of the Charter period in 2017.

The Director-General Tony Hall also recently announced plans to save an additional £50 million by merging divisions, cutting down management layers, reducing the number of managers and improving internal processes.

Rona Fairhead said:

"Over the course of the past year, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has had notable successes on screen and on air, remains as popular as ever with audiences, and made good progress in delivering savings with more in the pipeline. 

"As we head into the Charter Review with much more clarity on the funding than expected, the focus must now be on deciding the shape and role of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ for the next generation. The Trust will be working tirelessly to ensure that the voice of those who pay the licence fee, the UK public, will have the pivotal voice in that debate."

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Director-General Tony Hall said:

"We had fantastic success last year with some great programmes like Wolf Hall and Poldark and we’ve got more great shows lined up for the year ahead. As we enter a period of Charter Review it’s inevitable that there will be much discussion about the programmes we provide. I believe that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ should continue to make programmes for all our audiences. Everyone pays for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and it is right that we continue to make programmes for everyone. A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ that doesn’t inform, educate and entertain is not the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ the public know and love."

This year’s Annual Report shows that in 2014/15:

  • 97% of UK adults used Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ services on TV, radio or online each week, up from 96% the previous year.
  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ responded well to a challenge last year from the Trust to improve the quality, variety and originality of new drama on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, particularly in peaktime, with new and popular dramas including Happy Valley, The Missing and Poldark, as well as returning series Last Tango in Halifax, The Village and Call the Midwife.
  • A record 283 million people accessed the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s Global News services every week.
  • Wolf Hall became Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two’s highest rated drama series for at least twelve years, and the 30th anniversary of EastEnders was watched by 21 million people. 
  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport Online drew 77.5 million unique browsers across the globe, for its coverage of the World Cup, Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and The Open.
  • 90% of adults around the country listened to some Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio during the year, although the time they spend listening is decreasing. 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  1. The Annual Report and Accounts 2014/15 and the Full Financial Statements .
  2. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Annual Report and Accounts and Full Financial Statements are produced pursuant to article 45 of the Royal Charter and are laid in Parliament.
  3. Alongside the Annual Report the following documents have also been published:

    By the Trust::

    Service Reviews Annual Progress Report
    Purpose Remit Survey for UK
    Purpose Remit Survey for Scotland
    Purpose Remit Survey for Wales
    Purpose Remit Survey for Northern Ireland
    Purpose Remit Survey for England Audience Council
    Annual Reviews for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
    Trust observations on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s arrangements for promoting equal opportunities in employment
    Independent review of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s approach to Risk Management.

    By the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Executive:

    ARA & Full Financial Statements
    Performance against Public Commitments
    Executive Work Plan
    Licence Fee Trust statement
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Management Review for Wales
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Management Review for Scotland
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Management Review for Northern Ireland
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Management Review for England
    Equality Information report (including Bullying & Harassment states) & Analysis Severance arrangements for 2014/15
    Good Corporation review of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s whistleblowing and child protection policies and processes.

    By Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide:

    Worldwide Annual Review.