The BBC’s ambitious masterplan to invest £700M outside of London by March 2028 has come under fire for its incomplete evaluation process. The National Audit Office (NAO) raised concerns about the lack of a coherent approach in assessing the impact and benefits of the Across the UK program. The NAO’s latest report highlighted the BBC’s overconfidence in the success of the plan, noting that it had begun implementing the program without a clear plan in place. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the BBC’s tracking and measurement of the program’s progress.
One of the key criticisms leveled by the NAO is the lack of clarity in the BBC’s plans for evaluating the success of the Across the UK program. The report highlighted that the BBC’s focus was primarily on the actions it would take, rather than the impact it intended to achieve. This lack of a coherent explanation of the expected impact on license fee payers from moving £700 million of expenditure outside London is concerning. The NAO’s assessment suggests that the BBC may have been misguided in its confidence in the program, especially considering its behind schedule in key areas.
While the NAO acknowledged rapid progress in certain areas of the program, such as exceeding the target of commissioning 100 scripted shows outside of London by March 2028, it also flagged significant setbacks. The BBC’s slow progress in key areas and failure to meet targets raises doubts about its ability to deliver on the promises made in the masterplan. The NAO’s recommendations highlight the need for the BBC to reevaluate its plans and clearly outline its strategy for realizing the benefits of the program.
To avoid a repeat of the flaws identified in the current report, the NAO recommends that the BBC refresh its plans in response to the review. Setting out a clear strategy for realizing the benefits of the program and what it will deliver in the future is essential for transparency and accountability. The recommendation to include a dedicated Across the UK section in the BBC’s annual report and accounts is a step towards improving transparency and keeping stakeholders informed about the progress of the program.
The NAO’s critical assessment of the BBC’s out-of-London masterplan highlights significant shortcomings in the evaluation process and the lack of a coherent approach to tracking progress and measuring impact. The BBC’s overconfidence in the success of the program, coupled with its failure to meet key targets, raises questions about its ability to deliver on its promises. Moving forward, the BBC must heed the NAO’s recommendations to reevaluate its plans, set clear objectives, and improve transparency to ensure the success of the Across the UK program.