BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 - Fourth Report of Session 2008-09 Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence (Paperback)

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee held an oral evidence session with the BBC on its annual report and accounts for 2007-08. Further questions from the Committee were answered by the BBC in a much more thorough and informative manner than had been the case with the previous annual report. The Committee's report focuses on deficiencies in the following areas: reach of television services; Kangaroo (a joint venture video on demand service); value of the BBC; transparency of salaries; and, Ofcom fees. Overall, though, the Committee is generally satisfied with the quality and detail of the responses received this year. Finally the report examines the recent controversy over the offensive content in the broadcast of a pre-recorded episode of the Russell Brand Show. The Committee finds the broadcast was a serious editorial lapse, and the slow response and delayed apology from the BBC was unacceptable. The announcement that Jonathan Ross would be back on air after his three month suspension before the BBC Trust had approved such action, further compounded the poor handling of this affair.