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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has published the results of its biggest ever listening exercise – which shows resounding support for its continuing mission to inform, educate and entertain.

The Our ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, Our Future questionnaire, launched in March this year, received 872,701 responses, with people from across the UK sharing their views on the organisation and its future.

The results will play a central part of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s planning for the future, now that the Charter Review process with government is underway.

They show people demonstrated support for a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ that plays a critical role for the UK, with 83% of respondents saying it is important that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s core mission to inform, educate and entertain continues.

Alongside that:

• 93% said it’s important the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ seeks to pursue truth with no agenda
• 85% said it’s important that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ backs the best homegrown storytelling
• 75% said it’s important that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ brings people together.

Tim Davie, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director-General says: "We have had such an incredible response to this questionnaire, which shows just how much people care about the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. I want to thank everyone who took part and shared their views with us.

"I strongly believe the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has never been more needed, both in the UK and around the world. The results of the questionnaire are clear – our audience wants an independent ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, delivering high-quality programmes and content that they can trust; that tells the stories that matter to them and that reflect their lives.

"We are here to deliver for audiences across the UK and we will be taking everything they have told us with us as we shape the future of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½."

The results send a clear message about the kind of organisation the audience who responded wants the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ to be:

• 91% said it’s important to be independent from the government of the day
• 76% said it’s important to reflect the people and different parts of the UK
• 76% said it’s important to be an asset for the UK around the world.
• 82% said it’s important to provide a valuable public service
• 80% said it’s important to offer high-quality digital services
• 78% said it’s important to offer something for everyone

A significant majority said the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is already doing well in some of these areas –  64%  said the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ already provides a valuable public service.

But in other areas, the results show there is work to do. For example, 51% of respondents said the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is currently effective in reflecting different parts of the UK and the lives of those who live there; while 38% said the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is ineffective at being independent from the government of the day.

When it comes to programmes and content, questionnaire respondents want the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ 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. In news 67% said they want the same amount as now, in the future.

Having assessed and published the data, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is now going through the findings in detail and considering the following questions to help inform how it can give audiences more value in the future:

• How can we make the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ more accountable to the public and more responsive to your wishes and needs?
• Where can we invest more across the UK and support economic growth by commissioning and making more programmes and content around the country?
• What more can we do to fight disinformation and support trusted information at home and around the world?
• How much further can we go to support more local news reporting and services across the UK?
• How can we harness the potential of AI in a safe and trusted way to support children’s learning and help the next generation?
• How can we help make sure no one is left behind as the UK moves fully to a digital future?

These plans will form part of discussions with government, which has begun the process of reviewing the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s Royal Charter. The current Charter expires at the end of 2027 and the government is expected shortly to publish a Green Paper and launch a consultation with the public on the future of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.

• See the full results of the Our ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, Our Future questionnaire
• Read a summary of the results as a PDF

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Press Office

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