Should the BBC Feature User Generated Content?

I was teaching in Budapest this autumn, and while working with a colleague there, we started to brainstorm about user-generated content (UGC ~ like YouTube) and its place (or lack of) in the media policy scheme. It’s mostly his idea, but I thought it would be good to tee-up for further discussion.Anyway, if you connect the concept of UGC with the allegedly declining use of television by 16-24s (and what that means for the future), you get an interesting outcome: a mandatory (or strongly encouraged) UGC regime for public service broadcasters (PSB).

More on this later, but initial sceptics take note: PSBs such as the BBC have taken advantage of nearly every technological development or trend in the media sector: 24-hour news, FM, colour TV, internet, high-def, cable and satellite distribution. So, why not UGC? Or some form of moderated-UGC?

If you take the BBC as an example, it is the perfect candidate for a mandatory UGC regime. First, the BBC has multiplexed and doesn’t even use all of its channels 24/7. BBC3 and BBC4 don’t even start programmes until night-time. Second, the UK has good access to broadband and a great pool of home-grown talent waiting to be discovered. Third, the BBC’s staff could moderate the UGC into genres. Finally, let’s face it: The BBC needs a little more fun and interactivity in what it offers.

So far the BBC – like other broadcasters – has dabbled with UGC here and there. But the time may soon be coming when PSBs are required to really hand over significant programming time for UGC. It should be interesting…