The Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV), originally just Voice of the Listener, is a British consumer group, championing public service broadcasting and speaking for listeners and viewers on the full range of broadcasting and media issues. It was founded in 1983 by Jocelyn Hay.[1] In 2008, The Telegraph described Hay as "possibly the best lobbyist in the whole UK".[2]
| Formation | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Non-profit organisation |
| Purpose | Pressure group |
Region served | United Kingdom |
Membership | 1,500 |
Chairman | Colin Browne |
| Website | VLV |
The BBC describe VLV as a "respected pressure group".[3]
Campaigns in which the organisation has been involved include:
- Challenging the Peacock Committee's proposals in 1986 to privatise BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2.
- Opposing advertising on the BBC.
- Opposing the loss of the long wave frequency on BBC R4 in the 1990s.
- Lobbying for the inclusion of a "public interest test", which must precede major media mergers (as part of the Public Voice coalition, which was formed in 2000 to influence the then forthcoming Communications Act 2003).
- Opposing ITV's withdrawal from children's television production and its regional commitments after the Communications Act 2003.
- Making a case that the costs for television licences for the over-75s should be covered by the government and not by the BBC.[4]
Awards
editThe group also gives awards each year to radio persons and shows, voted for by members.
References
edit- ^ Brown, Maggie (23 January 2014). "Voice of the Listener & Viewer's Jocelyn Hay dies". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ Reynolds, Gillian (22 November 2008). "Radio's unsung consumer champion". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ "Voice of the Listener and Viewer founder Jocelyn Hay dies". BBC.co.uk. BBC. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ Ganter, SA; Herzog, C; Milton, VC (2020). "Public Service Broadcasting-Friends groups as a microcosm of public interest media advocacy". Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. 7 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1057/s41599-020-00560-5.