Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that a range of commercial media stakeholders are consulted during the BBC Charter Review process.

The Charter Review was officially launched on 16 December with the publication of the Terms of Reference and Green Paper. The Charter Review is looking at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country.

The Government ran a public consultation which asked people and organisations, including commercial media stakeholders, to be part of the conversation on the future of the BBC. We are also engaging extensively with a range of stakeholders (including commercial media) and experts on an ongoing basis, and undertaking additional research to help ensure we hear a broad range of voices and views on the BBC. This includes through a Ministerial lead roundtable with industry stakeholders in January 2026.

The Government is now considering responses to the public consultation, and will set out policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.