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By Tim Ferguson, 14 June 2007 10:45

NEWS

Ofcom has received a positive response to its proposal to create a new organisation to commission online content - otherwise known as a Public Service Publisher (PSP).

The idea of a PSP was first mooted back in 2005 to be a body that would commission new content for public purpose that could be distributed through broadband, mobile and digital broadcasting.

Ofcom doesn't liken the PSP to a new television channel or website but describes it more as a driver for producing public-service online content which could encourage audience participation and embrace other Web 2.0 features.

The UK comms regulator believes there is a gap in the online public-service content available at present, which the PSP could help address.

A public consultation was started in January to assess the potential of digital media to deliver public service material.

An Ofcom spokesman defined public service content as high quality, UK-originated content which informs, educates, entertains and reflects cultural diversity.

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The consultation garnered more than 70 responses from individuals and organisations such as the BBC, Channel 4, BT and the UK Film Council.

The spokesman said: "It shows that the industry is engaged with this."

Some respondents argued it could help citizens navigate to other sources of public service content while others suggested it could support the creation of public service content by acting as a source of "venture capital".

Although the exact nature of the PSP has yet to be decided, the majority of respondents feel a new way of accessing digital content would be valuable.

Funding and scale was a prominent topic with respondents saying the PSP should be viewed in the context of new media rather than traditional broadcasting.

Other issues raised during the consultation included the kind of content in which Ofcom should intervene to produce and the actual role of the PSP.

Respondents suggested the PSP could direct people to other sources of public content or support the creation of content as a source of venture capital.

The Ofcom spokesman said: "What we're talking about is a whole new experience - made from the ground up for the web."

But as to exactly where there is a gap in this kind of content, he said: "The jury's still out."

In terms of distribution of content, the PSP won't work in isolation according to the spokesman and would look at working with different broadcasters and even mobile operators.

Ofcom will look at these issues in more depth in its next review of public service broadcasting, to take place in the autumn.

In the meantime, an economic analysis of a PSP will be made in which the shortfall in content the PSP is intended to address will be identified.