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The Royal Charter requires the Trust to undertake a comprehensive review of every ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ service at least once during a five-year cycle.

This piece of work will include full reviews of the three ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ services aimed at young people – ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three, Radio 1 and 1Xtra, together with other ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ output aimed at the young, such as formal learning websites and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Switch.

Alison Hastings, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trustee, who is leading the review for the Trust, said:

"The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ must offer something of value to people of all ages in order to deliver its public purposes, and young people are no exception. We will consider how young people are watching and using ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ programmes and services on television, radio and online, and the value they derive from them. Changes in technology are having a particular impact on young people's media behaviour so it is important that we examine both what the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is currently doing and consider what it might need to do in the future.

"We will be looking at everything the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ offers young people, and as part of this we want to hear from all young people, whether or not they use these services."

Areas the review will be looking at include:

• How effectively is the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ delivering the six public purposes to young people?
• Is the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ reaching young people through the various media outlets, at the times and in places that best suit them?
• Do younger audiences value what the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ offers them as distinct from what is available from other providers?
• Are there particular groups within the identified age range that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ needs to work harder at serving?
• How well are the three services – ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three, Radio 1 and 1Xtra - performing against the terms and conditions of their service licences?

As part of the review the Trust will open an online public consultation today. The consultation will run until 16 December 2008 and be promoted on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's services and elsewhere.

The Trust will commission audience research, speak directly to young people at outreach events organised by the Audience Councils and others, and consult with representative bodies and other interested parties who work closely with young people.

Within the broadcasting and media sector, broadcasters, producers and industry bodies will be invited to submit their views, along with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ managers and staff.

The Trust will analyse all the evidence it collects and expects to publish its review in spring 2009.

Notes to editors

The public consultation can be completed via: www.bbcyoursay.co.uk (now closed)

A consultation form for other stakeholders and industry representatives can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/open_consultations/younger_audiences.html (now closed).

The young people's service review was announced by Sir Michael Lyons in his speech to the Oxford Media Convention in January 2008.

Terms of reference for the review are available: Terms of reference