Here are Ofcom‘s discussion points from its Future of News paper (available in full here).

Television news cannot be taken for granted on any commercial channel after digital switch-over, because revenues generated from advertising around news programmes do not appear to cover costs of production…

…there are good reasons for existing commercial PSB channels to continue delivering national and international news services – even in the absence of obligation. News programmes attract respectable viewing figures; they provide anchor points for nightly viewing that other programmes do not; production costs are less than for many alternative programmes; news is perceived to deliver status and credibility to channels.

There must be some concern that further squeezes on budgets will affect the depth and breadth of television journalism beyond the BBC. However, commercial channels wishing to retain their PSB status will continue to be bound by a requirement for ‘high quality’ news provision. Will this be a sufficient safeguard, and does it matter?

The traditional interpretation of ’plurality’ is beginning to be challenged. Broadcasters themselves consider the notion of ‘plurality’ in much broader terms than before – i.e. no longer simply in terms of other television stations. Is this analysis correct?

Ofcom suggests that news should remain a central element of the Channel 4 public remit for the future. This will guarantee at least one alternative service from the existing PSB tradition, in addition to the BBC. Is this appropriate?

Is it necessary for news to also be a long-term priority for remaining regulatory levers on ITV and Five? This might help to preserve ‘news in depth’ outside the BBC – although in ITV’s case, news for the nations and regions might be a higher priority.