Digital Learning Alliance
The Digital Learning Alliance is a lobby group (a coalition of 18 software firms which claims to represent 90% of the educational publishing industry) set up by SRU and Lexington Communications funded by the media industry to oppose BBC plans to launch a free digital service. Dennis Stevenson was linked to this initiative by virtue of his connections with Pearson and both SRU and Lexington. RM is another key player in the Alliance. According to the Times, the DLA 'brings together publishers including Pearson, Oxford University Press, Reed Elsevier, Granada Learning and HarperCollins, which is owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times.'[1]
- Ms Jowell yesterday invited views on the BBC's application in which it proposes introducing a wide range of interactive online learning materials in support of the school curriculum. In line with the BBC charter the plans need the secretary of state's approval.
Despite the government’s claim that regulatory conditions would prevent the BBC from dominating the market, the DLA argued that the BBC was being given an unfair advantage, and that the new scheme would deprive them of substantial revenues. It would also, they suggested, deprive schools of choice.[2]The DLA has also claimed that the broadcaster is using licence fee revenues to fund ventures outside its area of responsibility, and has threatened to take it to court.[3]
- "Our industry could be decimated," said Dominic Savage, co-chair of the Digital Learning Alliance, a trade body for companies involved in online learning. "We have deep concerns about our members' ability to compete with a similar service that was offered for free. There is a serious risk of substantial job losses." [4]
DLA commissioned a report from what was claimed to be an independent strategic consultancy SRU. Its findings showed that the BBC's plan to supply schools with free online learning materials would cost the commercial publishers Pounds 400 million in lost orders over five years.[5]. However SRU was co-founded by Pearson non- executive chairman Lord Dennis Stevenson which makes it no so independent as it seems. [6]
People
David Haggie (co-chair)
Phil Hemmings (RM plc)
Steve Bolingbroke(RM plc)
Ray Barker (BESA)
External links and notes
Links
Notes
- ↑ BBC Online Threatens School Book Publishers, The Times 16 July 2002 posted on the site of NERA Economic Consulting who produced reports for the DLA
- ↑ Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media London Review of Education, Vol. 1, No. 3, November 2003
- ↑ BBC under new fire over e-learning plans, e-consultancy, 15 July 2002
- ↑ Rivals threaten BBC with court for £150m online learning push John Cassy The Guardian, Friday May 24 2002
- ↑ Publishers Fear Cost Of Net Freebie, Times Educational Supplement, July 20, 2002
- ↑ Telecoms Media Technology: Why the pink queen might turn deep red The Independent Jul 28, 2002
