THE Tynwald select committee on the BBC television licence fee is hearing evidence in public this morning.
The sitting is taking place at the Millennium Room, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas.
At 10am Helen Corlett - a BBC Audience Council member who lives in the Isle of Man - was due to start her evidence.
BBC journalist in the Isle of Man Ariane Barua is due to speak at 10.45am and at 11.30am Andy Wint (Energy Radio Ltd), George Ferguson (Three FM) and David Le Prevost and Gavin Smith (isleofman.com) are due to give their evidence.
The committee was established by Tynwald on November 18 2009 with a remit to investigate the feasibility and impact of withdrawal from - or amendment of - the agreement under which residents of the Isle of Man pay a television licence fee.
The members of the committee are Chairman Graham Cregeen MHK, David Callister MLC and Phil Gawne MHK.
Mr Cregeen said: "We need to assess the benefits that the BBC provide and not have a kneejerk reaction and move from the TV licence.
"We need to see whether we get benefit and value for the licence fee that we pay. At the moment, I do not believe that we get the same value that everywhere else in the UK and the Channel Islands receive for the TV licence.
"If we were to break away from the TV licence, we could have £4.7 million invested into the Isle of Man, and that is money that we have to review and to see whether we get benefit.
“The BBC Audience Council is a structure put in place by the BBC to act as a link between the BBC Trust and the public. We are looking forward to learning more from Helen Corlett about how well that structure works in an Isle of Man context.
“We heard on March 24 from representatives of BBC senior management – people with an interest in the Isle of Man but who themselves are based in England.
"Ariane Barua will be able to speak about her work as one of the very small number of BBC employees based here in the Isle of Man.
"Any change in BBC activities could have consequences for others in the broadcasting and wider media economy. In March we heard from Manx Radio. At this oral hearing we will be hearing from others active in this industry."
