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| Tory plans for BBC shakeup could lead to ‘much diminished service’ | Tory plans for BBC shakeup could lead to ‘much diminished service’ |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The BBC has warned that government plans for the biggest shakeup of the corporation for a decade could lead to a “much diminished, less popular service”. | The BBC has warned that government plans for the biggest shakeup of the corporation for a decade could lead to a “much diminished, less popular service”. |
| Unveiling the government’s green paper on the future of the BBC on Thursday, the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, said the BBC’s TV, radio and online operations had grown exponentially over the last decade and it was time to ask “whether this particular range of services best serves licence fee payers”. | Unveiling the government’s green paper on the future of the BBC on Thursday, the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, said the BBC’s TV, radio and online operations had grown exponentially over the last decade and it was time to ask “whether this particular range of services best serves licence fee payers”. |
| The amount of popular entertainment on BBC television channels, including shows such as BBC1’s The Voice, was singled out for criticism, along with the corporation’s output on Radio 1 and Radio 2. Whittingdale questioned whether the BBC should continue to strive to be “all things to all people”. | The amount of popular entertainment on BBC television channels, including shows such as BBC1’s The Voice, was singled out for criticism, along with the corporation’s output on Radio 1 and Radio 2. Whittingdale questioned whether the BBC should continue to strive to be “all things to all people”. |
| Related: Tories question whether BBC should be 'all things to all people' | Related: Tories question whether BBC should be 'all things to all people' |
| However, the corporation won a reprieve of sorts when an independent report into possible decriminalisation of non-payment of the licence fee – which the BBC has said would cost it £200m – concluded it would not be appropriate under the current funding model. | However, the corporation won a reprieve of sorts when an independent report into possible decriminalisation of non-payment of the licence fee – which the BBC has said would cost it £200m – concluded it would not be appropriate under the current funding model. |
| Whittingdale said he wanted to consult widely on the ideas for charter renewal before a white paper likely to be published early next year. “I am not setting out with any preconceived ideas. [The review] will look at areas where perhaps the BBC no longer needs to do so much because of the way the market has developed.” | Whittingdale said he wanted to consult widely on the ideas for charter renewal before a white paper likely to be published early next year. “I am not setting out with any preconceived ideas. [The review] will look at areas where perhaps the BBC no longer needs to do so much because of the way the market has developed.” |
| He added there could be areas where the BBC should expand. Asked whether the BBC was likely to become bigger as a result of the charter renewal discussions, however, he said: “I will need a lot of convincing.” | He added there could be areas where the BBC should expand. Asked whether the BBC was likely to become bigger as a result of the charter renewal discussions, however, he said: “I will need a lot of convincing.” |
| Diane Coyle, a former deputy chair of the BBC Trust, said the government was in danger of “dismantling the BBC’s civic value and destroying its economic value, which makes it even more important to involve the British public, especially as they haven’t had a chance before” to become involved. | Diane Coyle, a former deputy chair of the BBC Trust, said the government was in danger of “dismantling the BBC’s civic value and destroying its economic value, which makes it even more important to involve the British public, especially as they haven’t had a chance before” to become involved. |
| She added: “People do care about programmes. If Whittingdale is going to have a narrowly focused BBC is it no to EastEnders and soaps but [BBC1 Peter Moffat drama] The Village is OK? And who is going to choose?” | She added: “People do care about programmes. If Whittingdale is going to have a narrowly focused BBC is it no to EastEnders and soaps but [BBC1 Peter Moffat drama] The Village is OK? And who is going to choose?” |
| Whittingdale said there was “no easy solution” to BBC funding but described the current licence fee model as “regressive”, with its flat rate for all regardless of income. | Whittingdale said there was “no easy solution” to BBC funding but described the current licence fee model as “regressive”, with its flat rate for all regardless of income. |
| Related: BBC review: the key points | Related: BBC review: the key points |
| He said subscription may be a possibility in the longer term, but outlined three immediate options: a reformed licence fee, closing the so-called “iPlayer loophole”; a German-style household levy which could be “progressive” and linked to council tax bands for example; and a hybrid model combining both public funding and paid-for services. | He said subscription may be a possibility in the longer term, but outlined three immediate options: a reformed licence fee, closing the so-called “iPlayer loophole”; a German-style household levy which could be “progressive” and linked to council tax bands for example; and a hybrid model combining both public funding and paid-for services. |
| The BBC said: “We believe that this green paper would appear to herald a much diminished, less popular BBC. That would be bad for Britain and would not be the BBC that the public has known and loved for over 90 years.” | The BBC said: “We believe that this green paper would appear to herald a much diminished, less popular BBC. That would be bad for Britain and would not be the BBC that the public has known and loved for over 90 years.” |
| The shadow culture secretary, Chris Bryant, said that the universality of BBC services, which are used by 97% of the UK population, was the “golden thread that runs through the concept of the BBC. We all pay in and we should all get something out” including “those who like opera and those who like soap opera”. | The shadow culture secretary, Chris Bryant, said that the universality of BBC services, which are used by 97% of the UK population, was the “golden thread that runs through the concept of the BBC. We all pay in and we should all get something out” including “those who like opera and those who like soap opera”. |
| Whittingdale denied that he wanted the BBC to axe its Saturday night dance show, Strictly Come Dancing. “Even if I wanted to close down Strictly Come Dancing, which I don’t, it would be completely wrong for the government to try and decide which programmes the BBC should make and which they shouldn’t,” he said. | Whittingdale denied that he wanted the BBC to axe its Saturday night dance show, Strictly Come Dancing. “Even if I wanted to close down Strictly Come Dancing, which I don’t, it would be completely wrong for the government to try and decide which programmes the BBC should make and which they shouldn’t,” he said. |
| “The charter review is not about specific programmes, however much certain newspaper writers would like to think it is.” | “The charter review is not about specific programmes, however much certain newspaper writers would like to think it is.” |
| Whittingdale later said that one way of testing the public service value could be a programme’s “distinctiveness”. | Whittingdale later said that one way of testing the public service value could be a programme’s “distinctiveness”. |
| Related: Biggest BBC shakeup in a decade as Tories put corporation under review | Related: Biggest BBC shakeup in a decade as Tories put corporation under review |
| BBC sources called the green paper “depressing” because its research focused on market impact – and therefore the concerns of commercial rivals rather than public support and concerns. | BBC sources called the green paper “depressing” because its research focused on market impact – and therefore the concerns of commercial rivals rather than public support and concerns. |
| With 19 different questions in the government document, there were few firm policy positions but the examples and tone were “far more negative than positive” said one BBC insider, who noted that the data used was about size rather than quality, reach or audience appreciation. | With 19 different questions in the government document, there were few firm policy positions but the examples and tone were “far more negative than positive” said one BBC insider, who noted that the data used was about size rather than quality, reach or audience appreciation. |
| The government also signalled the death knell for the BBC Trust, which Whittingdale said had fallen “well short of the standards expected of it” in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal and multimillion-pound payoffs to former executives. | The government also signalled the death knell for the BBC Trust, which Whittingdale said had fallen “well short of the standards expected of it” in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal and multimillion-pound payoffs to former executives. |
| It also opened up the possibility that the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, could be privatised or part-privatised. The BBC has said that could add £9 to the licence fee, currently £145.50. | It also opened up the possibility that the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, could be privatised or part-privatised. The BBC has said that could add £9 to the licence fee, currently £145.50. |
| Related: The battle for the BBC | Charlotte Higgins | Related: The battle for the BBC | Charlotte Higgins |
| The green paper came 10 days after confirmation of the BBC’s latest funding deal with the government, in which it took on the £750m cost of funding free licence fees for the over-75s in return for a range of concessions, including a licence fee linked to inflation. | The green paper came 10 days after confirmation of the BBC’s latest funding deal with the government, in which it took on the £750m cost of funding free licence fees for the over-75s in return for a range of concessions, including a licence fee linked to inflation. |
| Whittingdale again made clear that the rise depended on the conclusions of the charter review and that he did not want to close off any options. | Whittingdale again made clear that the rise depended on the conclusions of the charter review and that he did not want to close off any options. |
| The BBC said it was “important to hear what the public want. It should be for the public to decide whether programmes like Strictly or Bake Off, or stations like Radio 1 or Radio 2 continue. Their voice should be heard the loudest”. | The BBC said it was “important to hear what the public want. It should be for the public to decide whether programmes like Strictly or Bake Off, or stations like Radio 1 or Radio 2 continue. Their voice should be heard the loudest”. |
| The panel | |
| Whittingdale, has appointed a panel of experts, drawn from the sectors in which the BBC works and competes, to advise him on charter renewal: | |
| Dawn AireyAirey has worked at all the UK’s major broadcasters except the BBC and currently leads European advertising operations for Yahoo. In 2009 she told the Telegraph the BBC could reduce its core free output to a handful of channels and radio stations. | |
| Dame Colette BoweChair of broadcasting regulator Ofcom until last year, Bowe has said there is “a lot to be said for contestable funding on competition grounds”. | |
| Andrew FisherFisher is executive chairman of the UK company behind smartphone app Shazam. He has reportedly been chosen to advise on the digital challenges the BBC faces. | |
| Ashley HighfieldAs CEO of regional newspaper group Johnston Press, Highfield has been a particularly outspoken critic of the BBC despite overseeing its digital operations from 2002-2008. | |
| Darren HenleyHenley, chief executive of Arts Council England, led Global Radio’s Classic FM station for almost 15 years. He has been concerned by Radio 3’s access to a “huge amount of public money”. | |
| Alex MahonFormer chief executive of Shine Group, the independent TV production company started by Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of Rupert, responsible for hits including Masterchef. | |
| Lopa PatelDescribed as a “digital entrepreneur”, Patel is the founder of online publishing venture NewAsianPost and chief executive of thinktank Diversity UK. | |
| Stewart PurvisPurvis has the most journalistic experience on the panel, having worked since the early 80s at ITN, retiring in 2003. |