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10/09/2009
Public 'Opposed To Sharing Of Licence Fee'
The British public are opposed to the licence fee being shared by the BBC with its rival commercial broadcasters, the BBC Trust Chairman has announced.
Sir Michael Lyons announced the findings of the Ipsos Mori poll of more than 2,000 adults about the future of the licence fee in an unprecedented open letter to licence fee payers.
The government's Digital Britain report had proposed that a proportion of the licence fee income should be reassigned to assist commercial broadcasters. The proposal has been fiercely opposed by broadcasting union BECTU, who launched a campaign against it earlier this month.
Sir Michael said the Trust was concerned that the proposed top-slicing of the fee "weaken the BBC; threaten its independence and reduce accountability to licence fee payers" and added that the poll showed a "clear message" from licence fee payers about what they wanted, which would now put put to the government.
He said that the Trust wanted a BBC that "maintains its independence, continues to be a trusted source of impartial news, produces great output and meets the high expectations you have of it".
The survey also found that around half of those surveyed would prefer the licence fee to be lowered by £5.50 - the amount of the fee which has been used to pay for the digital switchover since 2007 - after 2012, when the switchover is completed.
Sir Michael also outlined details of the strategic review, which will be conducted by BBC Director General Mark Thompson, of what activities the BBC should focus on in the future.
(KMcA)
Sir Michael Lyons announced the findings of the Ipsos Mori poll of more than 2,000 adults about the future of the licence fee in an unprecedented open letter to licence fee payers.
The government's Digital Britain report had proposed that a proportion of the licence fee income should be reassigned to assist commercial broadcasters. The proposal has been fiercely opposed by broadcasting union BECTU, who launched a campaign against it earlier this month.
Sir Michael said the Trust was concerned that the proposed top-slicing of the fee "weaken the BBC; threaten its independence and reduce accountability to licence fee payers" and added that the poll showed a "clear message" from licence fee payers about what they wanted, which would now put put to the government.
He said that the Trust wanted a BBC that "maintains its independence, continues to be a trusted source of impartial news, produces great output and meets the high expectations you have of it".
The survey also found that around half of those surveyed would prefer the licence fee to be lowered by £5.50 - the amount of the fee which has been used to pay for the digital switchover since 2007 - after 2012, when the switchover is completed.
Sir Michael also outlined details of the strategic review, which will be conducted by BBC Director General Mark Thompson, of what activities the BBC should focus on in the future.
(KMcA)
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