ITV Chief Calls For Debate On BBC Funding

ITV chief executive, Richard Eyre has responded to the recommendations unveiled yesterday by the BBC Funding Review Panel (see Digital Licence Fee Could Be £24). He has initially welcomed the proposals for greater transparency in the Corporation’s spending and the introduction of performance criteria to underwrite the BBC’s special public purposes. He has, however, called for a greater debate on the scope of the BBC and its current use of money.

In a statement Eyre said: “A strong BBC is vital not only for viewers but for British broadcasting as a whole. The benefits of the licence fee as a universal funding mechanism paid by everybody remain undiminished. But a licence fee – whether analogue or digital – depends on public consensus. It is unsustainable if there is a loss of public support for it, or if people do not believe it is value for money.”

Eyre goes on to say that it is unfortunate that the Davies Panel was not asked to examine whether the BBC actually needs any more money, or what the scope of the BBC should actually be in the digital age. “ITV will be calling on the secretary of state to stimulate a full public debate on these issues during the consultation period on the Davies Report,” he added.

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