BBC Responding To Green Paper

The BBC has issued a document in response to the Government Green Paper which claims to take into account the public’s perspectives on the future of the Corporation, as well as drawing on major research conducted specifically to analyse the role of the BBC.

According to the document the public debate calls for:

– A publicly funded BBC

– Independent of Government and political pressures

– Keeping more in touch with audiences

The subject of funding is one of high concentration within the document with both public opinion and research indicating that licence fees are a more desirable option than a dependence on advertising. The document claims that “the licence fee emerges as potentially the most attractive funding source to meet public service objectives, largely due to the limitations of other options”.

In the long term the BBC believe the licence fee will guarantee:

* highest priorities in programme making and scheduling

* freedom from commercial pressures

* independence from government influence