BBC Unlikely To Bid For Premier League Rights, Says Dyke

Greg Dyke has backtracked on his promise to secure sports rights for the BBC. On his first day in his new position as director-general of the corporation he has said that it is highly unlikely that the BBC will bid for the live coverage of Premier League football.

This is contrary to promises he made on his appointment to the position in which he said that bringing back sports coverage to the BBC would be a priority, although he acknowledged the difficulty of this (see Dyke Pledges To Uphold BBC’s Independence

He did, however, make a break with the legacy of his predecessor by promising to simplify the management structure of the corporation and reduce its dependence on management consultants.

One of the most pressing concerns he will have to face is the row over digital funding. Culture secretary Chris Smith is expected to come up with a funding formula for the BBC within two weeks. It has been reported that digital operators are planning to scupper licence proposals by refusing to hand over their details of their customers, who would be liable to pay such a fee, to the government, claiming that it contravenes Data Protection Act rules.

BBC: 020 8743 8000