The BBC is “unprejudiced” to become a subscription service, its CEO and chairman said Monday, acknowledging that the corporation is facing an “existential issue”.
Deviating from the BBC’s previous defense on the license fee, Tim Davy and Richard Sharpe said they were ready to explore alternative funding models.
Mr Davey told the House of Lords committee: “We believe in something that is accessible to all and achieves public service goals. You have to be unbiased as the world unfolds and say, “Okay, what’s the right funding mechanism for this?”
Alternative models include a two-tier system proposed last week by Andrew Neal, a former BBC television operator. This may mean that “basic” services such as news, children’s programs and major sporting events remain public and funded at a low cost by the taxpayer, but viewers pay an additional subscription for entertainment and drama.
Asked if the BBC was considering “some form of two-tier BBC”, Mr Sharp said: “The board has not ruled out anything. We take a blank sheet of paper.
“We have been accused of the fact that the BBC is facing an existential issue and the board must take this very seriously and consider all possibilities without prejudice.
Add Comment