{"id":20788,"date":"2022-08-24T14:55:58","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T12:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1697846"},"modified":"2022-08-24T15:31:11","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T13:31:11","slug":"bbc-is-reviewing-all-alternatives-to-the-licence-fee-says-chairman","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/bbc-is-reviewing-all-alternatives-to-the-licence-fee-says-chairman\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC is \u201creviewing all alternatives\u201d to the licence fee, says Chairman"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Morgan Jeffery\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 24 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The BBC will \u201cconsider all alternatives\u201d to the licence fee as part of a \u201cvery deliberate strategic review\u201d, according to the broadcaster\u2019s Chairman.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the Edinburgh International TV Festival 2022, Richard Sharp acknowledged that \u201cdifferent models\u201d of funding are a possibility in future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re reviewing all alternatives and we haven\u2019t reached a conclusion,\u201d Sharp said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been asked to consider all alternatives, and we\u2019re going to consider all alternatives, so that\u2019s a very deliberate strategic review.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you don\u2019t start with the funding \u2013 you start with the purpose, you start with what it takes to succeed, and then you look at the funding it takes to support that.\u201d<\/p>

Sharp added that he believes \u201cthat some form of funding is necessary\u201d for the BBC to survive, saying: \u201cWe know there are different models, in terms of licence fee or household tax or there can be hybrid solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody\u2019s paying a licence fee, these are very difficult times, and my mother says there\u2019s nothing more corrupt than spending somebody else\u2019s money,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe BBC has to demonstrate that when it spends the people\u2019s money, it\u2019s spending wisely.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Richard Sharp, Chairman of the BBC, at the Edinburgh TV Festival 2022<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Sharp said the broadcaster will need to \u201cbe a little less defensive\u201d and \u201copen to constructive criticism\u201d with regards to its funding models.<\/p>\n

However, Sharp \u2013 who was formerly an advisor to both Boris Johnson during his tenure as London Mayor and to Rishi Sunak as Chancellor \u2013 explained that some of his own negative views about the broadcaster had been dispelled since his appointment as Chairman in February 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike many people who are influenced by the press, I had felt that the BBC was bloated, I felt it was self-important, I felt it had too much of its own voice,\u201d he admitted, before going on to say that it is in fact \u201cquite extraordinary how well it bats above its budget\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at the comparative spend \u2013 in terms of the amount we spend on drama, the bang for the buck\u2026 it really speaks to an extraordinary quality, something you can\u2019t take for granted, and extremely talented people making very good decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more coverage from the Edinburgh International TV Festival 2022:<\/strong><\/p>\n