BBC TO BE BROKEN UP (UK Alert)

sky news ^ | Last Updated: 23:38 UK, Saturday February 14, 2004

[gdyniawitawa]

BBC 'TO BE BROKEN UP'

The BBC could be broken up and its independence removed under plans being considered by the Government, it is reported.

Documents leaked to The Sunday Times suggest the corporation would be divided up into sections for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The job of ensuring the organisation's impartiality would be taken away from the board of governors and given to a Government watchdog.

Other plans being considered include closing BBC outlets which are not considered "public service" and even forcing the corporation to share some of its licence fee revenue with other broadcasters.

The proposals come in the wake of the bitter row between the corporation and the Government over Iraq and the Hutton Report.

The BBC was heavily criticised by Lord Hutton for allowing claims that the Government had "sexed up" its dossier on Iraq's WMD to be made on a live report and for not correcting the claims sooner.

Director-general Greg Dyke and chairman Gavyn Davies quit in the aftermath of the the row.

The Sunday Times says the new plans will bring accusations that "the government is gearing up to exploit the fallout from the Hutton inquiry".

Opinion polls after the Hutton inquiry was published showed that many people considered its verdict a "whitewash".

The public said they trusted the BBC far more than they did Prime Minister Tony Blair and his ministers.

[soozla]

"The job of ensuring the organisation's impartiality would be taken away from the board of governors and given to a Government watchdog."

That's the funniest thing I have heard ALL day!!

[BartMan1]

When pigs fly ping...

[edwords]

The U.K. government will divest itself of the BBC the day after the U.S. government cuts its links to PBS. Don't hold your breath.

[1066AD]

Despite the row between the BBC and gov't, this is a very bad move that increases gov't control of everyday life.

[LjubivojeRadosavljevic]

[The job of ensuring the organisation's impartiality would be taken away...]

Hmmm. Maybe the job should be given to an organization that could change the BBC's image away from its current "Baghdad Broadcasting Company" image.

[ex-Texan]

*BUMP*!

[citizen]

1066 - The Battle of Hastings? What's up with that?

[GeronL]

corporation would be divided up into sections for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

no no no no. Idiots!! Divide it into different parts and let them COMPETE!!!!

[Prodigal Son]

Whoa! This is huge news. Surprised this hasn't gotten more replies. The BBC is the most watched and listened to news service in the world.

[fella]

Maybe we should follow this plan for PBS.

[mewzilla]

Jeez, why not just privatize the darn thing?