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The only direct control the state (ie the government) has over the BBC is through the periodic renewal, every decade or so, of the legislation which establishes the BBC's Royal Charter, and which enables it to raise revenue through the licence fee. There is no day-to-day management or editorial control. If there were the latter, it's difficult to see how the BBC could so vigorously promote views contrary to the policies of the state (as, for instance, over the Iraq war). Even with the loosest interpretation of the term, this sort of structure can't really be described as 'state-run', in the sense that the monopolistic broadcasters of authoritarian one-party states are state-run.

A second route of control used to be the government's influence in the appointment of the Chairman of the BBC Governors. However, the concensus seems to be that last month's appointment of Michael Grade as the new Chairman was largely free of that influence.

You are quite right in that the government doesnt have day to day control over. That doesnt mean it isnt a state broadcater.

It's a state broadcaster through its funding mechanism. So in effect its a state broadcaster without a state. Which means that the editorial control is in the hands of a few management executives, journalists and editors.

That means there is less acountability at the BBC, compared to to a noraml state broadcaster (assuming its a democractic state), in which you can vote out the government.

What you seem to be implying and i've had this same conversation with many people, is that a bunch of leftwing/liberal individuals are independent minded.

This is plain nonsense. The problem with the BBC is that currentyly their agenda is being driven by a small group of people, who have an incredible amount of power - all paid by a tax on each and every tv in the country. Regardless of whether you agree wiht this left wing, anti war, anti American agenda.

Its like a stalinist media organ that propagates a a minoity view as if it is the will of the majority. It's plainly not and this is why the BBC is causing so much concern amonst people like myself.

REgards,

Coldcall