R2OK!

ColinB · Guest

Today, the BBC website - and, no doubt, the rest of the media later - has published this story which indicates that due to a freeze in the annual Licence Fee payable in 2011, there will now be a "£144 million shortfall" in the BBC's finances.

Perhaps it's this that precipitated the announcement this week of the closure of the Messageboards.

See the BBC story here.

I have a feeling that this is just the beginning!

Themanfromuncle · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 79 Location: Near The Beach

Take it off Graham Norton's salary!!

And maybe stop the Sporting challenges on R2 breakfast, and stop paying over £100,000 in legal costs to protect the identity of a fun character on Top Gear. Whilst we are about it, did we really need close on 280 staff at Glastonbury including hotel bills etc, and maybe that'll be a start to recouping the £144 million 'shortfall'.

The BBC make me laugh, and not in a Two Ronnies style either.

Rachel · Guest

The Government wants to reduce the fee by around 20-25% so that the resulting reduction in the BBC's size is similar to the reduction of other public departments. A freeze is just the first step and is, anyway,only a proposal. Proposals can be rejected.

ColinB · Guest

The decision to freeze the budget for two years (despite there already being an agreement that it can in fact raise the fee) is, we're told, "voluntary" on the part of the BBC.

Nothing to do with political pressure, then.

Rachel · Guest

Here's what the BBC are saying at their press office

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/september/licence_fee.shtml

This a desperate attempt to hang on to the level of funding they already have. The argument about funding the digital switchover will soon be knocked into next week, cos it ain’t gonna happen- not in 2015, not in 2020, maybe not until 2025. Expect an announcement from the Culture guy, on that, pretty soon.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

The BBC can't exactly cut big budget and ratings shows like Eastenders and Dr Who. They can cut hiring big names and too many celebrites hosting shows on Radio 2. Laughing

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ColinB · Guest