Murdoch Wants BBC to Divest EE
LONDON -—If media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has his way, the BBC should be forced to sell off its most popular programmes, such as EastEnders.
The proposal, which was made recently by Tony Ball, the chief executive of Murdoch's satelllite TV company BSkyB, is the first salvo in the debate over the BBC's royal charter renewal in 2006. The charter sets the terms of the corporation's budget and method of funding.
Under the Murdoch, proposal, the BBC would also be banned from buying imports, including Hollywood blockbusters like Harry Potter.
The plan was revealed at the Media Guardian Edinburgh international television festival. BSkyB has long accused the BBC of squeezing the commercial sector with a stream of populist programmes.
Murdoch's plan calls for the BBC to put up for auction at least six of its most popular programmes every year to commercial rivals such as ITV or Channel 4. The proceeds would be ploughed back into the BBC's budget to replace the lost shows.
British households are required to pay £116 (roughly US$174) licence fee, which annually generates for the BBC £2.5 billion (US$3.75 billion).
The BBC responded to the proposal: "We are flattered that Tony Ball should be so preoccupied with the BBC but his comments have to be seen in the context of Rupert Murdoch's long and hostile campaign against the BBC. Thankfully for the British public, Mr Murdoch has not been successful in this campaign.
“This speech clearly reflects BSkyB's view that programmes are merely a commodity to be bought and sold. The BBC—and probably the majority of British broadcasters and producers—believe programmes are about creativity, talent and broader cultural and social issues.”
Besides BSkyB, Murdoch’s media holdings include the 20th Century Fox film studio, the Fox broadcast network, The Times and The Sun British daily newspapers, as well as the New York Post.
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