Tories target newest BBC channels for spending cuts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The BBC could be forced by an incoming Conservative government to accept a cut in the licence fee and to justify subsidising digital channels such as BBC Three.
The party has already called for the licence fee – currently £142.50 – to be frozen. But Jeremy Hunt, the shadow Culture Secretary, strengthened its stance with a warning that the Tories would expect the BBC to offer further economies in negotiations over the size of the licence fee from 2012.
"I think it would be pretty hard to make a case for an increase in the licence fee now," he said yesterday.
"We are not ruling out freezing the licence fee or cutting it, but the BBC has to make its case very strongly because times are very difficult for licence-fee payers."
Mr Hunt also raised doubts over the viability of licence-fee cash going towards TV channels with low viewing figures, including BBC Three and BBC Four, as well as radio stations such as 6 Music and Radio 7. He said it was not for politicians to order the Corporation to ditch particular programmes or channels. But he told Sky News: "It can't be all things to all men. It can't be involved in every single niche of the market."
Mr Hunt's comments are likely to prompt a fresh attack by Labour on the Tories' relationship with Rupert Murdoch, Sky's owner.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments