BRITAIN: Radical changes to its internal governance will help ensure the BBC "a strong, independent" future as a public service broadcaster funded by the licence fee.
That was the promise from British culture secretary Tessa Jowell yesterday as she unveiled a government green paper proposing the renewal of the corporation's 10-year royal charter in 2007.
At the same time, Ms Jowell warned the BBC it "should not play copycat" or "chase ratings for ratings' sake" as she unveiled plans for a new trust to replace the existing board of governors and hold the corporation to its public service broadcasting remit.
And she said the BBC needed to be constrained when its interests collided with the commercial sector. In a statement to MPs, Ms Jowell said: "We want to keep the BBC strong, while ensuring that it does not become over-mighty in its dealings with the wider market. We need it to be constrained when its interests collide with the commercial sector. It must not be tempted to use the unique clout the licence fee gives it to step on the toes of other broadcasters. It should not play copycat. Or chase ratings for ratings sake. Or put legitimate businesses at peril."
Ms Jowell's proposed tighter guidelines signal an end to perceived "dumbing down", and a glut of lifestyle and makeover programmes, in favour of more prime-time current affairs, documentaries and original arts, drama and comedy across both BBC television and radio.
That prompted a prediction from Kelvin MacKenzie, chief executive of the Wireless Group, that BBC audiences would collapse as popular shows were scrapped in an effort to live up to Ms Jowell's demand for more public-interest programming.
However the chairman of the BBC, Michael Grade, who will become the first chairman of the new trust, said Ms Jowell's green paper was "a strong endorsement of the BBC" and that he accepted the government's conclusions for the future governance of the corporation.
Although there was never any serious expectation that the government would scrap the licence fee, Ms Jowell's statement put an end to some uncertainty fuelled by trenchant criticism of the BBC in Lord Hutton's report into the circumstances surrounding the death of government scientist Dr David Kelly. She said the licence fee would remain at least until the charter comes up for renewal again in 2016.
However a review group will also be established to consider alternative funding sources, including the possibility of subscriptions for BBC services, after that point. "The BBC, like any public institution, needs to adapt if it is to serve its audiences and keep pace with changes in technology." said Ms Jowell.
But she insisted: "Its values, its global reach, its standards and its editorial independence from all comers must be preserved. Our proposal including keeping the license fee and renewing the charter for another 10 years will enable it to do that."
Announcing her plan to abolish the existing board of governors, Ms Jowell said its current dual role as "cheerleader and regulator" was "unsustainable" and lacked "clarity and accountability." The creation of the new trust, and an executive board responsible for day-to-day operations, would, she said, provide "much needed daylight" between the two functions.
The trust would be the voice of the licence-fee payer and make sure the corporation fulfilled its obligations, with powers to approve or veto budgets and strategies. The executive board will carry out the day-to-day management and will be accountable to the trust.