Should governments ever run media companies? Yesterday the UK announced what could be the death of the BBC as we know it. Why are so many powerful voices celebrating?
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BBC faces mortal threat in funding review
Should governments ever run media companies? Yesterday the UK announced what could be the death of the BBC as we know it. Why are so many powerful voices celebrating?
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For some people, it was a terrible blow. For others, it was overdue good news. Yesterday, Britain was divided over the future of the BBC.
The government announced it had plans to get rid of the licence fee. It has been used to fund the BBC since 1946.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced that the fee would be frozen. That means it will not go above £159 for two years. As well as this, she said there could soon be plans to get rid of it altogether.
The changes could alter the BBC as we know it. It was first founded as a radio station in the 1920s. Back then, it was normal for governments to be in control of broadcasters.
Today, the BBC is unusual. Most state-owned media companies are linked to autocratic governments. Leaders use media to spread fake news about their critics and make themselves more powerful.
The BBC is different because it is run by a group of people who do not work for the government. But some people think there are still ways the government have to control it.
Others say these small problems are worth dealing with. The other option is having channels similar to the USA. There, all broadcasters are private. Critics say they fight to get viewers by being as dramatic and opinionated as possible. This has made the news channels very divided.
One channel, GB News, tried to do the same in the UK. But it has not been very successful. Supporters of the BBC say normal people trust it best.
That trust has travelled far and wide. The BBC is one of the planet's most popular brands. People around the globe listen to the World Service and tell BBC journalists their stories.
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Should governments ever run media companies?
Yes: Government funding gives the BBC a global reach and recognition. And despite pressure, the BBC has largely maintained its independence.
No: States are hostile to scrutiny. Journalism must always be independent of the government.
Or... Many countries have broadcasters that are state-owned but funded by advertising. Channel 4 already works like this. The BBC could follow the same model.
Keywords
Licence fee - A fixed annual sum paid by each household for a television licence, which allows them to watch live programming on TV and catch up with programming on BBC iPlayer. Some have criticised it as a kind of flat tax.
Frozen - When a budget is not raised in line with inflation, meaning that it is effectively cut year on year.
World Service - An international broadcaster aimed at bringing news to foreign audiences. It is owned and operated by the BBC with additional funding from the UK government.
BBC faces mortal threat in funding review
Glossary
Licence fee - A fixed annual sum paid by each household for a television licence, which allows them to watch live programming on TV and catch up with programming on BBC iPlayer. Some have criticised it as a kind of flat tax.
Frozen - When a budget is not raised in line with inflation, meaning that it is effectively cut year on year.
World Service - An international broadcaster aimed at bringing news to foreign audiences. It is owned and operated by the BBC with additional funding from the UK government.