The BBC trust will be replaced by a board whose chair, deputy chair and four nation members will be appointed by the government, under the government White Paper, A BBC for the future: a broadcaster of distinction.
The rest of the 12-14 member board will be appointed by the BBC. Pay-TV BBC may be introduced to provide another stream of income, and will be restricted to “additional services” not currently provided. One potentially controversial change is the decision to allow independent producers to make 100% of non-news programmes (the limit is currently 50%).
“The government has finally unveiled its much-anticipated White Paper on the renewal of the BBC's charter,” said media barrister Athelstane Aamodt, of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, who previously worked at the BBC.
“Much of it is uncontroversial. For starters, the licence fee stays. This was always going to be the biggest issue, and the BBC keeps its ability to raise £3.7bn per year from the public.
“The White Paper is not a Bill and it will not be voted on by Parliament, and the renewed charter will be approved by the Privy Council. There will however be a (no doubt vigorous) debate in the House of Commons.
“The biggest issue will undoubtedly be the composition of the new ‘unitary board’, a portion of which will be appointed by the government. The idea of the government appointing members to such a board is bound to cause unease and will be perceived as political interference in the affairs of a broadcaster that is meant to be scrupulously impartial.”
Star salaries over £450,000 (not £150,000 as previously feared) will be disclosed in a move towards more transparency.
Another headline change is Culture Secretary John Whittingdale’s insistence that popularity should not be the main measure of success for the BBC. Instead, the new charter would require the BBC’s output to be “distinctive, high quality and impartial”.
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