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| More BBC licence fee cuts could cost 32,000 jobs, warns Tony Hall | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| BBC director general Tony Hall has warned that further cuts to the corporation’s funding and remit could result in more than 30,000 job losses across the TV industry. | BBC director general Tony Hall has warned that further cuts to the corporation’s funding and remit could result in more than 30,000 job losses across the TV industry. |
| Speaking ahead of a keynote speech by culture secretary John Whittingdale at the Guardian Edinburgh International TV festival that is expected to be critical of the BBC, Hall said that cuts to licence fee income would result in economic downturn that stretches beyond the corporation itself. | Speaking ahead of a keynote speech by culture secretary John Whittingdale at the Guardian Edinburgh International TV festival that is expected to be critical of the BBC, Hall said that cuts to licence fee income would result in economic downturn that stretches beyond the corporation itself. |
| “New research shows that, because of the boost the BBC provides, if you cut the licence fee by 25% you’d lose about 32,000 jobs across the whole economy,” said Hall. “These aren’t just jobs at the BBC, but across the TV industry – at independent producers, suppliers and studios up and down the country.” | “New research shows that, because of the boost the BBC provides, if you cut the licence fee by 25% you’d lose about 32,000 jobs across the whole economy,” said Hall. “These aren’t just jobs at the BBC, but across the TV industry – at independent producers, suppliers and studios up and down the country.” |
| Whittingdale is carrying out a review of the BBC ahead of the charter renewal next year, questioning whether the corporation should continue to try and be “all things to all people” or be given a much narrower focus. | Whittingdale is carrying out a review of the BBC ahead of the charter renewal next year, questioning whether the corporation should continue to try and be “all things to all people” or be given a much narrower focus. |
| Hall said that that the BBC has been a breeding ground for creative excellence, citing Tom Hooper, who started out on Eastenders and went on to direct The King’s Speech, and The Theory of Everything director James Marsh, another former BBC employee. | Hall said that that the BBC has been a breeding ground for creative excellence, citing Tom Hooper, who started out on Eastenders and went on to direct The King’s Speech, and The Theory of Everything director James Marsh, another former BBC employee. |
| “When series like Game of Thrones are choosing where to film, they know that the UK has the skills to deliver,” he said. “Our research tells us that as much as audiences enjoy the big US blockbusters like House of Cards and Breaking Bad, they also want programmes set in the UK. That’s why British shows like Happy Valley, Luther, Poldark, Sherlock and Broadchurch are so popular and many household names made their breakthrough on BBC shows. Without the BBC’s investment the number of British shows made will fall”. | “When series like Game of Thrones are choosing where to film, they know that the UK has the skills to deliver,” he said. “Our research tells us that as much as audiences enjoy the big US blockbusters like House of Cards and Breaking Bad, they also want programmes set in the UK. That’s why British shows like Happy Valley, Luther, Poldark, Sherlock and Broadchurch are so popular and many household names made their breakthrough on BBC shows. Without the BBC’s investment the number of British shows made will fall”. |
| Hall argued that critics who say that the BBC is too big are mistaken, despite the corporation growing from two channels to nine since 1994. | Hall argued that critics who say that the BBC is too big are mistaken, despite the corporation growing from two channels to nine since 1994. |
| He says that the total TV landscape has seen channel numbers grow from 61 to 536 over the same period and that the BBC has, in fact, shrunk in relative size compared with its commercial rivals. | He says that the total TV landscape has seen channel numbers grow from 61 to 536 over the same period and that the BBC has, in fact, shrunk in relative size compared with its commercial rivals. |
| “The BBC accounts for a far smaller proportion of television now than it did 20 years ago,” he said. “Globally, we have less than half the revenue of Sky and a sixth of the revenue of Disney”. | “The BBC accounts for a far smaller proportion of television now than it did 20 years ago,” he said. “Globally, we have less than half the revenue of Sky and a sixth of the revenue of Disney”. |
| Hall said that despite this, the BBC it plays a critical role in the “Britishness” of British TV at a time when a new generation of US rivals are emerging. | Hall said that despite this, the BBC it plays a critical role in the “Britishness” of British TV at a time when a new generation of US rivals are emerging. |
| “As huge American companies such as Amazon, Google and Apple start to make programmes and services of their own, we need to think carefully about what makes British telly special,” he said. “It is all too easy to take [the BBC] for granted, and with the government deciding on the future of the BBC, there is much at stake. A strong BBC also contributes to a strong UK economy. A strong BBC will help deliver a strong Britain”. | “As huge American companies such as Amazon, Google and Apple start to make programmes and services of their own, we need to think carefully about what makes British telly special,” he said. “It is all too easy to take [the BBC] for granted, and with the government deciding on the future of the BBC, there is much at stake. A strong BBC also contributes to a strong UK economy. A strong BBC will help deliver a strong Britain”. |