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| BBC fights back against Tory assault on 'waste' and right to make popular shows | BBC fights back against Tory assault on 'waste' and right to make popular shows |
| (2 days later) | |
| The BBC has revealed that its bill for redundancy payments fell by 30% to £18m last year as it begins a fightback against Conservative criticisms that it has become wasteful and is squeezing out commercial rivals. | The BBC has revealed that its bill for redundancy payments fell by 30% to £18m last year as it begins a fightback against Conservative criticisms that it has become wasteful and is squeezing out commercial rivals. |
| The broadcaster’s annual report, which is published on Tuesday, will argue that a decision by the director general, Tony Hall, to cap severance deals at £150,000 has already resulted in significant savings that demonstrate the BBC does not deserve to be punished by ministers. The corporation is awaiting a green paper on the future of the corporation, which is due to be published on Thursday. | The broadcaster’s annual report, which is published on Tuesday, will argue that a decision by the director general, Tony Hall, to cap severance deals at £150,000 has already resulted in significant savings that demonstrate the BBC does not deserve to be punished by ministers. The corporation is awaiting a green paper on the future of the corporation, which is due to be published on Thursday. |
| Hall will also defend the BBC’s right to air Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice and other popular entertainment programmes. He will call for a full public debate about the future of BBC and say that its Worldwide commercial arm, that helps make programmes such as Top Gear outside the UK, should not be privatised. | Hall will also defend the BBC’s right to air Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice and other popular entertainment programmes. He will call for a full public debate about the future of BBC and say that its Worldwide commercial arm, that helps make programmes such as Top Gear outside the UK, should not be privatised. |
| Related: New political battle over the BBC's future to begin this week | Related: New political battle over the BBC's future to begin this week |
| “There is an important argument to be made about what kind of BBC we want to see in the future,” said a BBC source. “Whether it is one that will provide something for everyone and be a beacon for Britain around the world – or whether it will be forced into a market-failure model and weaken the UK’s creative industries.” | “There is an important argument to be made about what kind of BBC we want to see in the future,” said a BBC source. “Whether it is one that will provide something for everyone and be a beacon for Britain around the world – or whether it will be forced into a market-failure model and weaken the UK’s creative industries.” |
| The BBC has been hit by a long-running controversy over the high level of severance payouts made to executives, such as the £949,000 paid to the former deputy director general Mark Byford, which fuelled accusations of waste and prompted attacks by commercial rivals and hostile politicians. | The BBC has been hit by a long-running controversy over the high level of severance payouts made to executives, such as the £949,000 paid to the former deputy director general Mark Byford, which fuelled accusations of waste and prompted attacks by commercial rivals and hostile politicians. |
| The culture secretary, John Whittingdale, has previously argued that the BBC has no role producing popular entertainment shows such as Strictly if they can be made by commercial rivals – and before taking office he had been scathing about the broadcaster’s inefficiency. | The culture secretary, John Whittingdale, has previously argued that the BBC has no role producing popular entertainment shows such as Strictly if they can be made by commercial rivals – and before taking office he had been scathing about the broadcaster’s inefficiency. |
| In an interview with the Guardian’s Charlotte Higgins in February 2014, when he was chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, Whittingdale said: “The BBC is the most wasteful, bloated organisation on the planet.” | In an interview with the Guardian’s Charlotte Higgins in February 2014, when he was chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, Whittingdale said: “The BBC is the most wasteful, bloated organisation on the planet.” |
| He said: “Chris Patten [the BBC Trust’s former chairman] used to make jokes about the army of the People’s Republic of China being the organisation that’s the closest he’s encountered to the BBC: it is just huge numbers of people, many of whom don’t appear to be doing anything.” | He said: “Chris Patten [the BBC Trust’s former chairman] used to make jokes about the army of the People’s Republic of China being the organisation that’s the closest he’s encountered to the BBC: it is just huge numbers of people, many of whom don’t appear to be doing anything.” |
| On Thursday, Whittingdale will unveil a green paper on the future of the BBC that sets a demanding agenda before the renegotiation of the corporation’s royal charter. Last week, the minister announced a controversial financial settlement in which the BBC agreed to pay for free licence fees for the over-75s from 2020 at a cost of £700m a year. | On Thursday, Whittingdale will unveil a green paper on the future of the BBC that sets a demanding agenda before the renegotiation of the corporation’s royal charter. Last week, the minister announced a controversial financial settlement in which the BBC agreed to pay for free licence fees for the over-75s from 2020 at a cost of £700m a year. |
| He also appointed an expert panel, whose members, including the former Channel 5 boss Dawn Airey, were unveiled over the weekend, to advise him on the charter renewal process. Political insiders briefed that Whittingdale believes that the BBC is breaching its charter principles by claiming it needs to go after 90% of viewers. | He also appointed an expert panel, whose members, including the former Channel 5 boss Dawn Airey, were unveiled over the weekend, to advise him on the charter renewal process. Political insiders briefed that Whittingdale believes that the BBC is breaching its charter principles by claiming it needs to go after 90% of viewers. |
| Fearing that the advisory committee will call for the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, to be privatised and for popular shows to be made by commercial rivals, the broadcaster will release commissioned research that shows a high level of public support for its popular drama and entertainment. “The last time politicians made decisions about creative content they gave us the Dome,” said one insider. | Fearing that the advisory committee will call for the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, to be privatised and for popular shows to be made by commercial rivals, the broadcaster will release commissioned research that shows a high level of public support for its popular drama and entertainment. “The last time politicians made decisions about creative content they gave us the Dome,” said one insider. |
| Hall is expected to argue that last week’s agreement was the “right funding deal in difficult circumstances”. The settlement has been sharply criticised by several analysts and the Labour party. | Hall is expected to argue that last week’s agreement was the “right funding deal in difficult circumstances”. The settlement has been sharply criticised by several analysts and the Labour party. |
| In a speech to be delivered at the Royal Television Society, the shadow culture secretary, Chris Bryant, is expected to call for public support for the BBC against the “bully crusade” being waged by “ideological” government ministers. “There are just 18 months left to save the BBC,” he is expected to say. | In a speech to be delivered at the Royal Television Society, the shadow culture secretary, Chris Bryant, is expected to call for public support for the BBC against the “bully crusade” being waged by “ideological” government ministers. “There are just 18 months left to save the BBC,” he is expected to say. |
| “The government’s plans are to scale back the BBC and to stop it making popular programmes. If it gets its way with the changes it wants, the BBC will be a national irrelevance by 2027. Audiences tell us they want big, popular entertainment shows as part of the unrivalled range of programmes the BBC offers, and given the universal nature of the licence fee, it’s right that we provide something for everyone.” | “The government’s plans are to scale back the BBC and to stop it making popular programmes. If it gets its way with the changes it wants, the BBC will be a national irrelevance by 2027. Audiences tell us they want big, popular entertainment shows as part of the unrivalled range of programmes the BBC offers, and given the universal nature of the licence fee, it’s right that we provide something for everyone.” |
| The annual report is expected to spell out that 303 people were made redundant in the year to March 2015 with an average payoff of £60,000, compared with 413 people in the previous year. | The annual report is expected to spell out that 303 people were made redundant in the year to March 2015 with an average payoff of £60,000, compared with 413 people in the previous year. |
| The annual report is expected to expected to reveal levels of pay for onscreen talent and senior executives and show that bullying and harassment cases have fallen by 36%. | The annual report is expected to expected to reveal levels of pay for onscreen talent and senior executives and show that bullying and harassment cases have fallen by 36%. |
| The BBC will also publish an independent assessment of its child protection measures in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, which led to the resignation of the previous director general, George Entwhistle, in 2012. | The BBC will also publish an independent assessment of its child protection measures in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, which led to the resignation of the previous director general, George Entwhistle, in 2012. |
| Related: Friends of the BBC will oppose the government’s vicious attacks | Letters | |
| A report produced by an external body, the GoodCorporation, is expected to show that the BBC now has strong child protection policies in place and that considerable effort has been made to improve them. | A report produced by an external body, the GoodCorporation, is expected to show that the BBC now has strong child protection policies in place and that considerable effort has been made to improve them. |
| The annual report will also show that the cost of the licence fee – which has been frozen since 2010 – has fallen in real terms for the past seven years and is now 20% less than it was in 2007-08. Two weeks ago, the BBC announced that it would cut 1,000 jobs in a bid to save £50m a year. | The annual report will also show that the cost of the licence fee – which has been frozen since 2010 – has fallen in real terms for the past seven years and is now 20% less than it was in 2007-08. Two weeks ago, the BBC announced that it would cut 1,000 jobs in a bid to save £50m a year. |