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BBC puts viewers through ‘deprivation test’ to highlight value of output BBC puts viewers through ‘deprivation test’ to highlight value of output
(35 minutes later)
The BBC will look to prove its worth to the nation with a “blackout” of its services to show licence fee payers how much they would miss its TV, radio and online output.The BBC will look to prove its worth to the nation with a “blackout” of its services to show licence fee payers how much they would miss its TV, radio and online output.
The “deprivation test” follows the publication of the government’s green paper on the future of the BBC which suggested it could focus on a more narrow range of services with a consequent cut in the licence fee.The “deprivation test” follows the publication of the government’s green paper on the future of the BBC which suggested it could focus on a more narrow range of services with a consequent cut in the licence fee.
The corporation took a representative range of people, including those who were happy to pay the licence fee, people who thought it was too high, and people who did not want to pay it at all, and took away all of their BBC TV, radio and online services for a fortnight.The corporation took a representative range of people, including those who were happy to pay the licence fee, people who thought it was too high, and people who did not want to pay it at all, and took away all of their BBC TV, radio and online services for a fortnight.
Related: Tory plans for BBC shakeup could lead to ‘much diminished service’Related: Tory plans for BBC shakeup could lead to ‘much diminished service’
The BBC is expected to publish the results of the trial, to test the public’s appetite for the licence fee, in the next few weeks.The BBC is expected to publish the results of the trial, to test the public’s appetite for the licence fee, in the next few weeks.
BBC presenter Graham Norton, one of the corporation’s highest paid stars, told the Daily Telegraph everyone was happy to pay the licence fee once they were deprived of its output. BBC presenter Graham Norton, one of the corporation’s highest-paid stars, told the Daily Telegraph everyone was happy to pay the licence fee once they were deprived of its output.
“They got a mixture of people – those who were happy paying the licence fee, those who didn’t want to pay it, those who thought it was too high,” Norton told the Telegraph.“They got a mixture of people – those who were happy paying the licence fee, those who didn’t want to pay it, those who thought it was too high,” Norton told the Telegraph.
“And they took their services away for two weeks. Just two weeks. No [BBC] internet, no radio, no TV. And at the end of it, everyone was happy to pay for the licence fee.”“And they took their services away for two weeks. Just two weeks. No [BBC] internet, no radio, no TV. And at the end of it, everyone was happy to pay for the licence fee.”
Norton, who presents a Friday night chatshow on BBC1 and Saturday morning show on Radio 2, said he had suggested the “deprivation test” in a letter to BBC director general Tony Hall. Norton, who presents a Friday-night chatshow on BBC1 and Saturday-morning show on Radio 2, said he had suggested the “deprivation test” in a letter to BBC director general Tony Hall.
“I think they should switch off the BBC for two months,” added Norton.“I think they should switch off the BBC for two months,” added Norton.
“Just put £24 into everyone’s bank account, and switch the BBC off for two months, and people would shit themselves.”“Just put £24 into everyone’s bank account, and switch the BBC off for two months, and people would shit themselves.”
Unveiling the government’s green paper on the future of the BBC on Thursday, the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, said the BBC had grown exponentially over the last decade and it was time to ask “whether this particular range of services best serves licence fee payers”.Unveiling the government’s green paper on the future of the BBC on Thursday, the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, said the BBC had grown exponentially over the last decade and it was time to ask “whether this particular range of services best serves licence fee payers”.
Related: Biggest BBC shakeup in a decade as Tories put corporation under reviewRelated: Biggest BBC shakeup in a decade as Tories put corporation under review
The amount of popular entertainment on BBC television channels, including shows such as BBC1’s The Voice, was singled out for criticism, along with the corporation’s output on Radio 1 and Radio 2.The amount of popular entertainment on BBC television channels, including shows such as BBC1’s The Voice, was singled out for criticism, along with the corporation’s output on Radio 1 and Radio 2.
Whittingdale questioned whether the BBC should continue to strive to be “all things to all people”.Whittingdale questioned whether the BBC should continue to strive to be “all things to all people”.
The BBC has warned that government plans for the biggest shakeup of the corporation for a decade could lead to a “much diminished, less popular service”.The BBC has warned that government plans for the biggest shakeup of the corporation for a decade could lead to a “much diminished, less popular service”.