[Swprograms] BBC TV license fee to remain but Board of Governors to go

[Joel Rubin <jmrubin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

After a letter about where to get Beeb money after the license fee
went, on BBC7's breakfast comedy show, I wrote an email suggesting
that all the dubious money making schemes on the 'net (pyramids,
surviving relatives of African leaders who need to get a zillion bux
through your bank account, lotteries you've won but never entered and
whose winning ticket numbers have a LOT of Google hits, et alia) might
help.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/02/ubbc.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/03/02/ixportaltop.html

(link off the front page)

BBC licence fee to stay but governors to go
(Filed: 02/03/2005)

The BBC's licence fee will stay for at least the next 10 years, but
its Board of Governors is to undergo a major overhaul, the Culture
Secretary has said today.

The Board of Governors will go, Tessa Jowell told the Commons.
 	
The board has come in for criticism for not being independent enough
to monitor the BBC.

Ms Jowell said the changes would ensure a "strong, independent future"
for the corporation.

The proposals in the Green Paper will go out for consultation before
forming the basis for the renewal of the BBC's Royal Charter in 2007.

The Board of Governors will be replaced by two bodies, it is planned.

The BBC Trust will have responsibility for the licence fee and for
making sure that corporation fulfils its public service obligations.
And an Executive Board will be responsible for delivering the BBC's
services under a framework set by the trust.

The level of the licence fee will be set in the next stage of the
charter review process, said Ms Jowell.

A review will be set up to determine whether alternative sources of
funding - including the possibility of subscription fees for BBC -
should be used after the next charter expires on Dec 31, 2016.

Ms Jowell said: "The BBC, like any public institution, needs to adapt
if it is to serve its audiences and keep pace with changes in
technology.

"Its values, its global reach, its standards and its editorial
independence from all-comers must be preserved.

"Our proposals, including keeping the licence fee and renewing the
Charter for another 10 years, will enable it to do just that.

"The BBC Trust and Executive Board will provide much-needed daylight
between two quite separate roles - running the BBC and making sure it
is run well."

In 2003/2004, the BBC's total income, including revenue from BBC's
Commercial Businesses and Grant-In-Aid World Service, was £3.7
billion.

Since 1927, a review of the BBC's Charter has been carried out every
10 years. The current charter expires at the end of next year. 

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