BBC Trust could become funding agency for public service content, says Ofcom chief

Posted by Colin Crummy on 15 April 2008 at 13:13
Tags: Broadcast, Radio, Television

Broadcasting regulator chief Ed Richards has suggested the BBC Trust could play a role in reallocating the licence fee, if it becomes the way to secure public service broadcasting.

Speaking to MediaGuardian, Ofcom’s Richards said that if a slice of the licence fee were to be shared among other broadcasters for public service content, the BBC Trust might play a part in granting the funds.

Richards was elaborating on the first part of Ofcom’s review into public service broadcasting, unveiled last week. Although he said that he had no preferred funding option, the idea of taking the part of the licence fee currently ringfenced for digital switchover schemes and using that for other future public service content, would not harm the BBC. The BBC has already warned against top-slicing the licence fee.

Tags: Broadcast, Radio, Television