Murdoch Wants BBC to Divest EE
LONDON -—If media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has his way, the
BBC should be forced to sell off its most popular
programmes, such as EastEnders.
The proposal, which was made recently by Tony
Ball, the chief executive of Murdoch's satelllite TV
company BSkyB, is the first salvo in the debate over
the BBC's royal charter renewal in 2006. The charter
sets the terms of the corporation's budget and method
of funding.
Under the Murdoch, proposal, the BBC would also
be banned from buying imports, including Hollywood
blockbusters like Harry Potter.
The plan was revealed at the Media Guardian
Edinburgh international television festival. BSkyB has
long accused the BBC of squeezing the commercial
sector with a stream of populist programmes.
Murdoch's plan calls for the BBC to put up for
auction at least six of its most popular programmes
every year to commercial rivals such as ITV or Channel
4. The proceeds would be ploughed back into the
BBC's budget to replace the lost shows.
British households are required to pay £116
(roughly US$174) licence fee, which annually generates
for the BBC £2.5 billion (US$3.75 billion).
The BBC responded to the proposal: "We are
flattered that Tony Ball should be so preoccupied with
the BBC but his comments have to be seen in the
context of Rupert Murdoch's long and hostile campaign
against the BBC.
Thankfully for the British public, Mr Murdoch has not
been successful in this campaign.
“This speech clearly reflects BSkyB's view that
programmes are merely a commodity to be bought and
sold. The BBC—and probably the majority of British
broadcasters and producers—believe programmes are
about creativity, talent and broader cultural and
social issues.”
Besides BSkyB, Murdoch’s media holdings include
the 20th Century Fox film studio, the Fox broadcast
network, The Times and The Sun British daily
newspapers, as well as the New York Post.
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