BBC could be forced to sell radio stations in 'massive pruning back'
The number of TV channels could also be reduced, the website scaled back and stars banned from taking well-paid second jobs.
Sunday 16 February 2020 10:59, UK
The BBC could be forced to sell off most of its radio stations in a "massive pruning back" of its activities, according to a report.
The Sunday Times quoted a senior Downing Street source as saying that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "really strident" on the need for serious reform at the national broadcaster.
The number of TV channels could be reduced, the website scaled back and stars banned from taking well-paid second jobs, the newspaper said.
There will also be a consultation on replacing the licence fee with a subscription model, the source said, adding: "We are not bluffing on the licence fee.
"We are having a consultation and we will whack it. It has got to be a subscription model.
"They've got hundreds of radio stations, they've got all these TV stations and a massive website. The whole thing needs massive pruning back.
"They should have a few TV stations, a couple of radio stations and massively curtailed online presence and put more money and effort into the World Service which is part of its core job.
"The PM is firmly of the view that there needs to be serious reform. He is really strident on this."
But a cabinet minister played down reports that Downing Street wants to get rid of the licence fee.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said there were no "preordained" decisions on future funding models.
He told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "I would be pretty cautious of some unattributed comments.
"There is a consultation out there. It is just a consultation at this stage. There are no further decisions made at all.
"The BBC is a much loved national treasure. We all want it to be a huge success.
"But everybody, including the BBC themselves, recognises that in a changing world the BBC itself will have to change.
"But it is simply not the case that there is some preordained decision about the future funding of the BBC out there."
And some Conservative MPs have voiced disquiet with the comments attributed to a "senior Downing Street source".
Huw Merriman said: "I'm not sure this vendetta against the BBC is going to end well."
"I hope the Sunday Times story about the BBC is kite-flying," said former de facto deputy prime minister Damian Green.
"Destroying the BBC wasn't in our manifesto and would be cultural vandalism. 'Vote Tory and close Radio 2'. Really?"
The BBC provides nine national TV channels plus regional programming, as well as 10 national radio stations, 40 local radio stations, news and sport websites, and the iPlayer.
The news comes as the government consults on whether to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee - which will be £157.50 from April, an increase of £3.
Currently, anyone who installs or uses a TV or watches BBC iPlayer without a licence is guilty of a criminal offence.
In 2018, more than 121,000 people were convicted and sentenced for evasion and issued with an average fine of £176.
There were about 26 million TV licences being used in the UK last year, which generated an income of £3.69bn for the BBC.
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Some politicians have suggested turning the BBC into a subscription service, similar to Netflix, but the BBC's supporters have responded by pointing out that Netflix does not cover news.
The BBC has also clashed with the government over plans to axe free TV licences for those aged over 75, which will hit 3.7 million pensioners when they have to start paying for them in June, although 900,000 receiving pension credit will not have to pay.
BBC chairman Sir David Clementi said last week that putting the broadcaster behind a paywall would undermine its ability to "bring the country together".
A few weeks ago, the broadcaster said it is planning to cut around 450 jobs to save tens of millions of pounds.
A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC plays an important role for the country at home and abroad, it is the bedrock of our world-beating creative industries, and reaches millions of people every day.
"The public back it and they will undoubtedly have their own views about the future."