Advanced Television

BBC Chief: ‘Must look at new sources of funding’

October 22, 2014

By Chris Forrester

Rona FairheadRona Fairhead, the new chairwoman at the BBC’s ruling body The BBC Trust, told Members of Parliament that the BBC could start charging for viewing niche or premium programming.

She said such extra payments “would be an intelligent way to look forward in terms of the charter review”.

Fairhead was speaking in front of the Culture Media & Sport select parliamentary committee, and added that while the BBC’s core funding should continue to come from the £145.50 (€183) annual licence fee, but admitted that the BBC “must look at other sources of funding”.

Fairhead also appeared to back the controversial decision to close the BBC3 TV channel, commenting: “The idea of moving BBC3 and making it online in and of itself is good.”
She added: “We haven’t done our final review of BBC3. It’s a really difficult challenge. [Younger viewers] are certainly watching very differently, typically they watch on the go.”

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