Lib Dems: BBC forced to make cuts to key services

Blog Bot · 18-10-2007, 12:20 PM

From the official website:

Responding to today’s announcement on the future of the BBC, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster MP said:
"Many people will be bitterly disappointed by today’s announcement, not least the dedicated staff set to lose their jobs and the licence fee payer set to lose BBC services.
"As the threat of strike action looms large, Mark Thompson may come to regret his words that staff would be ‘pleasantly surprised’ by today’s announcement.
"The BBC has been put in an impossible position by the Government’s below inflation licence fee settlement and insistence that the BBC pays for digital switchover.
"Questions must be asked about the impact of such drastic cuts and whether the right choices over services have been made.
"Why does the BBC want to maintain all TV channels with yet more repeats, when the new iPlayer enables viewers to watch programmes when they want? How will healthy competition between the BBC’s own news and current affairs programmes continue when teams are amalgamated? And why has it taken so long to review the high salaries of some presenters?
"Licence fee payers and staff should have a say in where the cuts are made. The BBC Trust should organise a public consultation before these planned cuts are finalised."

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brian pearson · 18-10-2007, 01:42 PM

Thompson is on the BBC news now refusing to answer the question as to whether he thinks Jonathon Ross is worth six mill a year. Personally I don't think he's worth six thou a year but once you are in at the Beeb you are made. Lenny Henry hasn't been funny since Tiswas but gets new show after new show.

18-10-2007, 12:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blog Bot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,999	Lib Dems: BBC forced to make cuts to key services - Foster From the official website: Responding to today’s announcement on the future of the BBC, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster MP said: "Many people will be bitterly disappointed by today’s announcement, not least the dedicated staff set to lose their jobs and the licence fee payer set to lose BBC services. "As the threat of strike action looms large, Mark Thompson may come to regret his words that staff would be ‘pleasantly surprised’ by today’s announcement. "The BBC has been put in an impossible position by the Government’s below inflation licence fee settlement and insistence that the BBC pays for digital switchover. "Questions must be asked about the impact of such drastic cuts and whether the right choices over services have been made. "Why does the BBC want to maintain all TV channels with yet more repeats, when the new iPlayer enables viewers to watch programmes when they want? How will healthy competition between the BBC’s own news and current affairs programmes continue when teams are amalgamated? And why has it taken so long to review the high salaries of some presenters? "Licence fee payers and staff should have a say in where the cuts are made. The BBC Trust should organise a public consultation before these planned cuts are finalised." More...

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18-10-2007, 01:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
brian pearson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: nottinghanshire Posts: 551	Thompson is on the BBC news now refusing to answer the question as to whether he thinks Jonathon Ross is worth six mill a year. Personally I don't think he's worth six thou a year but once you are in at the Beeb you are made. Lenny Henry hasn't been funny since Tiswas but gets new show after new show.