Indies' Concerned Over BBC Budgets

Posted on 5th March 2007

As reported in Broadcast Magazine, the independent radio production sector is increasingly concerned about rumours of potential large cuts in programming budgets at the national BBC radio networks. The cuts are reported to be a result of the Licence Fee decision recently handed down to the BBC Trust & Management by the Government. With so much of the BBC's funds ring-fenced for non-programming related areas such as the Salford, W12 and New Broadcasting House developments; and to fund the switch-over to digital TV (something RIG and many others feel strongly should not be funded by the licence fee payers!), the outcome of the decision looks to be large cuts in programming budgets across the Corporation - TV, Online and Radio. However, while cuts in TV and Online may be difficult, for the radio sector they are simply impossible. The sector has had it's budgets cut systematically for almost a decade and many senior figures believe there is simply no money left to cut without either reducing rights aquisitions (something that goes against the Government's requirements for the BBC) or quality. RIG is supporting the network controllers as they work through the difficult decisions being asked of them. However, we call on the DCMS, Treasury, BBC Trust and Management to recognise that BBC Radio needs to be considered seperately from BBC TV and Online, and be protected from any negative impact of the Licence Fee decision.