In an email to BBC staff sent out just before Christmas, and reported in Broadcast magazine, the Corporation's top man Mark Thompson has expressed his disappointment in the licence fee rises that the government is now expected to announce. The BBC has been lobbying for a rise in its licence fee for some time, with bosses there hoping to get the go ahead to raise the fee each year by 1.8% above inflation. However, reports that surfaced in mid-December suggest that the Beeb will not get a rise linked to and above inflation - rather it can expect a 3% increase this year and next, and then a 2% rise each year for the next three years. Although media minister Tessa Jowell won't officially announce her decision on licence fee rises until next week, Thompson has said that the source of those leaked proposals is "credible". He added that the news was a "real disappointment". Assuming the leaked figures are correct, it is not clear what impact the approved licence fees will have on the BBC, who obviously were banking on their income increasing somewhat more than it now will. The NUJ is already predicting that the lower licence fee settlement will lead to further job cuts at the Corporation.
Jan 3, 2007
•
1 min read
BBC boss Mark Thompson disappointed by reported licence fee settlement
BBC director general Mark Thompson has called leaked licence fee figures of 3% and then 2% rises a real disappointment, with media minister Tessa Jowell yet to announce the decision.