TV
Gavyn Davies, the former BBC chairman, has said that the corporation is unlikely to ask for a rise in the licence fee as part of the charter renewal process.
BBC News reports that Davies, speaking in Oxford, said: "I doubt if the BBC itself will have the temerity to fly in the face of this misguided tide of chatterati opinion by asking the government for a licence fee settlement in excess of inflation, for fear of being laughed out of court.
"But the truth is that no other public service in Britain - not the health service, not the schools, not the army and definitely not the police - would ever contemplate accepting a decade-long settlement in which its income is frozen in real terms.
"Why should such a miserly outcome be seen as a 'good' settlement for the BBC, our consistently most successful public service throughout its 80-year life?"
BBC News reports that Davies, speaking in Oxford, said: "I doubt if the BBC itself will have the temerity to fly in the face of this misguided tide of chatterati opinion by asking the government for a licence fee settlement in excess of inflation, for fear of being laughed out of court.
"But the truth is that no other public service in Britain - not the health service, not the schools, not the army and definitely not the police - would ever contemplate accepting a decade-long settlement in which its income is frozen in real terms.
"Why should such a miserly outcome be seen as a 'good' settlement for the BBC, our consistently most successful public service throughout its 80-year life?"
More: TV
Tube Talk
'Freaks and Geeks': Tube Talk GoldTube Talk Gold heads back to the '80s and remembers Freaks and Geeks.
TV Interviews
'Celebrity Apprentice' Debbie Gibson Q&ADebbie Gibson opens up about her Celebrity Apprentice experience.
Reality Bites
Does Simon Cowell have new SuBo?: VideoWatch a clip of Jonathan Antoine, who is tipped for success on BGT.
TV Ratings
Judi Dench draws 4.1m on 'Graham Norton'ITV1 pips BBC One to the highest primetime audience share.
