Tories make pledge to probe ads on BBC

by Our Parliamentary correspondent, Campaign 22-Apr-05, 14:43

The Conservative Party will set up an inquiry into whether the BBC should be funded by advertising and subscription if it wins the general election.

John Whittingdale, the shadow culture secretary, criticised Labour for renewing the licence fee for another ten years, saying it was " inefficient, expensive, unfair and regressive". He added: "We should be looking at alternative options. I would set up a review immediately."

Whittingdale said the inquiry would consider the role subscription and advertising could play "on some but not all" BBC channels.

The move marks a change of policy by the Conservatives. They cooled on the issue of ads on the BBC after commissioning a study led by David Elstein, the former five chief. He said advertising would drive the BBC downmarket.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats oppose ads on the BBC, warning such a move would force the corporation to chase audiences and would harm programme quality.

- Close-Up, page 25.