Advisory panel calls for BBC licence fee to be axed

by Noel Bussey, campaignlive.co.uk 02-Nov-09, 10:11

LONDON - An upcoming report on Tory party media policy is expected to propose that the BBC's funding should be changed from the licence fee regime to come out of general taxation or a government grant.

According to The Guardian, the proposal is designed to allow the money the BBC spends on collecting the £142.50 annual charge to be saved and put into a fund to pay for public service broadcasting on commercial channels.

The proposal has come from a panel of 12 senior media industry figures, chaired by the former BBC director-general Greg Dyke and including Shine TV's chief executive, Elisabeth Murdoch.

The panel's report is expected to be published next month.