BBC online review launched

The British government is conducting an official review of the BBC’s online services to determine whether the BBC has stuck to the original plans approved by the government in 1998 and what impact it has had on the commercial sector. Commercial rivals and the general public have until November 17 to submit comments for the review. Expect the rivals to argue that BBC’s presence in the market makes it much more difficult for them to make money. Emily Bell, editor-in-chief of The Guardian’s Website, Guardian Unlimited, told the BBC’s Nick Higham that the scale and resources of the BBC’s operation threatens to smother rivals. “The BBC sets standards for the rest of us to live up to. But it has built those standards up with a very high level of resource.” She said the BBC should be obliged to link to other sites, share software and share expertise with other Internet providers.

August 25, 2003 by
Filed Under: Business Bytes

COMMENTS

  • George William

    The battle between the United Kingdom’s government and its disloyal – because independently thinking – broadcaster continues into a new round. Concerned by the BBC’s unwillingness to submit to government lines and its resolve to produce classic journalism, the BBC is facing a battle it is unable to win by itself. Given the large leverage the British government has over the BBC, this latest attack is only one of the many avenue open in reining in government critics. The effectiveness of media silencing present in the UK is already showing in the absence of equivalent reporting in the many other media outlets, now chiming in to criticise the BBC.

    Given its dependence on the government it is challenging, only the people by sounding their support for indepedence of the media from government interference and censorship can prevent the silencing of the critical reporting so essential to a functioning democracy.

    George William,
    London