BBC to axe stations and slash spending

THE BBC is to close radio stations, slash spending on its website and cap other parts of its budget.

The BBC’s announcement yesterday comes as a British general election looms and follows an increasingly public spat between the group, some rivals and MPs who accuse the broadcaster of unnecessary expansion at a time when commercial firms are struggling in the downturn.

The corporation’s director general Mark Thompson said he would recommend halving the number of sections on the website and spending 25% less on the site per year by 2013.

He has also proposed closing Radio 6 Music, the Asian Network and teenofferings BBC Switch and Blast.

James Murdoch, seen as the heir to his father Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp’s media empire, has described the broadcaster’s scale and intention as “chilling”.

Unions and analysts have also interpreted the move as a bid by the corporation to get its plans in ahead of an election this year which is likely to result in cuts to public spending.

“The public pick up the bill for the BBC and it is right that it constantly evolves to meet their expectations,” said Michael Lyons, head of the BBC Trust, which will consider the proposals. A three-month consultation with the public will take place.

The BBC, which is renowned for its news coverage and comedy programmes such as The Office, receives a guaranteed £3.6 billion (€4bn) income a year from the licence fee, a tax paid by all television-owning households.

It said the overall aim would be to move nearly £600m a year towards higher quality content.

The media minister Ben Bradshaw, who had previously argued the corporation needed to be reined in, said he welcomed the BBC’s thinking and said it was important for the public’s voice to be heard as part of a consultation.