Fact Service July 2011

Issue 28

Questions raised over TV licence freeze

The BBC licence fee deal must be re-examined in the light of revelations surrounding the disturbing influence of Rupert Murdoch and his News International executives on David Cameron and senior government ministers, the NUJ journalists' union said as thousands of journalists prepared for a 24-hour strike against compulsory redundancies at the BBC.

Last year, chancellor George Osborne announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review that the licence fee would be frozen for six years while financial responsibility for the World Service and the Welsh channel S4C would pass to the BBC.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “As the News International scandal deepens it is becoming increasingly clear that David Cameron and others at the heart of government have been in thrall to Rupert Murdoch, shamelessly prioritising the commercial interests of one powerful man over those of the British public.

“Can David Cameron and George Osborne honestly say that there was no Murdoch influence behind the decision to freeze the licence fee for the next six years? Quality public service journalism and the BBC audiences are suffering the consequences of this deal, clearly taken at a time when huge pressure was being exerted by News International executives.”

www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2164