Beware attacks on the BBC

Popular outrage over the BBC’s pre-emptive cuts has revealed some curious fans of 6 Music and the Asian Network. Followers now include Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw and his Shadow counterparts Jeremy Hunt and Don Foster. But these three have all recently called for the BBC to be pruned, its ‘expansionist’ tendencies reined in.

This echoes the claim the public broadcaster drowns out commercial rivals. Allegations that the BBC is ‘dumbing down’ fuel catcalls demanding it stops ‘chasing ratings’. In a country where 30 per cent of people now have cable TV, critics claim the licence fee is no longer justified.

But the BBC provides immense value for money. For a fraction of the cost of satellite - up to £50 a month - we have an extensive network of high quality TV channels, radio stations and online services. The licence fee allows the BBC to provide unrivalled global news coverage and a wide range of programming for all sectors of society.

It is true that BBC One has become more populist in recent years. But the BBC should court mainstream audiences, who also pay the licence fee. The diversity of programming has not been sacrificed. Older audiences are still catered for on BBC Two and arts and politics covered on BBC Four.

The 88-year-old broadcaster has also experimented to bring science and politics to wider audiences with programmes such as Jimmy’s Food Factory. But the high end documentaries remain. What commercial broadcaster would have commissioned the recent Horizon on the concept of ‘infinity’?

Ratings are all that matters in the commercial sector. The BBC is the only broadcaster mandated to provide national coverage, and without it local TV would disappear. Every radio station would play commercial music. Documentaries, arts coverage and serious talk would be shelved.

Be particularly wary of calls for commercialised broadcasting in the run up to an election. With the news that financial clout may hold sway in marginal seats, the mandate to provide equal coverage to all political parties means no billionaire backers are able to buy airtime on the BBC. Cuts to curb the innovation, creativity and inclusiveness of this national treasure are not in the public interest, and the role the BBC plays to keep money out of politics is critical to democracy.

Tess Lanning, researcher, ippr