Articulation problem

The MPs of the Commons Public Accounts Committee are much less enthusiastic about the World Service than outgoing DG Tim Davie; in their latest report they suggest it's not obvious why the Government should pile more taxpayer funding into its future...  

"The BBC struggles to articulate how the World Service provides value for money to UK taxpayers and why it should therefore continue receiving government funding."

"The BBC World Service’s poor documentation means that the BBC cannot explain why it made key decisions and has hindered their ability to learn lessons going forwards."

"The BBC’s management of the World Service’s digital transformation had weaknesses which has

contributed to a fall in digital audiences of 11% over the period 2021–22 to 2024–25."

"The BBC’s approach to planning and implementing its World Service savings plans have not followed best practice. For example, the BBC failed to clearly document its rationale for key decisions made during

planning—such as which TV and Radio platforms to close—and did not set non-financial metrics to enable senior leadership to effectively track performance and understand the impact of its savings programmes on its audiences. "

"The BBC announced its move to a new international governance model in February 2025, but as of

January 2026 only one of six regional directors is permanently in post, so the benefits of clearer accountability and stronger audience trust are not yet secured." 

Cheers

Outgoing DG Tim Davie brought a 'sizzle' reel to the Royal Television Society for his farewell speech as a BBC employee. Since he got the job in 2020, the 'sizzle' reels have been pretty good, if necessarily focussed on tv.  And for that, Tim probably has to thank Charlotte Moore, in place as Director of Content since 2016 until last year.  Keeping good people in place is a DG's job.  Tim was less successful with Deborah Turness. 

In Tim's shaping of the organisation, BBC Design and Engineering was cut a different way in 2021, into Product and Technology. At the RTS he celebrated bringing them back together: "We have just established MediaTech, which brings together our world class technology, product and R&D teams right across the group. For the first time they’re one organisation."  Mmm.

For the record, the total average headcount (equivalent full time) of the BBC, public service and commercial, when Tim got the gig in 2020/21 was 22,219.   In the Annual Report for 2024/25, it was 21,773. 

Tim managed to get through the whole speech using 'jeopardy' only once. I think the marketing man within came to the surface with this 'vision', which I've not seen anywhere else before. "Our vision is simple: to be the only market-leading public service media organisation globally. In a club of one. Growing not declining. Our best days ahead of us."

More on the Tim balance sheet to come....

Tim sharing

One hopes Tim Davie's round of 'leaving' interviews goes beyond joining Marina Hyde and Richard Osman on their podcast The Rest Is Entertainment. Pre-departure Tim might have been a bit annoyed by the choice of an outlet that bolsters the economy of Gary Lineker, rather than one of the thousands produced for BBC Sounds. 

Does it suggest that the former marketing man is marketing himself, at 58, for one more big job ?  There's serious consolidation underway in media companies on both sides of the Atlantic, and Tim may well be networking rather than taking a round-the-world cruise over the next three months. Will he be able to burnish his CV with a quick knighthood ? The Government committee managing arts honours is currently without a chair, but features as members, Yolanda Brown (on Today again this morning - on a story generated by the BPI) Jo Twist, CEO, BPI and Lisa Opie, former BBC TV executive who managed to run a cafe in Hemel Hempstead on the side in her time with Auntie.  Will they brave the inevitable wrath of Danny Cohen ?

Meanwhile back at Broadcasting House, the stabilisers have been removed from the wheels of interim DG Rhodri Talfan Davies, allowed to chair this week's meeting of the BBC Executive Committee by himself.

Overlooked

We haven't done 'buildings' for a bit.  Developers have just revealed plans for a 70-storey tower in a cluster north of the Pier Head in Liverpool.  Could be a hotel/office block, or just a hotel. Designed by Simpson Haugh, of Clerkenwell/Manchester, it's the tallest in this visualisation by Infinite 3D... 

Make us some money

They're still hiring.  The BBC in New York are still desparate to make side money from 'News', and have now created a joib title that is at least straightforward: Content Commercialization Strategist. 

However, what follows is a word salad, tossed in adverbial snake oil, and sprinkled with toasted epithets. It scores 0 (zero) on the Flesch Kincaid reading ease score, where 100 is easily and simply read.

As a Content Commercialization Strategist, you will support the development, framing, and commercialization of editorial driven content products across BBC.com, Digital Brands/Social, and Audio environments. Reporting into the Senior Content Commercialization Strategist, this role focuses on helping transform editorial assets and content ecosystems into compelling commercial propositions and revenue opportunities.

You will work closely with editorial teams to identify market potential, adapt content constructs for advertiser relevance, and contribute to positioning for sales and go-to-market activation. The role blends editorial understanding, commercial thinking, narrative development, and cross functional collaboration.

Success in this position requires strong editorial judgment, an understanding of content value creation, audience insights, and the ability to help translate editorial storytelling into commercially viable programs, packages, and products.

Straitened times

Even Donald J Trump might have clocked a recurring issue with the Straits of Hormuz. If he has the control he claims, why can't US forces move in and allow oil and gas shipping to continue ?

Swiss support for licence

Swiss voters rejected further cuts to public service media in the weekend's referendum. The right-wing Swiss People's Party had proposed reducing the annual fee from 335 Swiss Francs (around £320), to 200 Francs, with businesses. 62% opposed the plan, on a turn-out of 56%. 

The governing coalition had already decided to cut it to 300 Francs by 2029 and cost-cutting measures announced before the referendum will lead to the loss of 900 full-time position

The Borrowers

As well as trying to find a new DG, BBC Board chairman Samir Shah is looking for a new non-executive to chair BBC Studios. 

Sir Damon Buffini has decided not to take a second term, but quietly extended his current run by six months, to leave in June. (He has, however, extended his term as Chair of the National Theatre, where he started in 2016, to mid 2027). He was brought in under 'old friend' Richard Sharp's tenure as BBC Chairman, and rewarded with the title 'deputy', which other non-execs sought to define as 'honorary'. His challenge was to wring more profits out of Studios, and whilst they have met targets, some critics are convinced that this, the biggest element of the BBC's commercial side, is still underperforming.   In the recent BBC submission to the DCMS, it says it needs to borrow more to make more....

Mmm. Matt Brittin has NED experience...

Tax me

Whilst still pushing the idea of partially funding the BBC from a broadband charge, I'm still firmly convinced there's a case for taking the money from either a) council tax, or b) general taxation. 

The case for council tax would require syncrhonisation with a much-needed revaluation. Bands are still based on figures from 1991. 

The case for taking it from general taxation might give a sensible kickstart to some easy partnerships. For example, in black and white days, the BBC was not averse to the odd public service information film. The NHS is coy about how much it spends on advertising; a recent promotion of pharmacy services cost £2.5m alone. BBC Bitesize continues to be pivotal to any small improvements there may be in GCSE results. I could stomach a few promotions for online energy monitoring or insulation as a price for keeping the BBC going.  Many of the Government's national emergency strategies rely on the BBC, in terms of communicating online, via tv and radio. Put a price on that lot, and sit harder on the advertising budgets of a whole range of Government departments.   

Evasion disappears once the BBC's funding comes from taxation; so the annual costs of collection (c£166m last year) 'come back' to Auntie; and, presuming the new funding algorithm is based on numbers of households, up to £1bn 'comes back' suppressing the growing evasion rate, currently somewhere around 12.5%.  

In the old days, the licence fee was tied in with broadcasting spectrum; in the digital world, it would not be unreasonable to say the Government makes big decisions about frequency availability, and, as we now have 97% of households with 'superfast broadband', and costs, in real terms, dropping since 2019, a wee surchage would not difficult to contemplate. 

Controls ?  We currently have at least 8 independent pay review bodies. Build on that mechanism to set a PSB income strategy every five years in advance. At least a bit better than being at the whim of whoever sits in No 11 Downing Street.  

Alternatives

A number of correspondents suggest a new guideline for the besieged toilers in the Temple of Doom. If you're thinking of leading a bulletin on a Trump Truth Social tweet, think again. Even the staid Radio 4 bulletins fell into the trap again this morning. How about reporting on the US bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles at RAF Fairford ?  Is that a 'defensive' deployment ?   How about Trump watching the bodies of six army reservists coming back from Kuwait, killed while working in a makeshift operations centre - a trailer, 'fortified' with concrete barriers ?  Or what's the strategy behind bombing oil depots around Tehran ?  Or...