Poker faced

There's no sign that the Dalziel and Pascoe of public service broadcasting, BBC Chairman Sir David Clementi, and his ennobled side-kick Lord Hall are going to re-open the imposition of Over 75 licences on the Corporation. This is despite campaigns from the Daily Mirror, Gordon Brown, and AgeUK (80,000 signatures so far).  Sir Dave's speech to the Oxford Media Convention yesterday confirms he's sticking with a process, and gives no clues to the outcome of the online consultation which closed on 12th February. 

"The consultation process has proven that there are strong views on all sides. Any choice will have its merits and its drawbacks, its critics and its backers.

Ultimately, it is for the Board to decide. And I can assure you that none of us underestimates the significance of the decision.

At this stage we are still gathering the threads together from the consultation period. We will need to make the best and fairest decision for everyone, and we hope to do so before the summer."

Sir Dave was slightly stronger in his resolve to loosen some of the shackles of Ofcom, calling for a change to the rules when they can interpose themselves between the BBC and new commercial venture. He wants there to be actual evidence of risk to competitors, rather than a hypothetical risk - and when they do intervene, inquiries must be way faster than the current eight months.