BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch

With the election outcome looking less certain by the day, BBC bosses have chosen an odd moment to pre-spin an announcement due next month on their strategic review. They have clearly been spooked by attacks from News Corporation and other vested interests, and capitulated.

Today’s Times reports:

“The BBC will close two radio stations, shut half its website and cut spending heavily on imported American programmes in an overhaul of services to be announced next month.

“Mark Thompson, the Director-General, will admit that the corporation, which is funded by the £3.6 billion annual licence fee, has become too large and must shrink to give its commercial rivals room to operate.”

News Corporation had complained that the BBC digital expansion had dislocated the media market and that commercial players could not compete. Put another way, Rupert Murdoch wants to charge for online content but cannot do so while the BBC is producing a free website that outstrips its commercial rivals. As a result, 25 per cent of the staff who work on the BBC’s fantastic website are to pay the price and face redundancy while popular stations like 6 Music are facing the chop.

The origins of this appeasement to the Murdoch Empire, which will be seen as an attempt to curry favour with an incoming Tory government looking to threaten the BBC licence fee, are from James Murdoch’s speech to the Edinburgh Television Festival last August. Murdoch Jnr. accused the BBC of a “land grab” causing the Director General, and others at the top, to take fright.

The beeb has been weakened by revelations that more than 100 of the BBC’s senior staff earn £21.2 million exacerbated with over-the-top expenses. While financial hubris has been demonstrated with their expansionist plans – not least in going over budget on the rebuild of Broadcasting House. And by letting BBC worldwide buy Lonely Planet. This sense of entitlement has meant they’ve been subjected to similar coverage to that meted out to MPs.

All this makes defending the BBC harder to do. Yet defend it we must if we want to protect a public service media. A universal licence fee means that the BBC has to provide a service for everyone and one that everyone wants. Otherwise the cry will go up to scrap the licence fee. A diminished BBC is what its detractors want. Bad political judgement and financial mis-management in the past is what Mark Thompson seems intent on delivering.

http://twitter.com/nashienet/status/9685702565 Steven Nash

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/skinola7/status/9686294686 Chris Skinner

RT @leftfootfwd: With the appropriate hashtag RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/paul0evans1/status/9687210352 Paul Evans

Left Foot Forward – BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/bGzbOY
http://twitter.com/scrumpymoet/status/9687357997 Andrew Breading

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/tim_evans/status/9687389866 Tim Evans

#save6music RT @Paul0Evans1 Left Foot Forward – BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/bGzbOY
http://twitter.com/heraclitus/status/9687869093 Alex

RT @leftfootfwd: With the appropriate hashtag RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/loujacksonking/status/9688457447 Louise King

RT @leftfootfwd: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/bGzbOY
http://www.flickr.com/photos/billy_blofeld Billy Blofeld

Defend it? No way. I’m all for it shrinking massively and reforming it. Things have to change. A couple of poxy closures does not go anywhere near far enough.
http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/www.leftfootforward.org/2010/02/bbc-announcement-is-capitulation-to-murdoch/ uberVU – social comments

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by nashienet: RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music…
http://twitter.com/jenni_jackson/status/9692071844 Jenni Jackson

RT @loujacksonking: RT @leftfootfwd: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/bGzbOY
http://twitter.com/othertpa/status/9692123857 Clifford Singer

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/jenni_jackson/status/9692165130 Jenni Jackson

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1
Mr. Sensible

I’d be careful about reading too much in to this; the BBC has described these claims as “premature”, and guess who’s reporting it? A Newscorp newspaper!
http://twitter.com/mr_omneo/status/9693089699 Mr Omneo

RT @OtherTPA: RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/kevinrye/status/9694096286 kevinrye

RT @OtherTPA: RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
ian

And supported by the tories… http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/26/ed-vaizey-bbc-cuts
http://twitter.com/paul0evans1/status/9694977635 Paul Evans

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1
http://twitter.com/shaunrowland/status/9695693566 Shaun Rowland

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 << the beeb is an expert in capitulation!!
http://twitter.com/grovesred/status/9698129802 Frank Ormston

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1
http://twitter.com/abidoodah/status/9700214276 Marilyn Jessop

RT @OtherTPA: RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/hrzine/status/9700335695 Jenna Appleseed

RT @abidoodah: RT @OtherTPA: RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/don_dapper/status/9703303996 Andrew Saffrey

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1
http://twitter.com/othertpa/status/9725580802 Clifford Singer

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1
http://twitter.com/mydavidcameron/status/9725830668 MyDavidCameron

RT @OtherTPA: RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/tom_watson/status/9725876672 tom_watson

"BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/kate_butler/status/9725892592 KATE BUTLER

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/thedullfig/status/9725920246 Deb Adams

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/zuzaze/status/9725937627 Zuza van der Zee

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1
http://twitter.com/headphaze/status/9725942839 Sh0rty

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/xentahl/status/9725962843 Lee Durbin

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv #save6music
http://twitter.com/headphaze/status/9725971548 Sh0rty

Rd: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch | Left Foot Forward" ( http://bit.ly/dwnzIE )
http://twitter.com/tombrookspolloc/status/9726018261 tombrookspolloc

BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/bGzbOY
http://twitter.com/gwane/status/9726044707 Gareth Wane

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/arrjaykay/status/9726122545 Mr RJ Keeling Esq

http://bit.ly/9pno2L bbc announcement is capitulation to murdoch
http://twitter.com/thirdsectorlab/status/9726162715 Ross McCulloch

RT @Headphaze: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch" http://bit.ly/dwnzIE
http://twitter.com/mariabarrett/status/9726328199 Maria Barrett

#ciam #mycp RT @ARRJAYKAY http://bit.ly/9pno2L bbc announcement is capitulation to murdoch
http://twitter.com/paulsandars/status/9726423817 Paul Sandars

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/dts1970/status/9726446441 Danny Strickland

RT @MariaBarrett: #ciam #mycp RT @ARRJAYKAY http://bit.ly/9pno2L bbc announcement is capitulation to murdoch
http://bumbyblog.blogspot.com/ Sam Bumby

It’s ridiculous that the BBC backs down from pressure from Murdoch. The BBC is there to provide a free and informative service to the people, and who cares if it gets in the way of Murdoch’s extortionate money making. Another example of how the rich dominates politics.
http://twitter.com/mhughes2k/status/9726502262 Michael Hughes

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/kerryabel/status/9726670148 Kerry Abel

RT @tom_watson "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/andrewprg/status/9726749981 AndyG

RT@mydavidcameronRT@leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/pickwick/status/9726826417 Carolyn B

RT @mhughes2k: RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/johnrackham/status/9727012337 John Rackham

RT @MariaBarrett: #ciam #mycp RT @ARRJAYKAY http://bit.ly/9pno2L bbc announcement is capitulation to murdoch
http://twitter.com/8minstosunrise/status/9727092287 Milena Buyum

RT @kerryabel: RT @tom_watson "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/gaseousbrain/status/9727211634 Milo McLaughlin

RT @Headphaze: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch" http://bit.ly/dwnzIE /via @ThirdSectorLab #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/jon_w_h/status/9727423609 Jonathan Holt

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2010/02/bbc-offers-up-sacrifices-to-murdoch/ BBC offers up sacrifices to Murdoch | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC

[...] Stanley I suppose the BBC thought it was being clever by offering up what it probably sees as limited sacrifices in an attempt to appease Rupert Murdoch and then giving the story as an exclusive to the Murdoch [...]
http://twitter.com/notes2self/status/9728311855 Notes2Self

RT @tom_watson "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv < nonsense, BBC needs reform & this is at least a start
http://twitter.com/percyblakeney63/status/9729070738 Andy Payne

Spot on Tom RT @tom_watson "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/sarahjaneuk/status/9737280224 Sarah-Jane Gray

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv <- Totally agree and disgusting. BBC over Murdoch anyday
http://twitter.com/jamiep/status/9739624224 Jamie Penman-Smithso

RT @tom_watson: "BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch": http://bit.ly/c3xuOv
http://twitter.com/alanmck/status/9742295518 Alan McKechan

RT @leftfootfwd:: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/djamck/status/9742935740 djamck

RT @alanmck: RT @leftfootfwd:: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1 #saveBBC6Music
http://twitter.com/immyw88/status/9793247429 ImmyW

RT @leftfootfwd: Scrapping 6 Music is a capitulation to the Murdoch empire http://cli.gs/nrXN1
http://twitter.com/leebo/status/9824846619 leebo

BBC:This is but 1 reason why tories must not succeed.Murdoch factor ripping at a sovereign states right to decide http://tinyurl.com/ylsndmy
http://twitter.com/othertpa/status/9868561747 Clifford Singer

BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/mydavidcameron/status/9868561759 MyDavidCameron

BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/chickyog/status/9868585407 Justin McKeating

RT @mydavidcameron: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/tobynealphoto/status/9868593478 tobynealphoto

RT @OtherTPA: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/nissemus/status/9868612075 Mark

RT @mydavidcameron: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/bloooped/status/9868676924 Nick Lamb

Can someone explain to me the paradox of having to shrink the BBC to theoretically let News Corp grow? http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/bin27/status/9868679786 Bin27

RT @chickyog: RT @mydavidcameron: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/alexwilcock/status/9868769751 Alex Wilcock

RT @mydavidcameron: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/upstart77/status/9868842326 Josh Upstart

RT @mydavidcameron: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/marypwright/status/9868899117 Mary Wright

RT @OtherTPA: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/mitchellst/status/9868965327 Mitchell Stirling

RT: @mydavidcameron BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/stuartamdouglas/status/9869106640 stuartamdouglas

BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/02/bbc-announcement-is-capitulation-to-murdoch/
http://twitter.com/daveoleary/status/9869363522 David O’Leary

RT @OtherTPA: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/vogelbeere/status/9869847338 Angharad Wyvern

A bad day for broadcasting: BBC confirm they are scrapping BBC6Music and Asian Network. http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY (Left Foot Forward blog)
http://twitter.com/johnnor/status/9871443316 John Nor

RT @mydavidcameron: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/jphf/status/9872737669 JPP

RT @OtherTPA: BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY http://bit.ly/bxlb3q #scrapmarkthompson #savebbc6music
http://twitter.com/vogelbeere/status/9874041970 Angharad Wyvern

@bcuwebteam it's a digital station. It's the principle of the thing – see http://is.gd/9wyLs and http://bit.ly/ck9ZYY
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/03/public-outraged-at-plans-to-slash-bbc/ Public outraged at plans to slash BBC | Left Foot Forward

[...] Johnson explained in her piece for Left Foot Forward just why the BBC giving in so early is a disaster: it’s [...]
http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/10713727434 Will Straw

Thanks @benarchibald I was blind, now I can see. Surely there are other motives at play http://bit.ly/9pno2L