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Five reasons we should be worried about the BBC

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The BBC is great, right? Doctor Who, QI, Strictly Come Dancing - what's not to like? Of course, there's much to praise about our national broadcaster - after all, they've provided us with decades of creative highlights. But 2016 will see a crossroads for the corporation, as it faces the renewal of its charter. Essentially, this is the point where the government decides exactly how much the BBC is permitted to raise from the licence fee, which in turn determines how much the BBC is able to spend in the future. So, as that crucial point draws closer, here's a few matters worthy of our attention...

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1. BBC Three

In order to show its commitment to reducing costs, the Beeb has already begun to cut back. In a recent showdown with other services, BBC Three has emerged the loser and will soon become an online-only channel. But this means the broadcaster's only outlet dedicated to young folk will be without a platform on traditional telly. Doesn't say much for the corporation's fondness for our teenagers, does it?

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2. Alan Yentob

For the uninitiated, Mr. Yentob is the BBC's Creative Director. Which is fair enough - the BBC is primarily a creative enterprise, after all. However, Alan also presents a flagship arts strand on BBC1, called 'Imagine' and somehow has managed to persuade his employers (you and I) that he requires another salary for that work. Two enormous wage packets, one bloke, one organisation. Try suggesting that scheme to your boss; I suspect I know what the answer would be.

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3. BBC World

I'm writing this on the wonderful island of Crete. The TV in my hotel room only has one English language channel and that's BBC World. Handy though this might be, it is somewhat concerning that the collective licence fee is, in part, used to fund rolling news for the rest of the world to enjoy for nothing. Especially as I'm told the iPlayer is not in a position to serve up some shows on my laptop, as my machine is not in the UK.

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4. Expenses

If you thought our MPs were being a trifle greedy when they were caught switching homes and building duck houses a couple of years back, then you'll be equally aghast to discover the BBC currently spends well over half a million pounds on hotels each year. That's before any tab for meals, trains, or biscuits. It's not uncommon for BBC folk to put a couple of Starbucks on a corporation credit card, and senior executives are also entitled to travel to work in taxis and claim the cost from, well, us. I'll let you decide whether that is really the best use of precious resources?

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5. The Licence Fee

On the one hand, it could be claimed the licence fee itself is remarkably good value. For about 60p a day we receive a mass of telly, seven national radio stations, a continuous news channel and various local services. On the other hand, it's not unlikely that you or I could be fined or ultimately imprisoned for operating a television set without subscribing to the BBC. That's right, a compulsory subscription to a single broadcaster, whether we choose to watch their stuff or not. If Sky were to suggest such an arrangement, we'd rightly call them tyrannical and grasping.

Happy viewing everybody.

Magnus Shaw is a copywriter, broadcaster and blogger.  

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