The BBC is being forced to make massive cuts across its budget. Its Delivering Quality First consultation outlines how they are intending to do this. Sports rights will be cut by 15%, although it is expected that most of this will be absorbed by the sharing of the Formula One rights with Sky.
While the Alliance appreciates that cuts must be made, several concerns arise from the consultation, particularly around the removal of local sports coverage on local radio stations. Sport is unique and, with more programming being consumed in recorded form, the importance of live sport for broadcasters is becoming greater, not less. Because the value of sport is in the live product, sport drives live traffic to TV, radio and websites like no other form of entertainment and the BBC should continue to invest in it. The Alliance believes:
The consultation is now closed (21 December), but if you feel strongly about the proposed changes, you can still help influence the direction by contacting your MP. The Alliance is backing the RFL’s campaign which gives briefing notes and letter templates for you to get in touch with your Parliament.
The Alliance’s response to the BBC consultation can be found here.
The BBC consultation can be found here.
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