Stop building an empire, BBC told by its OWN viewers: Blow to the broadcaster after survey of licence fee payers found many are worried about its expansion plans

  • BBC boss Lord Hall revealed he wanted to expand the website last year 
  • A BBC Trust commissioned survey found some viewers are worried about the new direction 
  • Plans include launching a children's iPlayer and online news streaming
  • George Osborne has accused the BBC of competing with newspapers

By KATHERINE RUSHTON MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Published: | Updated:

Licence fee payers want the BBC to stop empire building and look after its existing services, according to BBC Trust research.

In an embarrassing blow to the broadcaster, a survey of more than 11,500 viewers found people are worried about its expansion plans.

Audiences fear the Corporation will end up spending money it can’t afford on new online projects, rather than saving its existing line up of TV channels and radio stations from the axe.

BBC boss Lord Hall laid out plans last September to expand its website in different directions, including the launch of a new children’s iPlayer, an online news streaming service, and an ‘Ideas Store’ showcasing material from Britain’s galleries, theatres and museums.

He also announced his intention to expand the World Service by launching new television and radio stations overseas, including in Russia and North Korea.

Plans: BBC boss Lord Hall has said he plans to launch of a new children’s iPlayer, an online news streaming service, and expand the World Service by launching new television and radio stations overseas, including in Russia and North Korea

Plans: BBC boss Lord Hall has said he plans to launch of a new children’s iPlayer, an online news streaming service, and expand the World Service by launching new television and radio stations overseas, including in Russia and North Korea

Now it appears that licence fee payers are far from convinced by the proposals.

One viewer said the plans sound ‘lovely to do if you had loads of money’ but were not ‘worth cutting other things for’.

Another added: ‘I think the BBC should concentrate on its TV and radio output and programmes they can sell to make money rather than cutting some services to create a children’s iPlayer and broadcast to North Korea.’

The new report was compiled for the BBC Trust - the broadcaster’s governing body - by polling agency ICM.

It said: ‘There is a strong feeling that new ideas, if realised, should come as additions to existing services, rather than replacing them. 

'Fear of possible cuts to existing services is enough to put some respondents off the new ideas entirely.

‘In some instances, particularly in relation to the World Service, there are questions over whether the BBC should fund certain services at all.’

Licence fee payers were also worried that the BBC could end up alienating some of its older viewers, if it focuses too much of its energy and resources online.

‘[They] wish the BBC would place less emphasis on online services and fear that creeping digitalisation means they will be excluded from BBC services in the future,’ the report said.

Viewers were particularly wary of the BBC’s proposals to launch a new, online ‘Newstream’ platform, where it would stream rolling news coverage 24 hours a day.

It is not the first time the BBC has come under fire for expanding its web presence too far.

Imperialist: George Osborne accused the corporation of being ‘imperial in its ambitions’ and competing directly with newspapers

Imperialist: George Osborne accused the corporation of being ‘imperial in its ambitions’ and competing directly with newspapers

Last summer, George Osborne accused the corporation of being ‘imperial in its ambitions’ and competing directly with newspapers.

The Chancellor said: ‘If you’ve got a website that’s got features and cooking recipes – effectively the BBC website becomes the national newspaper as well as the national broadcaster.

‘If you look at the BBC website it is a good product but it is becoming a bit more imperial in its ambitions.’

Just a few months later, in September, Lord Hall insisted that the BBC was not trying to spread its wings too far. 

‘Let me stress, this is not an expansionist BBC,’ he said, as he unveiled his new plans.

However, he admitted on the same day that it was ‘inevitable’ that other BBC services would have to be closed or axed in order to manage budget cut backs.

‘In order to pay for [the new plans] the BBC will deliver further efficiencies and scale back its operations elsewhere,’ he said.

He did not say which services would be first in line for the chop, but BBC4 and the BBC News channel are both thought to be potential casualties. 

BBC

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