Why BBC chief leaves a chequered legacy

ANNOUNCING his early departure from the BBC yesterday, director-general Lord Hall claimed he was leaving the organisation ‘in a much stronger place’ than when he was appointed almost seven years ago.

But does his bold claim stand up to scrutiny? On the three major issues of his tenure, many would say Lord Hall’s management skills were decidedly lacking.

First came the hounding of Sir Cliff Richard over bogus paedophile claims, during which BBC journalists deployed a helicopter to film a police raid on his home.

Instead of admitting its error of judgement and settling out of court, the BBC engaged in a bruising and unsuccessful five-year legal battle, which cost £2 million and dragged its reputation through the mud.

Then there was the pledge to retain free TV licences for over-75s in return for continuing increases in the licence fee. The Corporation quickly reneged on this undertaking, to a chorus of public outrage.

Most recently, the clumsy handling of equal pay claims has led to female BBC journalists having to go to industrial tribunal for satisfaction. This was another massive public embarrassment that should have been finessed.

The most important question is whether the BBC is now better equipped than it was to meet the challenges of a multimedia, multi-channel digital world.

Yes, Lord Hall has done well in some areas, including developing the excellent iPlayer. But on his watch audiences have crashed, as a ‘lost’ younger generation has deserted for other platforms and older viewers have been turned off by the broadcaster’s obsession with political correctness. As he leaves the stage, one thing is clear. In this age of almost infinite media choice, his successor will have to produce truly compelling arguments to justify continuation of the licence fee. Hoary platitudes and reciting past glories will not be enough.