BBC could be a Netflix-style service, says former chief

A FORMER director-general of the BBC has suggested that it could be turned into a “successful” Netflix-style subscription service.

Mark Thompson, now the chief executive officer of The New York Times, said it would be “possible” to remodel the broadcaster on streaming platforms.

However, he claimed the result “wouldn’t be the BBC” and it would no longer be “a universal service paid for by everyone and used by everyone”.

He also warned against decriminalising the licence fee, saying the result would be “negative” for the service.

Boris Johnson is looking into reviewing whether people who do not pay the £154.50 fee for watching television or BBC iplayer should be prosecuted.

Mr Thompson warned that the corporation could lose around £200million by such a move, saying: “Once you decriminalise, you delegitimise a given service or a given tax. Because all the people who still pay it feel they can see

‘I worry decriminalisation is a de facto abolition of the licence fee but without the courage to say that’

other people enjoying the service for nothing.

“I worry that decriminalisation is a de facto abolition of the licence fee but without the courage to say that.”

His remarks came as it was revealed that the BBC could face a Commons inquiry into the future of its “out-oftouch” licence fee and role in national life. Julian Knight, the Solihull MP, has made the proposal the centrepiece of his bid to be elected chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee.

The former BBC journalist said: “It’s time for a root-and-branch, no-holdsbarred review into the future of the BBC – how it is funded and what its role should be in our national life.”

He said that the “main option” was to move to a subscription service or allow people to opt out from the BBC.

Mr Knight added: “The technology is there already. The iplayer, for instance, requires registration, it was designed for subscription charges to be introduced in the future; so the BBC has designed a system for an eventuality they say would be a disaster.”

Baroness Morgan, the Culture Secretary, previously said she was “openminded” about scrapping the BBC television licence fee and replacing it with a subscription service.