BBC is not fit for purpose and the licence fee is a mess, blasts Philip Davies – Daily Express

Just imagine the outcry, especially from the BBC if this had been done by an organisation such as the Daily Mail or the Sun.The BBC would have been all over the story like a rash, and I have no doubt the Today programme would have segments about the dangers/lack of accountability of tabloid journalism.This is a really serious issue for the BBC and quite clearly drives a coach and horse through its claim that it is a responsible public service broadcaster and somehow more special than every other media outlet.

I am hopeful that the Parliamentary inquiry will bring the facts to light and punish those who were aware of this manipulation especially as Bashir has since become BBC News Religion Editor. This inquiry should include recommendations and suggested reforms that this sort of sordid journalism never happens again.

Since taking his post, I have been quite impressed with Tim Davies instincts for reform. Unlike some of his predecessors, he seems to understand some of the problems the BBC has in terms of connecting with people around the country including over the Brexit coverage.

I believe he is the best hope for the BBC and perhaps the only person who can save it from its current form. I think one of the first tests of his willingness to fight against the metropolitan establishment and stay true to the course he has charted is how he polices his social media policy. Unfortunately, the early indications are not great but I am a fair minded person and he will need time.

Another area that I would like to see Davie address is the ongoing BBC obsession with onscreen diversity quotas. I am very critical of diversity quotas and all the rest of it, I believe it is part of the political correctness agenda that alienates huge swathes of the population.

By scrapping all onscreen diversity quotas targets the BBC might start the process of reconnecting with the population. However, I think this is unlikely, as there is too big a lobby in the BBC and media generally for this sort of politically correct rubbish for him to succeed.

This will make the BBC less and less popular as people will continue to believe that the BBC is far more interested in PC matters than fulfilling its role as a public service broadcaster. The BBC would do far better if they focussed more on recruiting people with diverse opinions than looking at shallow physical characteristics.

I am not anti-BBC and I want it to thrive, but I do believe that it is not fit for purpose. In particular the licence fee system is an anachronistic mess. It may have made sense when the BBC was the only provider and a levy ensured that there would be content available.

However, if the BBC was set up now, it would never be introduced there are plenty of channels available that provide just the same or better. Moreover, you have to pay the fee to watch any and all live TV, even if you never watch the BBC which is a frankly outrageous situation.

Additionally, I am not in favour of people being compelled to pay for the licence fee, especially if they do not want to watch the BBC. I would like to see the BBC in the real world as a commercial broadcaster.

It would be far better for the organisation in the long term. The BBC has a huge global brand recognition so if it could tap into subscribers around the world it could carry on functioning, likely with a far better income then now, and everyone would be happy.

Those who want to access it and can and will pay, and no-one is forced to.

How can it be a controversial point to say if I dont watch the BBC I dont want to pay for it. This seems like a statement of the obvious and yet it is so contentious for the liberal elite. It is abundantly clear that the Licence Fee has had its day and is losing public support. The BBC can fight the inevitable or it can embrace the truth and optimise revenues with more freedom for better journalism.

After all, if the BBC and the licence fee are as popular as their proponents claim the BBC has nothing to fear from a subscription system as presumably people will queue up around the block to pay for such a wonderful value for money broadcaster that everyone enjoys watching.

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BBC is not fit for purpose and the licence fee is a mess, blasts Philip Davies - Daily Express