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BBC director general admits big losses in the coronavirus pandemic

Tony Hall is set to depart the BBC at a time of acute turmoil and uncertainty

In an unmistakable sign the coronavirus crisis is taking a major toll on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the state broadcaster’s outgoing director general has admitted his organization stands to lose £125 million because of the pandemic.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Tony Hall claimed that 92 percent of BBC personnel have been forced to work from home due to the lockdown and broader coronavirus-related restrictions.

Hall, whose resignation was announced in January, is expected to formally step down as director general in the summer.

Despite the damage inflicted on the state broadcaster by the pandemic, Hall still maintained that British people have “turned to the BBC in their droves” in recent weeks.

However, the outgoing director general did not provide any evidence to support his sweeping claims.

Halls’ unsubstantiated claims stand in stark contrast to a solid body of evidence that the British public is profoundly disillusioned with the BBC and are calling for the license fee to be either scrapped or substantially reduced.  

On the highly contentious issue of the license fee, Hall said that he hopes “in future” there will be a “big debate” about how the BBC should be funded post 2027, when the state broadcaster’s current charter expires.

The growing public clamor against the license fee – which was increased by £3 to £157.50 on April 01 – has forced the government to launch a public consultation on whether evasion of the license fee – which is effectively a form of taxation – should be decriminalized.   

 

 


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