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James Murdoch grabs the headlines with BBC attack

James Murdoch takes questions from Peter Bazalgette

5 September 2009

James Murdoch's speech at the Edinburgh TV Festival set the scene for the conference and for debate in the coming months.

Sharon Elliott, BECTU's communications officer, was in Edinburgh for the Festival. Read her blog and most importantly read the full text of James Murdoch's speech.

James Murdoch believes that "the only reliable, durable and perpetual guarantor of independence is profit". He believes that the BBC is too big, that the Corporation is hampering the progress of commercial operators and thereby damaging the economy and that regulation of UK broadcasting delivers a system which fails to trust its audience. What do you think? BECTU members should log-in to take part in the Forum.

James Murdoch's speech was delivered as discussion intensifies about Digital Britain's proposal to top-slice the BBC licence fee. BECTU is opposed to the proposal and will be arguing the case against, not least at the Labour and Lib Dem party conferences. BECTU is part of the Don't top slice the licence fee campaign which launched a postcard exercise yesterday (Friday).