The BBC wants urgent reform to its Charter, including an end to political appointees to its board, and an independent and fit funding model.
The corporation is also calling for the removal of its fixed end date, presently renewed every decade, saying it will make a BBC fit for the future, not the past.
A BBC for All
In a 100-page response to the Government’s Charter Review consultation, the BBC described this as an “urgent opportunity for the UK to secure the world’s leading public service media organisation” for the UK and beyond.
The response, titled A BBC for All, covers four key areas of its role; delivering services for the public good; driving growth across the UK; and sustainable and fair funding.
It highlights the need for radical reforms to its independence, its ability to respond to the changing needs of audiences and, more sustainable, universal funding.
The BBC said the current funding model is designed for a different era and can’t maintain its public service mission for the future.
Return to world service
It is calling on the UK Government to recognise the role played by the World Service as a global beacon of media freedom and take back full funding.
The BBC said it offers a range of proposals to do more for UK audiences, and proposals include doing more to tackle disinformation and misinformation through trusted news and information and the deployment of new technology.
Strengthen grassroots
It said it has ambitious plans to strengthen its partnerships with local news providers and expand Local Democracy Reporting Service reporters, evolve Bitesize to reach and support more children, do more to reach audiences who are consuming content on third-party services, and open up BBC platforms like iPlayer to other UK public service media.
It said it believes these plans will not only deliver radical change to the organisation, but support the UK’s democracy, creative economy and society – moving more money and power across the UK to and growing the BBC’s reach and impact abroad.
BBC Chair, Samir Shah, said: “The BBC is a vital national asset. A shared investment in the UK’s culture, communities, and democracy.”
“But it is also at risk like never before and this Charter must deliver reform. In a fast-changing and challenging world, the BBC is needed more than ever.”
Director-General, Tim Davie, said: “The BBC is a world‑class success story at the heart of the UK’s cultural life and our growing creative industries, still rooted in our founding principles to inform, educate and entertain.”
“The BBC stands ready to continue to innovate, to do more for audiences and to support our partners across the UK.”
“But the choice here is clear: back the BBC or watch it decline, the status quo is not an option.”