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Whittingdale: Key test for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ is β€˜distinctiveness’

On 16 July, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale launched a public consultation on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's future.

"I am a huge admirer of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ,” he told the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s Andrew Marr. β€œAt its best, it’s the finest broadcaster in the world.” But he also emphasised that he believed it was the right time to start asking questions.

Talking about the various ways people consume radio and television, he referred to β€œan enormous explosion of choice in the last 10 years,” and said he hoped there would be a β€œwide-ranging debate”.

β€œI think the key test for the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ is distinctiveness… for public money to be used, it needs to be distinct from the commercial sector," and added, β€œit doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be popular.”

Alternatives to the licence fee - including subscription and a household tax - will be investigated as part of the review.

10 minutes

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The Andrew Marr Show19/07/2015

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