Liberal Democratic Party: BBC’s commercial arm needs to be pulled back – Foster

“The BBC needs to be far more sensitive to an increasingly fragile media market," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary.

Commenting on the BBC Trust’s review of the BBC’s commercial activities, Don Foster said:

“The BBC’s commercial arm has been over-reaching in recent years and needs to be pulled back.

“Maximising returns from licence fee-funded programmes is an important function of BBC Worldwide and should continue. But the Trust is right to call for an end to mergers and acquisitions on the scale of the Lonely Planet deal.

“The BBC needs to be far more sensitive to an increasingly fragile media market. Worldwide should also renew efforts to secure a partnership deal with Channel 4.

“Auntie should stick to her knitting instead of seeking to branch out into inappropriate commercial ventures.”