BBC Governors Feel The Heat

Much press today reporting calls for the BBC Governors to be scrapped and the corporation brought under Ofcom.

The FT sums it up - “The corporation is fighting growing calls by MPs for Ofcom, the new media regulator, to assume regulatory responsibility for the accuracy and impartiality of BBC programming in the wake of the David Kelly affair.”

This story, which needs no additional reporting here - look at the front page of any newspaper in the country - is set to run and run. It now has a cast of thousands and its very own tragedy. But it risks slipping into farce if too many more old faces pop up for a slug of publicity.

Certainly the Government is out for blood (no pun intended) and may, for its own sake not the public’s, make an example of the Governors. Placing responsibility for the BBC under Ofcom would provide a quick and easy solution.

And it would certainly reign in the BBC’s criticism of Downing Street in the short term since Ofcom is likely to tread carefully whilst its finding its feet - this is aside from the close connections that also exist here.

Looking over the Communications Act, 2003, finally passed last week, highlights the scope and scale of Ofcom’s mandate. The plate would have to be very big to put the BBC remit on there without something falling off the other side. It would be better, for the public at least, to have this debate in a less contentious, politically charged climate.