The BBC has come under fire from MPs for spending too much public money on Meghan Markle's former show Suits and other US TV imports.
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BBC → come → show
The broadcaster was told to end 'illogical practices' that see it outbid commercial rivals for new programmes and back catalogues to make them available on iPlayer and linear channels.
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them → tell → iPlayer
The BBC acquired all nine series of legal drama Suits, seven of which feature the now Duchess of Sussex, in a 2024 deal with NBCUniversal.
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seven → acquire → NBCUniversal
But in a report released today the Digital, Culture, Media And Sport Committee said it needed to make much better use of licence fee cash, including spending it on domestic content.
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it → release → content
It said the levy should be reduced from the current annual £180 to encourage more people to pay for it.
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levy → say → it
Committee chairman Dame Caroline Dinenage said: 'The Government must ensure the broadcaster has a sustainable and universal source of funding.
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broadcaster → say → funding
The BBC can play its part by sweating its assets and boxing clever for the licence payer by ending illogical practices such as outbidding commercial rivals for overseas hits such as Suits, Schitt's Creek and Scooby Doo.
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BBC → play → Suits
The BBC acquired all nine series of legal drama Suits, seven of which feature the now Duchess of Sussex (above), in a 2024 deal with NBCUniversal
In June the committee heard complains from Magnus Brooke, ITV's director of strategy, policy and regulation, about the BBC's use of its money to outbid commercial rivals
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committee → acquire → rivals
Now is the time for the Government and BBC together to grasp the opportunity to create a leaner, more efficient broadcaster that is equipped to compete on the global stage and is a beacon of trust both at home and abroad.
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that → grasp → home
In June, the committee heard complaints from Magnus Brooke, ITV's director of strategy, policy and regulation, about the BBC's use of its money to outbid commercial rivals.
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committee → hear → rivals
'The BBC spends about 4.8 per cent of the licence fee on US acquisition, or acquisitions every year.
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BBC → spend → acquisition
That is about £87 million a year, which is nearly £1 billion over a 10-year charter period,' he said.
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he → say → period
'We regularly find ourselves in competition with the BBC for US content that we want to put on to ITVX, and we regularly find ourselves being spectacularly outbid by the BBC.'
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ourselves → find → BBC
He added: 'I am talking about programmes.
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I → add → programmes
I can give you lots of examples.
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I → give → examples
Scooby-Doo was a stalwart of our kids offer for a while, and the BBC came in and massively outbid us for the whole franchise.
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BBC → come → franchise
'Most recently, Schitt's Creek - this is in the public domain - and the BBC significantly outbid everybody else to acquire that.
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BBC → outbid → that
Suits - there are lots of example of US content where the BBC has outbid the market in ways that we couldn't compete with.'
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we → be → that
A BBC spokesman said the corporation welcomed the report, which they said 'makes some important and interesting recommendations on the future of the BBC.'
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they → say → BBC
They said: 'We have consistently argued that the current funding model is outdated and needs reform, so we welcome the committee's support for maintaining universal funding while overhauling the licence fee.
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we → say → fee
We are also pleased to see their recognition of the vital work of the World Service, with a clear recommendation that responsibility for funding should return fully to government.
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responsibility → see → government
At a time of huge disruption in the media, the BBC's trust, reach and creative strength remain unparalleled.
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trust → remain → media
But we also recognise the need to evolve and move faster towards the future.
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we → recognise → future
'We will reflect on the committee's report and continue to engage with the Government to secure a BBC that delivers for everyone for generations to come.'
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that → reflect → generations
The Aporia
