Future of B.B.C.

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33513, 19 April 1974, Page 11

Future of B.B.C.

1X.7. P A -Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, April 18. The leaders of British radio and television are taking a relaxed view of tentative Labour Party plans which could spell the end of an independ-ently-financed British Broadcasting Corporation. Official spokesmen say that a Labour study group blueprint is far from becoming Government policy and is unlikely to be considered separately from a full-scale inquiry on the future of broad-, casting, expected to be completed in 1977. The proposals would mean replacing the 8.8. C. and the

Independent Broadcasting Authority and setting up instead a National Broadcasting Commission, which would t collect advertising revenue • for distribution among •(smaller independent pro-; gramme makers. The 1.8. A. controls com-' I mercial radio and television. The Labour plan also calls for a central advertising (agency for the press, which would allocate funds to newspapers most in need. The proposals come in a draft policy document prepared by a party committee, I chaired until recently by Britain’s Minister of Trade ■(Mr Anthony Wedgwood Benn). The present chairman. Mr' ■ Eric Moonman. said there was no possibility of action i on the proposals m the pre-i sent parliament’s lifetime.