THE BBC is on a collision course with the Government over reported moves to bar it from showing popular shows at peak viewing times.
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale is widely tipped to include a bar on the broadcaster going head-to-head with commercial rivals as part of the review of its charter.
He is due to publish a White Paper within weeks that will set out a tougher new regime as part of a proposed deal to grant a new Royal Charter to safeguard the service for another 11 years.
ITV has complained about licence fee payers’ money being used to wage a ratings battle with it and other advertising-funded channels.
But a BBC source said the public would be “deeply concerned” if it was forced to move programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing and Doctor Who from prime time weekend slots.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said no final decisions had been taken about the White Paper but a number of Sunday newspapers carried reports of an expected move to block competitive scheduling.
Commercial rivals would be further protected by restrictions on the BBC’s on-air advertising of its own programmes across its networks, it was reported.
The salaries of stars could also be forced into the open – the Mail on Sunday said – but published in bands rather than by actual sums given to each. Mr Whittingdale has said that the charter is looking at whether the broadcaster should continue to be “all things to all people” or should have a more “precisely targeted” mission in terms of its output.
He has previously expressed concerns about the BBC’s flagship news bulletin being broadcast at the same time as ITV’s.
A DCMS spokesman said: “The Secretary of State has made it clear on a number of occasions that the Government cannot and indeed should not, determine either the content or scheduling of programmes.”
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