Cohen: BBC key to UK creative future

The BBC’s director of TV has said the broadcaster is at a crossroads and argued reducing its size would result in far-reaching damage to the UK’s creative industry.

Danny Cohen said decisions affecting the pubcaster to be made over the next two years will “fundamentally define” what it can offer to viewers and claimed that a smaller BBC would result “quite simply and incontrovertibly” in a smaller UK creative industry.

“That’s not in anyone’s interest and is something we should do everything to avoid.”

Cohen’s comments, made yesterday at the BBC’s annual Christmas press presentation, come as the corporation prepares to negotiate its next royal charter in 2016, setting out its remit.

It has faced swingeing cuts over recent years following its most recent licence fee agreement, with another £400m (US$630m) set to be shaved from its annual budget, which it admits could result in a reduction in its “content scope.”

Cohen said that 97% of the UK population use some aspect of the BBC’s services across TV, radio and online each month, and said he believed every country in the world would “benefit from a broadcaster with our quality and range.”

“It would be crazy to damage, undermine or deflate what we have. Our choice in the end is protecting cherishing and enabling a great institution or seeking to diminish it,” he said, adding that the pubcaster should not be treated as a government department.

In related news, soon-to-be online channel BBC3 has ordered four factual shows including Reggie Yates: Extreme Russia (working title, 3×60’), from Sundog Pictures, which explores life across the country.

Also on the slate is another season of Roughcut TV’s Tyger Takes On: (2×60’), exploring sexuality and changing attitudes men and women have towards each other, as well as Extreme at 18 (wt, 1×60’) from Voltage TV, which follows young activists.

Finally, Stacey Dooley: No Place for a Girl (2×60’), is from Watershed Productions and explores the lives of women across the globe.