[Brekkie]

Not a UK thing but I suspect it happens here too but there can be agreements to not run this story and be compensated in favour of another juicy story, etc... etc... Just as there can be agreements for exclusives to not use certain language/tone in agreement for getting it. The 'regular basis' thing regarding the website headlines does seem rather unusual.

I do think the BBC should be above and beyond all this though as a public broadcaster. Though there is the obvious flipside, in the context of threats to scrap the license fee at the time, that upsetting the govt would probably not be in their best interest which is an issue which private broadcasters/press would not have to contend with.

Would be interesting to see whether those who did use the term 'lockdown' also got similar messages from Downing Street or not.

When I read these kind of posts about getting rid of the license fee I always ask myself "what can replace it?"

Exactly - and those in charge of the decision and announcing they will scrap the licence fee are very quiet about what they intend to replace it with - likely a European model as in Germany and Finland where instead of it only being compulsory if you have a TV (so technically there is a way out) it will become compulsory for all households and possibly business premises too, and whilst some may end up paying less others will end up paying more.    Don't want to go to far off topic but when you look at the licence fee in the context of broadband/phone companies raising fees annual by inflation + 4% and Sky adding a quid per month onto each package on an annual basis it's no surprise the BBC has lagged behind.


Also worth mentioning in the budget today several tax incentives for TV production have been combined into one, which is actually good news for the industry with 34% rebates on high end TV and 39% on childrens TV production.  


Anyway - feel like we digress but it would be nice to see the BBC get as much support from the government of the day as the goverment of the day expect from the BBC - without it being conditional on said support.