It was regarded as a responsibility of the BBC to provide programs which have a broad spectrum of interest, and if there was a hole in that spectrum, then the BBC would fill it.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The BBC fulfils a wonderful cultural function. Maybe the problem is that it feels it needs to be everything to everybody.
The challenge is the culture. You have to have a vision for the BBC-it can't merely be that it's big and has a place in the market.
The BBC is part of the glue which binds the United Kingdom together. At those times of national moment - of joy or sadness, in the UK or around the world, at times when the nation wants to celebrate, mourn or just enjoy itself people turn to the BBC.
The BBC's television, radio and online services remain an important part of British culture and the fact the BBC continues to thrive amongst audiences at home and abroad is testament to a professional and dedicated management team who are committed to providing a quality public service.
I'm not certain that the BBC can claim to be making a wide enough range of distinctive programmes to make the case convincingly.
What comes with a job as a staff member of the BBC is a certain self-censoring that you get utterly used to. You don't say everything you think. You hold back on some things.
It was an interesting question as to whether the BBC had a future in the digital world, and what form of market failure could justify the licence fee system.
There is still an element of the BBC that feels it is somehow wrong, or it will be open to criticism, if it makes more money.
The BBC is the greatest broadcaster in the world. It's the standard that everyone measures themselves against. If we lose the BBC, it won't be quite as bad as losing the royal family, but an integral part of this country will have gone. But then, I'm an old guy.
The BBC is a victim of its own independence.