Now BBC could be stripped of its commercial assets to help Channel 4 make public service shows

The BBC could be forced to hand over its commercial arm, including the popular Lonely Planet book series

The BBC could have its commercial arm stripped from it and given to Channel 4 to help them make public service shows.
Yesterday official proposals from Ofcom on how to plug a shortfall of up to £235million in the sector suggested giving over control of the business to its rival.
Channel 4 would then be able to plough profits from the BBC company into carrying on making public service shows like news and current affairs.


The broadcaster has threatened that series like Dispatches and its award-winning news show could be dumped as its advertising revenue slumps.
Any prospect of handing over the video rights, overseas deals and other divisions, like the Lonely Planet book chain, to Channel 4 will fill BBC bosses with horror.
BBC Worldwide made £117million in profit last year, money which was then ploughed back into the corporation's programmes.
Bosses at the broadcaster will desperately oppose any plans to give the business to Channel 4 claiming it will damage programming on the BBC.


Ofcom has posed the idea as one of the options for providing the commercial channel with up to £150 a year to pay for its PSB programming.

It said: 'Other proposals such as the BBC developing partnerships with commercial broadcasters, or the transfer of some or all of BBC Worldwide to Channel 4's ownership also have merit, although practicalities require careful assessment.'
The funding crisis in non-BBC public service broadcasting has been caused by falling advertising revenues