ia play

The BBC is rather unusually funded but I’ve never actually read the Royal Charter before. The Queen’s feelings about Tessa Jowell were surprising:

“AND WHEREAS the period of incorporation of the BBC under the 1996 Charter will expire on the 31st December 2006 and it has been represented to Us by Our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor Tessa Jowell, Our Principal Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, that it is expedient that the BBC should be continued for the period ending on the 31st December 2016”

Of more practical use perhaps was the definition of ‘licence fee payer’ which was surprisingly relaxed:

“57. The meaning of “licence fee payer”
In this Charter, a reference to a “licence fee payer” is not to be taken literally but includes, not only a person to whom a TV licence is issued under section 364 of the Communications Act 2003, but also (so far as is sensible in the context) any other person in the UK who watches, listens to or uses any BBC service, or may do so or wish to do so in the future.”