BBC archives to be sold

A government commission has told the BBC to sell some of its archives to private sector companies.

17:44 19 October 2004

A government commission has told the BBC to sell some of its archives to private sector companies.

While the report confirmed that the BBC has helped to increase the take-up of digital radio, it suggested the company needs to consider selling its vast back-catalogue to private sector firms.

The report was carried out under former Channel 4 executive Tim Gardam, who also warned that the "lack of any formal relationship" between the BBC governors and industry regulator Ofcom "is a problem".

He recommends that the BBC should consider a joint venture with the commercial sector for archival programming in the future.

The report will come as another blow to the BBC following the recent publication of a different report which criticised the quality of some of its digital television channels, saying that they provided poor value for money.

It also comes as the government reviews the BBC's governing charter and there are some who feel that decision might go against the corporation, bringing an end to publicly financed television in the UK.