Blasting the Beeb

The BBC is under intense fire from members of the British Parliament over its lobbying to increase the country’s “television license fee” (yes, you have to pay to watch even normal television in the UK) by 2.3% above inflation per year. Some MPs complain that the BBC is trying to “wallow in cash” at a time when commercial broadcasters are struggling to stay in the black. The fee could rise to £200 ($349) per year by 2013 under the proposal, although BBC estimates put that figure considerably lower. The BBC insists that it needs the cash to cover shortfalls – critics say the broadcaster needs to rein itself in.