ITV chief attacks BBC over channel closure

The BBC has been accused of threatening to axe popular services to stifle critics when it faces calls to improve the way it is run.

ITV chief executive Adam Crozier has attacked the BBC for its threats to axe popular TV shows and services. Picture: John Devlin

ITV chief executive Adam Crozier claimed to MPs the corporation shouts down those who suggest changes can be made by issuing warnings that hit shows such as Strictly Come Dancing will be abolished. He also said savings could have been found by simply making the organisation more efficient.

Mr Crozier told the House of Commons culture, media and sport committee the BBC could make savings by selling its London headquarters, cutting management, closing international channels and merging BBC Two and BBC Four, and Radio 4 and 5Live.

Asked by MPs if he believed that the corporation did not need to close BBC Three, he replied: “Yes. When there are general calls for more efficiency there is a habit to trot out a number of things people wouldn’t like to see closed and threaten to close them when there is a whole list of things … that could be done to save a lot of money.

“BBC Three was a very distinctive channel.”