"This is the idea but in practice doesn't pan out. The government has to approve changes in the UK TV license fees so you find the BBC makes attempts to mollify

"This is the idea but in practice doesn't pan out. The government has to approve changes in the UK TV license fees so you find the BBC makes attempts to mollify the sitting government to get its funding increased." I agree that the BBC has tried to ameliorate the current government by changing the visibility of some services in light of the coming changes - but I think that it's understandable, considering the way that commercial entities can (and do) lobby the government to make their will known. It is far easier to strike a deal with a commercial entity, and I think that Conservatives are very aware of this fact. I think it's a case of 'you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours'. "Not exactly. The Conservatives have a minority in the House of Commons in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. I wouldn't exactly say the Lib Dems are partial to any such leanings you may attribute to the Conservatives regarding the media." The Conservatives have the majority stake in the Con-Lib coalition. I think most would agree that the Liberal agenda is not at the forefront of this new government. "The Conservative philosophy is traditionally one of smaller government and lower taxes so many such services are paid for in a more "user pays" kind of system." I disagree - I don't think that 'user pays' is the most visible result. Historically, private enterprise puts profit before all other considerations. Some services are essential to the entire population - and access needs to be granted regardless of the wealth of each individual citizen. The fact we have the BBC is an amazingly good thing - and I think dismantling of the organisation by this government would be unforgivable. With the sweeping changes across the public sector, the restructuring of the NHS and the latest threat to the future of the BBC, I think the UK is going to end up being irreversibly changed. At the route of all of these changes is a pretty standard Tory philosophy; they're now able to do what they'd like to do, but under the guise of 'austerity'. I do have have a bias - but, as a UK citizen, I have a right to a point of view. Anything _may_ potentially happen .. but I'd argue there's a very specific agenda in place. Remember - up until recently, a lot of Murdoch's publications actually supported Labour ... the situation isn't as straightforward as you make out.