Report: BBC generates £7.6 billion yearly for Britain's economy

Posted by Alisa Zykova on January 6, 2010 at 9:42 AM

The BBC will publish a report this month that will explain why privatising the news outlet could cause the United Kingdom to lose £4 billion, according figures from accountancy firm Deloitte, The Telegraph reported Sunday. The move aims to fight back at criticism that the corporation is a "drain on the licence feepayer," according to The Guardian.

The BBC makes about £7.6 billion per year for the British economy, and without the corporation, independent TV and radio production companies would also lose £1.4 billion, according to the report. Ventures like the BBC's Freeview service has created a sub-industry that's worth around £90 million to £250 yearly, the report is also expected to argue.

"The value that the BBC brings is often overlooked and by providing this evidence, [the report] shows the positive effect the license fee has on the economy around the UK. We are reviewing our strategy to reinforce our core public service mission and focus on delivering quality programmes,"a BBC spokesman said, according to the Telegraph.

Variety.com mentioned that the Deloitte report might convince Britain's policymakers that the BBC is a source of economic dynamism that is valuable to help revive the country's economy after a bout of financial recession.