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BBC Could Face Ban On Prime-Time Ratings Wars

BBC Could Face Ban On Prime-Time Ratings Wars

The BBC could be forced to move programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing, Doctor Who and Sherlock from prime-time slots to avoid clashes with rival shows, according to reports.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale is said to be planning a crackdown on "competitive scheduling" as part of a proposed deal to grant a new royal charter to safeguard the BBC for another 11 years.

Labour said it would oppose any such moves.

Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Minister, Maria Eagle said: "John Whittingdale is behaving as if he were running the BBC - he is not.

"This kind of meddling in day to day scheduling decisions would be a completely unacceptable interference in the independence of the BBC. Labour will fight it all the way.

"The public will wonder why the Government is interfering with the BBC, and why they are trying to dictate when they can schedule hugely popular programmes like Strictly Come Dancing.

"The results of the recent public consultation show the public value the BBC's independence, and that they want it to carry on doing what it has been doing," she said.

"What have the Tories got against the BBC?"

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "Government will be setting out its plan on the BBC Charter in a White Paper in May.

"The Secretary of State has made it clear on a number of occasions that the government cannot, and indeed should not, determine either the content or scheduling of programmes."

In the White Paper, Mr Whittingdale is being tipped to include a bar on the corporation going head-to-head with commercial broadcasters.

A BBC source said: "Let's see what the White Paper says.

"The BBC doesn't aggressively schedule, but we do show programmes at the times people want to watch them.

"It would be odd to make it harder for people to find and watch the programmes they have already paid for."

ITV has complained about licence fee payers' money being used to wage a ratings battle with it and other advertising-funded channels.

Mr Whittingdale has said the charter is looking at whether the broadcaster should continue to be "all things to all people" or should have a more "precisely targeted" mission in terms of its output.