New government changes to the law mean that no-one will be able to use BBC iPlayer without first buying a TV license.
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“Today’s government announcements about the future of the BBC are profoundly worrying for anyone who cares about the BBC’s independence from government interference and its creative freedom”.
In another big change, United Kingdom communications regulator Ofcom will now be given the power to assess whether the BBC’s output is negatively affecting its commercial rivals in the UK.
In it, he says that the BBC must be more accountable to the public and open up more programming to competition.
Current BBC chair Rona Fairhead will remain in post until the end of her term in 2018, said Mr Whittingdale.
The document states: “The government will also require the BBC to publish its audience “Appreciation Index” data that will allow the public and the regulator to assess how well it is serving its audiences”.
Lord Waheed Alli, founder of the Great BBC Campaign, said Mr Whittingdale’s claims that his proposals guarantee the BBC’s independence were “desperate spin”. This means that there could be a shake-up of the type of content the BBC produce.
“Licence fee payers deserve to know how their money is being spent and so only revealing the salaries of those earning more than an eye-watering £450,000 just doesn’t cut the mustard”, he added.
The Guardian reports that the total number of stars earning between £500,000 and £5m fell from 14 to nine, but more of them were bumped up from the lower wage bracket to be paid more than £1m in 2015.
“The government is clear that this would be for additional services only”.
The White Paper calls for an 11 year Charter for the BBC, taking debates about the BBC out of the election cycle.
The current Royal Charter expires at the end of December.
Publication of the White Paper comes after months of behind the scenes – and often acrimonious – lobbying from both the government and the BBC.
At present, those watching the BBC catch-up service iPlayer can do so for free, but this is likely to change.
“It has levels of public approval that any politician would die for, and it is the linchpin of a unique ecology of broadcasting in this country, which enables the creative industries in Britain to grow at twice the level of the rest of the economy, exporting more content and employing more people than its size would suggest possible”.
The actor said discussions about the future of the BBC were “extremely important” and added that “ideologically the Conservative Party will always have a problem with an organisation like the BBC”.
BBC Director-General Tony Hall said searching questions had been asked about the corporation’s role. I do not believe that the appointments proposals for the new unitary board are yet right.
The BBC is now funded through an annual licence fee of £145.50 which all British households with a television have to pay. “It will provide the foundations for a stronger, more independent, more distinctive BBC that will inform, educate and entertain for many years to come”, he said.
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In the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, the BBC Trust will be replaced by a new board, with at least half of its members appointed by the broadcaster.
