Save The BBC

The BBC has just announced plans for “halve web output, axe two digital radio stations and slash spending on foreign shows”. Thousands of 38 Degrees members are taking action right now to fight these cuts. Please join in. You canf orward the email below, which we sent out to all 38 Degrees members, this morning:

Today, the BBC is expected to propose making massive cuts to its service, including closing two radio stations and halving the size of its web site. Commercial rivals have been lobbying hard for the BBC to be cut, and it’s on the brink of giving in to the pressure.  According to The Times, the proposal is a bid to “shrink” in order to “appease the BBC’s rivals.” [1]

The BBC has many enemies among its corporate rivals. But public pressure has saved it before, and can save it again.

We’ll be delivering our petition against the cuts to the BBC Trust later this week – please add your voice now:
http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

The BBC isn’t perfect, but the people pushing for these cuts want to destroy it, not to improve it.  The Times, owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, responded to news of the cuts by describing the BBC as “bloated”, and calling for further cuts such as closing Radio 1. Last autumn, his son James Murdoch gave a speech calling for the BBC to be forced to become “far, far smaller”. [2]

We know that if we work together, we can shift decisions about the media for the better. Last November, thousands of us came together to email our MPs and stopped plans to hand commercial rivals a slice of the BBC’s license fee.  Just a couple of weeks ago thousands together to persuaded The Independent not to hire Rod Liddle as editor.  Now we need to do the same again to prevent deep cuts to the BBC’s service.

Help make sure our petition to the BBC Trust is huge, please sign now then spread the word: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

Thanks for getting involved,

David, Hannah, Johnny, Nina and the 38 Degrees team

PS: Public outcry to these cuts is springing up across the web. We’ll make sure our petition gets in front of the right people at the right time – please spread the word and encourage people to sign the petition here: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts