Don't throw away precious birth right

Once you open the door to advertising on the digital channels you open it to everything.

the BBC has wasted far too much money on the digital channels, especially News 24, and wants to get back to its core business.

Once the pass is sold, the pass is sold. I would not draw a great distinction between advertising on digital channels and on BBC1 and BBC2 because the principle is the same.

We have the best public service broadcasting in the world and we cannot afford to let it go commercial.

The BBC is what it is because it has rejected the commercial option.

It does not require additional revenue through advertising. it does not have to throw all its money at digital broadcasting. It has wasted pounds 50 million on News 24 which has almost no measurable audience.

This is a manic editorial decision. The channel does not matter - nobody watches it.

As soon as the BBC becomes another commercial broadcaster, playing for ratings and advertising revenues, then its distinctive quality is lost. That would be terrible.

I do not want to see the BBC dragged by digital and the commercial imperative, throwing away its own birth right.

This is what makes the BBC distinct and it is very important.

Martin Bell is the Independent MP for Tatton and former BBC Special Correspondent.

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