Government May 'Sell Off BBC'

The BBC has been listed among 19 key properties which could be disposed of on the Government's 'cut list'.
The Asset Portfolio, released this week, indicated that along with the Student Loans Portfolio and The Royal Mint to England’s Public Forest Estate, the commercial arm of the BBC, with annual revenues of up to £1 billion last year, may have to suffer losses.
The report said: "The Government now expects the BBC to look more widely at the options for greater financial and operational separation (from BBCW), including a sale or partial sale."
It is suspected that the political pressure has been turned up on account of publicly-funded organisations that pay excessive salaries.
The BBC Trust has already been urged to publish the salaries of leading on-screen talent, such as Jonathan Ross.
Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC had previously considered partially privatising or floating the corporation's commercial business but has stressed the importance of the relationship between BBC and BBCW.
A Spokesman for BBC Trust argued: "We note the Government's report. Worldwide is not up for sale.
"The recent commercial review did not set out to consider ownership, but to improve the operation of Worldwide within its current ownership structure. However, any business operates in a dynamic environment. We continue to keep an open mind about the appropriate ownership structure for Worldwide."
(BMcN/BMcC)