Amol Rajan, the BBC's media editor, has warned that the corporation is "destined to shrink at an accelerating rate" unless it adapts to the changing media environment.
Warning over the BBC's future
Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Rajan said the BBC needed to "rethink its place in the world" and warned that its current trajectory was unsustainable. He argued that the BBC was facing "existential" challenges from streaming services and changing audience habits.
Rajan said the BBC had to "make a choice about what it wants to be" and that it could not continue to try to be everything to everyone. He suggested the corporation should focus on its strengths, such as news, drama, and children's programming, rather than trying to compete with global streaming giants.
Need for change
He also called for a "radical" rethink of the BBC's funding model, arguing that the licence fee was becoming increasingly difficult to justify. Rajan said the BBC needed to "earn its place in people's lives" and warned that it could not rely on its historic role as a national institution.
Rajan's comments come as the BBC faces increasing pressure from the government and from commercial rivals. The corporation has already announced plans to cut jobs and services as part of a cost-saving programme.
Impact of the warning
The warning from Rajan, who is one of the most senior figures in British broadcasting, will add to concerns about the future of the BBC. His remarks are likely to be seen as a significant intervention in the debate about the corporation's role and funding.
The BBC has been under scrutiny over its funding and its ability to compete with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. The government has launched a review into the future of the licence fee, and there have been calls for the BBC to be reformed or even privatised.
