Matt Brittin has been announced as the new BBC director general, but his inbox is already overflowing with urgent challenges. A major reason for his appointment is his perceived ability to plunge straight into government talks over the renewal of the BBC’s royal charter, which expires at the end of 2027.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has indicated she is keen to give the BBC additional political protection. However, Brittin will face huge decisions over reforming the BBC’s funding model. His predecessor, Tim Davie, pushed back against a subscription or ad-funded model but called for radical reform to the licence fee, which could result in big changes to the rules governing when someone is required to have a licence.
To make things even harder, the BBC has already announced a major programme of internal cuts – 10% across departments, requiring savings in the hundreds of millions. This will cause significant internal unrest and uncertainty, and will almost certainly mean cuts to staff and programming.
Brittin also has the task of surrounding himself with the right people, critical for a director general lacking editorial experience. He is looking not only for a deputy but also a new head of BBC News. Given the pressure the BBC’s news coverage comes under from political and commercial rivals, it is important he gets it right.
Managing an unprecedented court case with the US president would be a tall order for any director general, but Brittin will have to deal with it from day one. The BBC is already fighting Donald Trump’s attempt to sue over a Panorama documentary that spliced together one of his speeches. Brittin will have to manage the case and the costs without compromising the BBC’s US coverage.
The rise of YouTube has challenged all traditional broadcasters, and more people across all age groups are using the digital platform. YouTube became the UK’s second most-watched media service last year, behind the BBC. How the BBC chooses to react is a big strategic question, and given Brittin’s background in big tech, it is another reason he was given the job.
