The BBC has dismissed speculation that it plans to move popular football highlights programme Match of the Day to a pay-per-view model. In a blog post on the BBC Internet Blog, a senior BBC executive addressed concerns raised by viewers about the future of the show.
The clarification came in response to comments on a previous blog post, where some viewers had suggested that the BBC might consider moving the programme to a subscription-based service. The executive stated that there are no such plans and that the BBC remains committed to providing free-to-air sports coverage.
The blog post also addressed broader questions about the BBC's HD sports output. The executive explained that decisions to broadcast sports in HD are not cost-neutral and must be balanced against other programming priorities. The BBC is working to increase its HD offerings, with several well-known brands set to move to HD in the coming months.
Regarding Formula 1, the executive noted that the delay in moving to HD is not due to a lack of pressure from the BBC, but rather external factors. The executive expressed confidence that F1 will eventually make the transition to HD.
The BBC also defended its children's programming output, stating that it provides a reasonable proportion of HD content for younger viewers. The executive acknowledged viewer frustration over the pace of HD expansion but stressed that the BBC is committed to increasing HD hours and improving picture quality across its channels.
