UK's BBC warns its current funding model is not sustainable

LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - The ‌BBC warned its ​current ​funding model was not sustainable to fund its public broadcasting mission in its annual report on Tuesday, highlighting the gap ‌between the number of users it has and those who ⁠pay for its services.

The organisation, which was thrown into crisis last year over accusations of ‌bias which prompted U.S. President ‌Donald Trump to sue it, will need to negotiate a new funding settlement with the government before the current one expires at ​the end of 2027.

Options include retaining the licence fee paid by TV-watching households or moving to subscriptions or ad-funding.

Here are some further details ⁠from the annual report:

• 94% of adults in the UK use the BBC each month, but ​only 80% of UK households pay the licence fee.

• Director General Matt Brittin, a former Google executive who started ​in May, said the funding crisis was "a ‌moment of real jeopardy" for the BBC and the UK, adding that work to reinvent the broadcaster is underway.

• ⁠Brittin said it was right that the government is looking at the level of the licence fee, its scope and how it is collected in future.

• The ⁠government is supportive of the BBC's conversations with other British broadcasters, such as Channel ​4, about bringing content together into a "sovereign media platform", Brittin said.

• The BBC has made "a significant commitment to improve its culture, processes and standards in recent years", ‌it said, after a series of high-profile scandals.

• Amongst its top-paid stars were the radio presenters, Scott Mills, who ‌was paid a salary of £745,000 to £749,999 a year, and Greg James, who ⁠was paid £440,000 to £449,999 a year. ‌Political presenter Laura Kuenssberg was ​paid £405,000 to £409,999.

• Scott Mills was sacked in March following allegations about his personal conduct.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by ‌William James)

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