Man, them British got a stick up their rectitude
Read the DCMS statement
Dominic Timms
Monday July 5, 2004
The government has ordered the BBC to redefine the remit of its online services after an independent report into its internet activities said many of the corporation's websites were too commercial and should be closed.
In a long awaited report, headed by former Trinity Mirror chief executive Philip Graf, the BBC was told it had four months to respond to criticisms that parts of its vast online service could not be justified by its public service remit.
Sites covering areas such as fantasy football and local entertainment listings were not "sufficiently distinctive from commercial alternatives, or were inadequately associated with public service purpose to be justified by the remit" said Mr Graf.
