LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Britain's BBC is considering the part-privatisation of its lucrative commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, the publicly funded broadcaster's director general Mark Thompson said.
Among options under consideration in a wide-ranging review is a stock market listing of the business, Thompson told daily newspaper The Guardian.
'One of the things we should look at over this period is whether 100 percent ownership of Worldwide is essential going forward,' he said.
BBC Worldwide, which had revenues of around 1 billion pounds in 2008, sells the rights to popular shows such as Strictly Come Dancing to international buyers, publishes magazines and licenses merchandise from popular programmes.
The BBC is under pressure from both sides of parliament to share the benefits of the licence fee it levies on all UK households that watch television, and was last week involved in public spat over its influence and status with putative News Corporation heir James Murdoch.
Thompson said the corporation was looking at a 'whole range of things' including offering a stake to a rival broadcaster or even an international partner.
A BBC spokeswoman confirmed the director general's comments to the newspaper, adding: 'We are not ruling anything in or anything out.' Keywords: BBC PRIVATISE/ (john.stonestreet@reuters.com, +44-20-7543-9635, Reuters messaging: john.stonestreet.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Among options under consideration in a wide-ranging review is a stock market listing of the business, Thompson told daily newspaper The Guardian.
'One of the things we should look at over this period is whether 100 percent ownership of Worldwide is essential going forward,' he said.
BBC Worldwide, which had revenues of around 1 billion pounds in 2008, sells the rights to popular shows such as Strictly Come Dancing to international buyers, publishes magazines and licenses merchandise from popular programmes.
The BBC is under pressure from both sides of parliament to share the benefits of the licence fee it levies on all UK households that watch television, and was last week involved in public spat over its influence and status with putative News Corporation heir James Murdoch.
Thompson said the corporation was looking at a 'whole range of things' including offering a stake to a rival broadcaster or even an international partner.
A BBC spokeswoman confirmed the director general's comments to the newspaper, adding: 'We are not ruling anything in or anything out.' Keywords: BBC PRIVATISE/ (john.stonestreet@reuters.com, +44-20-7543-9635, Reuters messaging: john.stonestreet.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.