In the wake of the Panorama editing controversy, an online petition initiated by a broadcasting consumer has amassed over 45,000 signatures, urging the BBC to refrain from compensating Donald Trump in light of his billion-dollar legal threat. Concurrently, the BBC has declined to pay the $1 billion lawsuit.
The petition states, “My TV license fee shouldn’t be used to pay Trump.”
The BBC has issued an apology and has rejected the demand for compensation.
The BBC has expressed regret to Trump and announced that it will not air the Panorama episode in any format again.
Chairman Samir Shah has sent a personal letter of apology to the White House regarding the editing of the speech, as reported by the Independent.
Nevertheless, the BBC has dismissed any claims of defamation, characterizing it as “an error of judgment” and has turned down the request for $1 billion in compensation to Trump.
The petition and public response
The petition, launched by one of the BBC’s license-fee contributors, Ian Fisher, directly addresses concerns regarding the potential use of the public’s mandatory contributions to the BBC.
Fisher demands in the petition that “any compensation paid should be refunded to TV-license payers,” as reported by the Independent.
The petition marks a significant milestone for public digital activism within the UK broadcasting sector. Fisher remarked to the Independent, “I anticipated a few hundred signatures; it has surpassed 42,000, indicating that it is a significant issue.”
His petition is a reaction to Trump’s threat of a $1 billion lawsuit against the BBC concerning a mis-edited speech from January 6, featured in a Panorama program.
This incident has led to the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness.
“It appears to be an interference and an encroachment…of news media in the UK”
Fisher, along with the petition’s supporters, contends that utilizing public funds to reimburse a prominent individual like Trump compromises the principles of public service broadcasting.
In an interview with The Independent, Fisher states, “It appears to be an interference and an encroachment upon the impartiality of news media in the UK.”
Fisher further emphasizes that as he watches and records live television, it is mandated by law that broadcast consumers must pay the license fee. He remarks, “There is often no obligation for the BBC to act with any commercial accountability. They simply acknowledge that they will receive the funds regardless.”
The Independent reached out to the BBC for a comment, but they had not provided a response by the time of publication.
The lawsuit indicates that the BBC has until Friday, November 14, to address President Trump’s threat.
