The British government has named veteran TV executive Samir Shah as the new chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), following the resignation of Richard Sharp earlier this year. Sharp stepped down in April after facilitating a £800,000 ($1 million) loan for then-prime minister Boris Johnson.
Shah, 71, who has over 40 years of experience in television and has held several roles at the BBC, including head of current affairs, will be taking over the reins at a critical time for the publicly funded broadcaster.
The BBC is currently grappling with significant funding pressures and is seeking to make £500 million in savings. This has led to cutbacks in its flagship programme, “Newsnight.”
One of Shah’s key responsibilities will be to negotiate an increase in the licence fee with the government. The licence fee is the primary source of funding for the BBC. Recent reports suggest that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is planning to block a nine percent increase in the annual fee, which currently stands at £159 ($200) per household.
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In a statement, Shah expressed his delight at being named the government’s preferred candidate. The BBC also welcomed the announcement, stating, “We welcome the announcement that Samir Shah has been selected as the Government’s preferred candidate to take up the role of BBC chair and look forward to him joining the board once the formal process has been complete.”
The appointment is expected to be ratified by a parliamentary committee soon.