The BBC is to ask the government for a guaranteed, inflation-linked annual increase in the Licence Fee.
The Licence Fee is subject to periodic negotiation between ministers and the corporation. The current settlement saw a freeze while also making the broadcaster responsible for funding the World Service and Welsh language channel S4C.
Programme budgets have been under increasing pressure in recent years, in part because of high executive pay and out of contract severance packages.
The corporation also wasted £100m on a failed digital archive project which was axed by new Director General Tony Hall shortly after he arrived took over last year.
Last week Hall announced the axing of BBC Three and senior executives warned that the future of popular arts and factor channel BBC Four could not be guaranteed.
In addition to the inflation-linked annual increase, the BBC will seek to raise more revenue through its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, which operates overseas channels and exploits content through merchandise and DVD sales.
Last month BBC WW was given the go-ahead to launch a new digital download store which is expected to see more of the broadcaster’s deep archive shows made available for sale.
It’s also emerged that ministers are considering making non-payment go the Licence Fee a civil rather than criminal offence.
