Mark Thompson predicts 'smaller BBC' after 2012

Mark Thompson says the BBC will review the size of its website

The public can expect a "smaller BBC" after the analogue TV signal is switched off in 2012, director general Mark Thompson has said.

Speaking at a Voice of the Listener and Viewer conference in London, Mr Thompson was outlining plans for the BBC's strategic review next year.

He said there would be "reductions in some kinds of programmes and content", including web services.

However, he promised more money would be spent on original British content.

'Clear strategy'

"Expect to see a further shift of emphasis in favour of key priority areas: The best journalism in the world, high quality programmes and services for children, content of every kind that builds knowledge and shares music and culture and a long-range commitment to outstanding British drama and comedy," Mr Thompson said.

The point of the strategy review is to set out a template for a more focused BBC, a BBC that delivers better quality of higher value. Mark Thompson

When asked about the future of the BBC's digital radio and television services, Mr Thompson said it would be "slightly counter-intuitive" to close BBC Three and Four while encouraging people to go digital.

But he suggested that services could be "reduced" in a "post-switchover world when people can use services like iPlayer to get content in other ways."

"For example, we've slightly reduced the services on the red button because so many people are able to get interactive services on the web," he said.

Speaking about the BBC website, Mr Thompson said the review would look at "the many millions of pages" and "whether everything needs to be there, is updated and is relevant".

ANALYSIS Torin Douglas, BBC News media correspondent The BBC is responding to criticisms from politicians and commercial competitors that it's too big and too well-funded at a time when the rest of the industry is suffering economically. It's looking at how it can focus more on quality and provide that on the internet as well as on TV sets, or whether it can cut back on some services in due course, after the digital switchover in 2012.

"It's about making sure there is a clear strategy for it and focussing on the public purposes of the BBC," he added.

Mr Thompson also stressed that specialist services with niche appeal, such as digital channel BBC Parliament, would always have a central role.

And he suggested that more licence fee money could be spent on making original programmes rather than buying programmes from abroad.

"The point of the strategy review is to set out a template for a more focused BBC, a BBC that delivers better quality of higher value," Mr Thompson said.

"It may point to a BBC which is smaller in some respects, but no less confident."

Later in an interview on BBC Two's Newsnight programme, he discussed pay plans for his most senior managers - 50 of whom earn more than the prime minister.

'Confidential matters'

He said: "People who come and work for the BBC should expect to earn a lot less in senior management positions than they do elsewhere.

"What we're going to do in the future is look at what the equivalent in the private sector would be and discount it for the most senior managers by 50% to 80%."

He also defended the BBC's decision not to publish the pay of top earning presenters and entertainers, saying it was not in the public interest.

He said: "With actors, presenters, comedians and others... these are markets where no other broadcaster, no theatre company reveals these things, they are traditionally confidential matters.

"I honestly believe... we succeed often in getting people to come and work at the BBC for less money than they could earn elsewhere.

"If you reveal the numbers it will cost more, we will end up spending more, and I don't think that's in the public interest."