The UK's Independent is reporting that the BBC's share of the British television audience has fallen to an all time low. This is of particular importance because the BBC's 10 year charter comes to an end in 2006, and renewal of its ability to impose a ｣121 ($236) mandatory license fee (a.k.a., tax) depends on renewal of its charter.

Much of the blame for falling viewership falls on increased competition from satellite channels and new terrestrial stations. The leftist Independent is unwilling to mention the flagrant leftist bias of BBC news and documentary programming as a factor, of course.

But one major factor that does rate a mention in the decline of viewership of the BBC—2 channel, which now gets less than 10% of the viewing audience for the first time, is its loss of rights to broadcast The Simpsons. I am certain that Jonah Goldberg will be delighted to know that the leftists are being penalized for losing his favorite program.

Thomas Lifson   12 14 04