Media: Talk of the Trade: A desperate Bragg?

LIZ FORGAN, programme director of Channel 4, has attacked Melvyn Bragg for suggesting that the BBC's licence fee should be shared with other broadcasters such as ITV who wish to make high-cost minority programmes covering arts and anthropology. Speaking at the Royal Television Society's conference on the BBC yesterday, she said: 'It's a devilish idea to undermine public-service broadcasting. I'm sorry to see Melvyn espouse it. I understand his desperation.'