BBC pays to show its old programmes

The BBC is paying out around £80 a time for each use of its own old regional broadcasts, after giving away footage to local archives.

The BBC News obituary editor, Nick Serpell, told the corporation's magazine, Ariel, that he had been asked for "£70 +VAT" by a film library in Leeds for a copy of a 1970s report originally made by the BBC.

A spokesperson told The Independent: "This is the most cost-effective means of storing legacy regional material as it means we don't need to invest in storage facilities. It is also of benefit to the local community as the regional archives allow access for educational and research purposes on site," she said.