BBC head says broadcaster must reform or die

The BBC, celebrating its 90th anniversary, is affectionately known in Britain as Auntie, and is respected around much of the world.

But with 22,000 staff working at eight national TV channels, 50 radio stations and an extensive Internet operation, critics say it is hampered by a complex and overly bureaucratic and hierarchical management structure.

Thompson's legacy

Journalists said this had become worse under Entwistle's predecessor Mark Thompson, who took over in the wake of the last major crisis to hit the corporation and is set to become chief executive of the New York Times Co on Monday.

In that instance, both the director general and the chairman were forced out after the BBC was castigated by a public inquiry over a report alleging government impropriety in the fevered build-up to the war in Iraq, leading to major organisational changes.

One of the BBC's most prominent figures, Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, said that since the Iraq report furore, management had become bloated while cash had been cut from programme budgets.

He (Entwistle) has been brought low by cowards and incompetents, Paxman said in a statement, echoing a widely held view that Entwistle was a good man who had been let down by his senior staff.

Cameron appeared ready to give the BBC the

... contd.