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Such a move could lead to multiple BBC TV and radio channels being sold off or closed in the biggest shakeup of British broadcasting in decades. According to the Sunday Times senior figures in Downing Street have decided the BBC needs to be dramatically cut down in size. A source told the newspaper: “We are not bluffing on the licence fee. We are having a consolation and we will whack it. It has to be a subscription model.

“They’ve got hundreds of radio stations, they’ve got all these TV stations and a massive website. The whole things needs massive pruning back. “They should have a few TV stations, a couple of radio stations and massively curtailed online presence and put more money into the World Service, which is part of its core job.” John Whittingdale, former Culture Secretary, is now back at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as minister of state after Nigel Adams was moved to the Foreign Office in the latest reshuffle. Mr Whittingdale is set to play a leading role in the plans and a source said his brief from Number Ten was: “Mission: attack”.

Downing Street looks set to move the BBC to a subscription modeal

John Whittingdale is now a DCMS minister

A source also told the Sunday Times Boris Johnson was “really strident” on plans regarding the BBC. It follows tensions between the Government and the BBC, with ministers being banned from appearing on the Radio 4 morning programme Today. The plans could include banning BBC stars from second jobs. BBC News Editorial Director Kamal Ahmad apologised to staff earlier this week after accepting £12,000 to speak for 40 minutes at a banking conference in Aberdeen. READ MORE: Carol Vorderman left stunned after Mark Labbett shock revelation

Kamal Ahmad was criticised after originally accepting £12,000 to speak in Aberdeen at a confrence

Oliver Dowden replaced Baroness Morgan as Culture Secretary this week

Nigel Huddleston, Caroline Dinenage, Matt Warman and Baroness Barran are DCMS ministers

Currently, in order to watch live broadcasts of TV or use services such as iPlayer you must pay the fee. According to the TV licensing website, it costs £154.50 for colour TVs and £52 for black and white. As the non payment is a criminal offence, it is possible to serve time in prison for failure to pay.

List of British ministers

Oliver Dowden is the new Culture Secretary have been promoted in this week’s reshuffle replacing Baroness Morgan. Ministers within the department include Caroline Dinenage, Nigel Huddleston, Matt Warman and Baroness Barran along with Mr Whittingdale. The Department’s website says: “The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) helps to drive growth, enrich lives and promote Britain abroad.

Non paymemt of the license fee is currently a criminal offense

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