BBC plans to cut website development

The BBC is expected to announce plans to slash development of its flagship website and cull a number of youth music and ethnic radio stations in a bid to refocus as a public broadcaster.

In an article in today's Guardian, Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC wrote, "[The BBC] much be clearer about its own limits within public space. Given the convergence of technologies, the BBC's limits need to be demonstrably based on its public purposes and to be spelled out. Clearly the BBC needs the space to evolve as audiences and technologies develop, but it must be far more explicit than in the past about what it will not do."

He said the plan would not be " a blueprint for a small BBC, or a BBC that is in retreat from digital".