The bitter row that has erupted between the BBC and US President Donald Trump over its editing of a controversial documentary could have serious implications for the media organisation’s future—not least its attempts to expand its operations in America.
At a time when the broadcaster is facing stiff competition from global streaming networks like Netflix, BBC executives understand they need to fundamentally change the nature of their operations if the corporation is to survive in an increasingly competitive commercial environment.
As part of its expansion efforts, the BBC earlier this year introduced a new subscription service in the US, which the organisation claimed was a “major milestone” that would “unlock new opportunities for growth”.
The decision was made to put most of its online news behind a paywall in the US to make up for dwindling audiences in the UK.
Trump row
The success of these ambitious plans—as well as the future of the BBC itself—now hangs in the balance after the remarkable fallout that has ensued between Trump and the media giant over a documentary broadcast by its flagship Panorama programme on Trump earlier this year.
The row follows revelations published in The Daily Telegraph, which reported that key elements of a speech Trump made prior to the Capitol riots in January 2021 had been edited by the BBC to give the impression that he supported the attack on the legislative building, when he made no such comment.
The BBC has subsequently admitted to making “mistakes” in the making of the programme, which has resulted in the resignation of Tim Davie, the corporation’s director-general, as well as Deborah Turness, the head of news.
