Tim Davie

"We are repurposing the industry": BBC Director-General Tim Davie talks to Amol Rajan

Tim Davie, in the middle of talking, holds his hands, clasped together as if in prayer, out from his chest

The BBC Director-General took to the RTS London Convention stage the day after former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards received a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, for accessing indecent photographs of children as young as seven. Amol Rajan took Davie to task. 

Q: Amol Rajan: How badly damaged is the BBC by the crimes of Huw Edwards?

Four more smart TV brands to offer new free-to-air streamer Freely

A TV screen is paused on the sight of Harry from The Traitors lifting up his cloak, through the streaming service Freely

Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic and Metz are joining the Freely line-up, after existing partners Hisense and Bush joined in April and May 2024, respectively.

Freely is backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and integrates all of its live TV channels and on demand content in one place, for free, via compatible smart TVs. STV and S4C’s content is also available.

All that is required is a WiFi connection, which removes the need for an aerial or satellite dish. But Freely viewers can use an aerial to access more terrestrial channels.

A BBC for the Future | Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC

Tim Davie, Director-General at the BBC, sets out the blueprint for the future direction of the BBC and its role for the UK at an RTS event.

Davie discussed AI and UK-centric algorithms, commercial partnerships with tech companies, and a “progressive” licence fee.

Following the keynote, Davie answered questions from the audience, chaired by Martha Kearney.

The event took place at the IET London on Tuesday 26 March.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie on Freely and future-proofing the BBC

BBC director-general Tim Davie sits in a chair and gestures with his hand

Another week, another BBC media storm. As allegations of rape and other forms of sexual abuse emerged against Russell Brand, a former Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music presenter who resigned in 2008 following a prank phone call to actor Andrew Sachs, the BBC’s Director-­General, Tim Davie, once again found himself having to defend the corporation’s culture.

UK Keynote: Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC | RTS Cambridge Convention 2023

In conversation with Kate Bulkley, Tim Davie, the BBC Director-General, expands on the corporation’s digital future and its Value for All strategy as well as its approach to AI.

Chair

  • Kate Bulkley, Business Journalist

Speaker

  • Tim Davie CBE, Director-General, BBC

The session was part of the RTS Cambridge Convention 2023, with Principal Sponsor Channel 4. The convention took place on 20 - 21 September at King's College, Cambridge.

Leading the UK into digital, speech by BBC Director-General Tim Davie

Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC (Credit: RTS/Paul Hampartsoumian)

Good morning. Today, 100 years and 23 days after the first BBC broadcast, I want to talk about choices. Choices for us all. 

Choices that have profound consequences for our society; its economic success, its cultural life, its democratic health. Our UK and its essence. Of what we hand to the next generation. Of growth. 

Choices that concern not just the role of the BBC, but something bigger. About whether we want to leave a legacy of a thriving, world leading UK media market or accept, on our watch, a slow decline.