BBC stripped of powers to govern itself for first time in broadcaster’s history
Stars' salaries will be published, the iPlayer loophole will be closed and the licence fee will rise as part of reforms
The BBC has been stripped of the power to govern itself for the first time ever under Government plans to reform the corporation.
It will be the first time in the broadcaster's 90-year history that an independent organisation will regulate the BBC, with media watchdog Ofcom tasked with policing Auntie - replacing the internal BBC Trust.
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) already monitors the rest of British television, radio and video on-demand platforms, as well as telecoms, the radio spectrum and postal services, and is accountable to Parliament.
Introducing the White Paper, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: "Ofcom has a proven track record as a regulator of media and telecoms.
"It is the right body to take on external regulation of the BBC."
He also revealed the National Audit Office will become the BBC's auditor to make the corporation, which gets nearly £4billion every year from the licence fee payers, more accountable to the public.
This includes requiring the BBC to publish the names of all staff and freelancers trousering more than £450k - it is likely to include stars like Graham Norton and Gary Lineker who are part of a huge talent bill at the corporation.
The Culture Secretary has been accused of watering down his original plans to name every on-screen star pocketing more than £150k after Beeb chiefs claimed it would give rivals an unfair advantage.
The announcement was part of a raft of reforms proposed by the Culture Secretary, including closing the iPlayer loophole which allows thousands to watch catch-up services without paying the licence fee, a five-year funding protection for the BBC World Service and a rise in the licence fee,
The new charter will last for 11 years with a chance to review it half way through, he said today.
The licence fee which has been frozen since 2010 will rise in line with inflation until 2021/22 when there will be a new settlement when Mr Whittingdale hinted there could be further reform.
He told the Commons: "Although the licence fee remains the best way of funding the BBC for this Charter period, it is likely to become less sustainable as the media landscape continues to evolve.
"The Government therefore welcomes the BBC’s intention to explore whether additional revenue could be raised at home and abroad from additional subscription services sitting alongside the core universal fee."
The BBC's Director General Tony Hall welcomed the White Paper.
He said in a statement: "This white paper delivers a mandate for the strong, creative BBC the public believe in. A BBC that will be good for the creative industries - and most importantly of all, for Britain.
"There has been a big debate about the future of the BBC. Searching questions have been asked about its role and its place in the UK.
"That’s right and healthy, and I welcome that debate.
"At the end, we have an 11-year Charter, a licence fee guaranteed for 11 years, and an endorsement of the scale and scope of what the BBC does today.
The white paper reaffirms our mission to inform, educate and entertain all audiences on television, on radio and online."