Reports in London today (27 November) suggest that the BBC may be planning to sell off its Technology division in the run up to renewal of the Corporation’s Royal Charter. The current charter expires at the end of 2006.
BBC Technology’s 1,500 or so staff may be told about the sale on Friday 28 November. Any sale would require the approval of the UK government (through its Culture, Media and Sport department which has responsibility for the BBC’s domestic operations).
It is suggested that a number of companies – including giant computer firms IBM and EDS – are interested in bidding for the business that last year moved into profit.
BBC Technology supplies infrastructure to the BBC and to other broadcasting and media companies worldwide, ranging from sports broadcaster ESPN to mobile phone operators such as Hutchison Telecom.