Is there a more dysfunctional organisation anywhere else in the public sector than the BBC - leaving aside the NHS? I doubt it.
How could there be such a spat from the Chairman of the Trust and the previous CEO, neither of whom have covered themselves in glory.
Of course, the Sunday Times ran a front page story about the Trust being closed down with Ofcom taking over its role but Ofcom isn't that hot either. But Murdoch has always loathed the BBC and naturally there was a siren call from his main UK newspaper to suggest this thesis though there were no quotes from a minister at the DCMS just an unnamed source.
The real problem is that the Beeb is too big to manage.
It needs to be broken up into:
Television
Four channels: BBC 1, 2, 3 (News) and 4 (Education) (the current BBC3 & BBC4 would be closed down and merged with BBC2)
Each channel would have to take 50% of its programmes, except News, from the independent sector
These channels would be serviced by
BBC News
BBC Current Affairs
BBC Education
BBC Entertainment
BBC Culture
BBC Drama inc Films
There would be open tenders to manage and run these channels and web pages
These would be stand-alone departments
BBC Mutual: Radio & Web
BBC Radios 3 and 4 would continue as is and be paid for by the licence fee and managed as one entity.
They would have 50% of their programming supplied by the independent sector.
There would be an open tender to manage these stations.
All the remaining BBC radio stations would be allowed to take advertising with any profits having to be re-invested. Initially, they would receive licence fee assistance for the first two years.
The BBC would be allowed to have only one site - a News web site - with accompanying Apps and a social network presence.
All other web sites would come under BBC Mutual with no licence fee funding.
BBC World Service
This would be paid for by the licence fee and moved into the ambit of the British Council.
The British Council would float its English Language business on the Stock Market.
It would then concentrate on delivering BBC World Service and refocus itself on becoming the lead agency for Soft Power.