BBC talent show The Voice could be dropped by the corporation amid mounting pressure to cut costs, it has been reported.
Senior BBC executives are understood to have been ordered not to get into a bidding war over future series of the Saturday night programme, which has cost £55million so far.
It is believed that they have decided against a sixth series in 2017, meaning rivals ITV could now take over the show, which pulls in eight million viewers.
A source told The Mirror: “We’d really like to hang on to the Voice, it’s a brilliant show and viewers love it, but we won’t get into a bidding war with ITV.”
Another insider added: “The BBC has had no choice but to walk away. In the face of all the cuts being made following the licence fee settlement it was impossible to compete.
“It’s a sad day, because it’s a BBC show.”
In August, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said he thought the BBC had wasted licence payers’ money competing with ITV for The Voice, which currently stars will-i-am, Boy George, Paloma Faith and Ricky Wilson.
Lord Hall, director general of the BBC, defended the programme earlier this year, saying that shows like The Voice have always been a part of the corporation’s history.
But he also warned the BBC would “inevitably have to either close or reduce some services” which could include television.
Danny Cohen, the BBC’s director of television, who was responsible for spending £22 million on acquiring rights to The Voice, has now announced his departure from his £327,000-a-year post, saying he wants to leave before the next round of painful spending cuts.
ITV are already believed to have made an offer for The Voice and a deal thought to be three years from 2017 is expected to be signed in days. Bosses promise to match the £11million-a-series costs.
A BBC spokesman said: “It is incorrect to say the BBC has axed The Voice and we are in negotiations about its future.”(Lexi Finnigan)
Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11930191/BBC-axes-The-Voice-as-ITV-is-poised-to-take-over.html
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