BBC Trust delays web ads decision

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The BBC Trust has delayed making a decision on whether or not to carry advertising on BBC.com until later in the spring.

During yesterday's meeting, the Trust put off making a decision while it awaits further information on how potential revenues would be reinvested.

In a statement issued today, Trustees said the licence fee could not be used to fund broadening of the BBC's reach globally via the internet.

"Out of the charter renewal debate, it is clear that providing independent news and information on how potential revenue would be reinvested to an international audience remains integral to the BBC's purpose and, to that end, the BBC must remain a global news organisation," the statement said.

"In this digital age, it is essential that the BBC's international presence is equally compelling across all platforms, including the internet.

"For the BBC to meet its purpose internationally, it must invest more online. It cannot use the licence fee for this purpose. One option is to carry advertising - where appropriate and subject to robust editorial safeguards - in line with the BBC's existing approach internationally on television.

"The Trust has considered the proposals from management for the BBC.com website very carefully, but we are not currently satisfied we have all the information we think is necessary to reach a decision.

"Consequently we have asked the BBC management to do further work - particularly around how advertising revenue would be reinvested in BBC Global News and the BBC's UK public services for the benefit of licence fee payers."