BBC set to lose monopoly on licence fee as cash goes to ITV news

The BBC’s 87-year monopoly of the licence fee is set to come to an end as ministers signal that some of the ?3.6 billion of cash it generates can be made available to fund regional news on ITV. Digital Britain, a White Paper produced by Lord Carter of Barnes, the Communications Minister, will offer a lifeline tomorrow to local newspaper publishers and other media groups that want to produce ITV’s six o’clock regional bulletins instead of the commercial broadcaster.