There’s a big debate going on in the U.K. over the funding of the BBC, Variety reports. Currently all homes with TV sets pay a license fee to fund the BBC.

At least one influential politician–who is also a former BBC corresondent –says it would be wrong for the license fee to be shared "with cash-strapped commercial rivals to fund their public broadcasting service requirement–such as local news," Variety says.

All of this is happening against a background wherein the BBC announced that profits fell 27% to $140 million for its last fiscal year, which ended in March.

—Chuck Ross