Radiocentre has told MPs to reject any move to put advertising around BBC content.
The commercial radio body has submitted evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee as part of scrutiny of the BBC Charter Review, arguing that ad funded BBC services would damage the wider commercial market and would not be sustainable in their current form.
Its submission also points to polling by More in Common which found 65% of people oppose adding advertising alongside the licence fee. The same research said 17% of respondents believe BBC radio offers truly unique content.
Radiocentre chief executive Matt Payton said: “The government should rule out advertising across all BBC platforms at the earliest opportunity” ahead of the next stage of the review process.
Matt also said uncertainty around the BBC’s long term funding model was unhelpful in a difficult economic climate. Radiocentre said its updated economic analysis shows advertiser funded BBC radio would have a significant negative effect on commercial media across the UK.
The organisation has also published its full response to the government’s Green Paper consultation for the first time, alongside its evidence to MPs. The Committee’s work follows the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launch of the Charter Review process in December 2025.