EDINBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- News Corp. Chairman James Murdoch says the publicly funded BBC threatens the survival of independent journalism in Britain.
"The BBC is dominant. Other organizations might rise and fall but the BBC's income is guaranteed and growing," Murdoch told the Edinburgh Television Festival.
Murdoch, whose media conglomerate owns radio, television stations and newspapers throughout the world, also criticized the British government for over-regulating his industry, the BBC reported Saturday.
Former BBC director general Greg Dyke called Murdoch's criticism "fundamentally wrong," saying declining advertising revenues during the recession, rather than the BBC, are to blame for the problems facing commercial media.
"Journalism is going through a very difficult time -- not only in this country but every country in the world -- because newspapers, radio and television in the commercial world are all having a very rough time," Dyke said.
