Re: "Other countries are bounding ahead"
Agreed.... the discussion should primarily be about content, AND developing delivery methods that align with changing 'generational' viewing methods.
One example of this can be seen with sky news, that now streams to Youtube.
Once the content (and quality of it) is established...... the cost is pretty much pre-determined.
So what about concentrating on a broad range of interesting/intelligent/educational programs, and leave the general entertainment garbage to commercial channels, who are anyway doing that kind of stuff.
While the garbage might be cheapish to make... the scale of offerings demand a huge BBC administration.
Slimming the BBC down, to concentrate on the described content, would ensure that there would still be a channel or two that offers stimulating broadcasts IE. ensuring that Britain would not suffer the total dumbing of the population.
Regardless of whether you are rich or poor...... you may want to watch intelligent broadcasts.
It may even be the case that the commercial channels would happily prefer the garbage, and even accept advertising on the BBC, as being specific to intelligent programming.
In this way, we could gain a subsidised advertising model, as a necessary national service.
Like a rail infrastructure is subsidised (while it generates it's own income).
Then just let it go out to the world, as Britain's contribution to culture.
Everybody gets it for free anyway (Filmon and geo blockers).
The value/returns would be significant, if historical evidence of the impact of BBC World Service, is anything to go by.