BBC Loses BAFTAS

In a move that has left the BBC bereft of movie awards ceremonies, Sky has won the BAFTAs in a bidding war. The satellite channel already has the UK rights to the Oscars and hailed its winning bid as 'another nail in the coffin for the BBC's coverage of films and the movie industry.' The loss of the BAFTAs is likely to hit the BBC harder than the Oscars whose late-night viewing time meant it always had a smaller audience. At its height, the BAFTAs succeeded in attracting more than 10 million viewers. Perhaps it's just as well the BBC failed to keep hold of the BAFTAs. In a tersely worded statement, a BBC spokesperson said, 'The event has a minority appeal compared to the TV awards.' So 10 million film fans are a minority then - it's good to know what that the licence payers are held in such high regard.