According to Tim Davie, BBC can remove Stars from Twitter accounts

The BBC can suspend their employees' Twitter accounts if they violate the impartiality guidelines, new CEO Tim Davie said today.

Mr Davie, who has been in the role for less than a month, told MPs the rules would cover those who work in the news, current affairs and beyond and are "imminent".

The new measures will no doubt have an impact on Gary Lineker's colorful Twitter feed, but he responded to today's announcement with three laughing emojis.

Mr Davie also spoke about issues facing the BBC such as: B. their cost-cutting plans and the impact of the proposed decriminalization of royalty non-payment.

And he defended Zoe Ball's salary, which turned out to be £ 1.36m in 2019/20, and the BBC's report on coverage across the UK instead of just England.

Mr Davie, who took over the role of Tony Hall on Sept. 1, told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Selection Committee: & # 39; We will be releasing, and this is imminent, clear guidelines for social in the next few weeks Media. and they will cover both news and current affairs and beyond that, news and current affairs.

& # 39; We will have the enforcement guidelines very clear within these guidelines. We will be able to take disciplinary action. We'll be able to remove people from Twitter. I know people want to see tough action on this. & # 39;

He added, "If they want to work for the BBC, I can ask people that they would absolutely block their Twitter account."

He also commented on sports presenter and expert Lineker, who recently announced that he has just signed a new five-year deal with the broadcaster, with a 23 percent wage cut – from £ 1.75 million to around £ 1.35 million.

Lineker has dismissed suggestions he asked to tweet more closely.

Sports presenter and expert Gary Lineker has just signed a new five-year deal with the broadcaster, with a 23 percent wage cut – from £ 1.75 million to around £ 1.35 million

The new measures will no doubt have an impact on Gary Lineker's colorful Twitter feed, but he responded to today's announcement with three laughing emojis

On the subject, Mr Davie said, "I want to point out that Gary Lineker has actually been very clear in his statements lately, saying," I understand that I have responsibilities in my work at the BBC. "

Tim Davie is defending Zoe Ball's £ 1.36 million salary

Tim Davie defended Zoe Ball's salary, which was recently shown in the annual report at £ 1.36m in 2019/20, without fronting Strictly Come Dancing's It Takes Two.

Ball lost a million listeners in her first year on Radio 2 after taking over the breakfast show from Chris Evans.

He said, “Well, I think the point here is if you will allow me to briefly go into the overall subject of talent compensation. You would expect me to say this, but we have 28,000 people popping up on our screens and radio waves … we have 76 people on the list and we see that the whole nature of the list is being properly managed.

"The point here is and this is an uncomfortable area, but we've always had in entertainment, a couple of areas that we are no doubt in, you know I get it, but check out the NAO report on the market for Talents and Talents at What We Pay is a very uncomfortable area, but the truth is in some places, and that's high-end TV entertainment and Radio 2's main breakfast show that we've always been on the market, and you know go to google and check out some of the speculated prices on other networks that people pay and that we pay seriously.

“In terms of listening numbers, I get the point, but that's still 0.1 pence per listening hour. I still think Zoe is an exceptional broadcaster. After I've said all of that, you'll see the negotiations we've had with Gary Lineker, I think we're renegotiating contracts and we and I want to get good money for you as royalty payers. & # 39;

Match Of The Day host Lineker has signed a new five-year contract with the broadcaster, but it has been cut by 23 percent – from £ 1.75m to around £ 1.35m.

“These responsibilities are clearly set out and I believe, as I said, I am now the general manager so I am running the show and I think partisan statements are not right for people to make if they are doing so, as part of an impartial one News organization.

“I mean, we're going to come back with social media guidelines to show where the lines are.

"If someone is a face on the BBC, I think that getting into party politics is not the place, and that was very clear to me."

Mr Davie was also asked about Lineker's response to his announcement of stricter social media rules for BBC employees.

He said, “I think Gary always has a tasty twist.

“What I'd say is that Gary has said since then – it's about judging us now as the BBC by what we tweet, how we tweet, and our social media profile.

“I think Gary was very clear. He said that he doesn't care what he said. You can let the man speak for himself. He said he understood his responsibilities as a person within the BBC.

"The good thing is that I'll make this even clearer as I work through my social media guidelines."

The BBC has warned that switching to a civil license fee system would cost the broadcaster more than £ 200 million a year.

Regarding the proposed decriminalization of royalty non-payment, Davie said it was "a little early for us to make assumptions about what the government will or won't do".

He said the BBC's position was "crystal clear", adding that "this system is logically difficult to beat".

He said, “If you are a law abiding paying customer and royalty payer I try to give you the best value for money and the decriminalization proposal, frankly, just doesn't pass logic test. & # 39;

After taking the job, Davie said the BBC could not be "complacent" about its future and needed to "renew" its commitment to impartiality.

When asked on the subject, Davie said his "main concerns are not historical issues related to left or right politics" but "audience and audience values".

Mr Davie said it was critical that the BBC was not affiliated with "any particular view or perspective on life".

Mr Davie also defended the BBC's coverage of coverage across the UK rather than just England.

Mr Davie took over the role of BBC Director General from Tony Hall on September 1st (pictured)

He said, "It's a good point because this pandemic has absolutely emphasized the need and challenge of proper reporting on the nations."

Mr Davie said the BBC "has a very strong editorial influence on what we do," adding, "I have to say a bit defensively, I think we do a good job at having different restrictions in different nations and different rules all the time to be marked. "

When asked if the BBC could get rid of their traditional TV channels, Davie said, "I suspect linear consumption will decrease in the long run, so you may see fewer linear channels, but we are certainly miles away from that."

Mr. Davie succeeded Lord Tony Hall as general manager earlier this month.

After George Entwistle's resignation in November 2012, prior to Lord Hall's appointment, he served as General Manager for four months and was previously Managing Director of BBC Studios.

Lineker is known for his bombastic style on Twitter, where he often thinks about topics like Brexit and migration.

However, earlier this month he denied the new BBC boss had ordered him to tone down his tweets. At the suggestion that Mr. Davie tried to blow his nose, Lineker insisted on September 18, “No, no. It never happened. & # 39;

He told the Times at the time, “I tweet carefully. I think the BBC trust me. I know where the country is – you can't discredit the BBC. & # 39;

The company has strict rules of impartiality, but Lineker says he is a freelance, not an employee.

In 2018, the BBC's cricket voice Jonathan Agnew urged Lineker to keep his political views to himself, adding, "I would be fired if I followed your example." Lineker has previously boasted that he can "tweet what he likes".