The BBC is supposed to be a public service broadcaster, but the purchase of a 75 per cent stake in the travel guide publisher Lonely Planet appears to involve neither broadcasting nor public service. For the BBC to build up its commercial revenue, and so reduce the annual toll it levies on every television set in Britain, is desirable. But if it is to retain its credibility as a public service it needs to do so as a result of its core activities, rather than build up an international media conglomerate of its own.

The acquisition is via BBC Worldwide, the corporation’s commercial arm. It will be funded through a debt facility that gives no legal recourse to the BBC itself, although Worldwide’s relationship with its parent implies a degree of support. In the interest of full disclosure, we note that Lonely Planet competes with Pearson, the parent of the Financial Times, and publisher of the Rough Guide travel books.