The BBC's 40 per cent spending increase on digital television channels is revealed in its annual report to be published today.

An increase of digital spending to £278 million is set to renew criticism by MPs when corporation executives appear before the Commons culture, media and sport select committee today.

The annual report is expected to reveal that BBC bosses received bonuses totalling almost £1 million last year, in spite of BBC1's audiences plunging to a new low.