Barry Cox, the deputy chairman of Channel 4 and chairman of the digital TV stakeholders' group, says the BBC is a "cultural tyranny" that should be funded - at least in part - by subscription.

In a series of lectures at Oxford University, starting tomorrow, Cox, who also advises the Cabinet on media matters, will call on the government to set up a public service broadcasting fund to which all broadcasters - not just the BBC - would be able to bid for cash.