BBC chief Greg Dyke has called on ministers to cut the amount ITV has to pay for broadcasting licences.

And he added that the merger between Carlton and Granada should go ahead on "reasonable terms".

His comments came as the controller of BBC1 mounted a fierce attack on the "imperialism" of Rupert Murdoch.

Lorraine Heggessey said Murdoch's attacks on the BBC revealed a dislike of the public sector.

Dyke added that the government would have to take action to halt BSkyB's dominance of the digital broadcasting industry.

He also pledged to combat the "dumbing down" culture at the corporation.