And… it skews what the BBC will make to be more commercial and less public service. Both sectors suffer.
A lot of company logos on this letter. I hope it has an impact.
I've worked really hard for 17 years to contribute to the UK's independent podcast sector becoming a legitimate commercial entity.
If the BBC start taking ads in the UK, they will be eating our lunch.
I say this as someone who adores public service programming. I have sometimes worked for the BBC for less than half my commercial salary, because I believe in it.
I also think for audiences, some ads on Beeb content (outside Sounds) would be easily accepted - it's theoretically no different to ads against BBC shows on Dave or Gold.
But, for my sector it would be devastating.
Put simply, why would you advertise on my shows when you could advertise on Desert Island Discs?
That's a distortion of a burgeoning creative industry.