[brucethemoose2]

Could the British government influence BBC stories if they really went of the rails and attacked the govt?

I am not British and don't have a good feel for the BBC, though I am fairly confident NPR can do government hit stories and such.

[anigbrowl]

Yes, both indirectly and directly. Indirectly, in that BBC editorial policy is a regular political football, especially with conservatives. Directly (and like all other media) though a 'D notice.'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSMA-Notice

[plandis]

Didn’t the BBC recently take a soccer announcer off the air after he was critical of the conservative government?