Well at least we have proof now that "Merry Christmas" doesn't offend Muslims (as if we needed proof).
UPDATE Dec. 26, 2008:
A commenter notes that it's not taxpayer dollars that finances the BBC.
I checked it out.
The BBC is financed by a television licensing fee that each household must pay in order to operate a " a broadcast television receiver". The amount of this fee "is set by the government and enforced by the criminal law."
The revenue is collected privately and is paid into the central government Consolidated Fund, a process defined in the Communications Act 2003. This TV Licensing collection is currently carried out by Capita, an outside agency. Funds are then allocated by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Treasury and approved by Parliament via legislation. Additional revenues are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to compensate for subsidised licences for eligible over-75 year olds
So it's technically not "tax dollars" that funds the BBC, but it's still governmet money.
