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Gardam, speaking at the Royal Institute of British Architects annual lecture last night, argued that the majority of the UK's original and public service programming is commissioned and funded by the UK's terrestrial channels, particularly Channel 4, the BBC and ITV.

He believes that because it is less commercially successful than mass-market programming, there will be little incentive for these broadcasters to continue to plough resources into it in years to come as they lose audience share to digital and cable channels.

"What will be the economic incentive for such programmes to be commissioned in the future world of digital television?" he said.

Gardam believes that the government should open up the licence fee to broadcasters other than the BBC if public service programming is to remain "culturally and socially valuable".

"I fear that when it comes to public space [service broadcasting], the government wills the end, but turns away from considering the means," he said.

Although Gardam accepts that broadcasters such as Channel 4 would survive, his concern was at what cost to its public service remit.

"What will be at risk is not Channel 4 itself, for Channel 4 is a tough, commercially competitive beast, but the financial flexibility to explore our remit with the freedom we would wish."

The BBC's licence fee has long been a subject for debate, but it is becoming an increasingly popular topic as the BBC prepares for its charter review in 2006, when the way it is funded and what it spends its money on is scrutinised.

Gardam said that, although he was not calling for the licence fee to be taken away from the BBC altogether or immediately, the issue should be looked at.

"Now, all this is very much my personal view, not that of Channel 4, and I am not arguing for the instant abolition of the licence fee, or for its abolition in 2006. But I do believe that its future has to be set in a broader context than just the BBC's," he said.

Gardam concluded his lecture by comparing UK broadcasting to the architectural landscape, which has benefited from National Lottery funding.

Gardam said the money had "transformed the built landscape of Britain in countless ways, large and small". He attributed this to the "invention and skill in a competitive environment of a diversity of different practices" and not a state-owned architect.

"Is there perhaps a thought here for the government as it considers the quality of public space in broadcasting in the future?" he asked.

Gardam's comments echo those of Charles Allen, chairman of Granada, earlier this year. Speaking at the Royal Television Society dinner in February, Allen called for 10% of the £2.5bn licence fee to be awarded to the commercial sector to develop "new, additional public service programming on commercial channels".

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