BREAKING. BBC told to reign in BBC Worldwide

The BBC Trust that guards over the BBC has just said that BBC Worldwide (the British public broadcaster's commercial arm) must end merger and acquisition activities, get rid of its stake in international channels like Animal Planet which isn't a part of the BBC and keep away from activities ''not in keeping'' with the BBC brand.

BBC Worldwide is responsible for the BBC channels such as BBC Knowledge (DStv 251), BBC Lifestyle (DStv 180), BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) and CBeebies (DStv 306) that's broadcast in South Africa.

For the past year and a half there's been strong indications that the BBC Trust is NOT happy with the direction of the broadcaster's commercial division that handles program sales, licensing and international channel brands around the globe.

Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Trust chairperson said in a statement: ''Our commercial operations are not exempt from the BBC's public mission. They must keep the public purposes at their heart, engaging carefully with markets globally to help 'bring the U.K. to the world and the world to the U.K.'".

''We're satisfied that these changes will provide much-needed clarity and a greater alignment with the BBC's public purposes, without stifling BBC Worldwide's ability to perform as a thriving and profitable entity.''

BBC Worldwide had a turnover of $1.7 billion in the year to March 2009.