An independent review into BBC Newsnight's shelving of a programme about alleged sex abuse by Jimmy Savile will report later this month.
The review by ex-Sky News boss Nick Pollard will seek to establish whether there were any "failings" in the BBC's decision to drop the investigation.
It will also look at the BBC's handling of material which might have been of interest to the police.
The Pollard Review will report to the BBC Executive Board.
Newsnight had been looking into the Crown Prosecution Service and Surrey Police's decision to drop an investigation into abuse claims against Savile.
There has been speculation that the programme was dropped because the BBC was already planning to run more favourable programmes in tribute to the former BBC presenter, who died in October 2011. The BBC has repeatedly denied such claims.
BBC director general George Entwistle said he was launching the inquiry to shake off the "clouds of suspicion".
Editorial decisionOutlining terms of reference on Thursday, a statement on behalf of the review said: "It will establish whether there were any failings in the BBC management of the Newsnight investigation relating to allegations of sexual abuse of children by Jimmy Savile, including the broadcast of tribute programmes on the BBC.
"This will encompass the BBC's handling of material derived from the investigation that could have been of interest to the police or relevant authorities and whether any inappropriate managerial pressure or consideration may have influenced the decision of the editor of Newsnight."
It said the review will examine the editorial decision on the Newsnight investigation and a blog dated 2 October posted by the programme's editor which was changed by the BBC on 22 October 2012.
In the original blog, Newsnight editor Peter Rippon explained the editorial reasons behind his decision to axe the report. He said it was "totally untrue" he had been ordered to do it by bosses as part of a BBC cover-up.
In a correction to the blog, the BBC called it "inaccurate or incomplete in some respects".
Mr Rippon has stepped aside from his role for the duration of the inquiry.
The review's statement said interviews with relevant people will be conducted with support of a barrister, and interviewees are allowed a lawyer.
The review has asked BBC staff for documents and was electronically searching archived documents from relevant people.
Participation in the review, which has already begun, is voluntary.
Police believe Savile could have abused as many as 300 people over a 40-year-period.
He is alleged to have carried out abuse on BBC premises, as well as at a number of other institutions such as the high security psychiatric hospital Broadmoor, Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary.
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