The 114-page document backs licence fee but suggests its current funding model is being tested to breaking point
It’s that time again. The BBC published its opening salvo in the current talks over its royal charter. The tortuous negotiations with the government, which take place every 10 years, are often accompanied by tough talk about radical change.
This time is no different. However, it also comes with data suggesting the BBC’s funding model is on an unsustainable course, fundamentally challenged by a transformation in how media is consumed.
The BBC’s 114-page document backed the current universal service, which is supported by the licence fee. However, it suggested its current funding model is being tested to breaking point and “a more sustainable” system is needed.
The BBC put one stark statistic up in lights – 94% of people in the UK used the BBC each month, but fewer than 80% of households contributed to the licence fee. The way viewers now watch on streaming services and catch-up players has caused confusion, making the licence fee rules appear outdated. While anyone watching live TV on a streaming service or digital platform should pay the licence fee, this is not widely known or properly enforced.
