A major change to the way people access the BBC is being proposed. And thousands of TV viewers are demanding that the existing BBC TV licence fee system is brought to an end.
More than 5,500 people have backed an online petition calling on the UK Government to scrap the BBC TV licence fee in favour of advertising or a paywall system before the annual price hike in April.
The current fee stands at £174.50 and must be paid by households watching or recording live television, with non-compliance risking potential fines.
This charge typically increases alongside September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate, which reached 3.8 per cent. Such an adjustment would push the licence fee up by £6.65 to £181.15 for the 2026/27 financial year.
It’s worth noting this remains provisional and awaits official confirmation from the UK Government before the new financial year begins in April, reports the Daily Record.
The Government determined that the licence fee would rise annually in accordance with CPI inflation from April 1, 2024, for the Charter period’s remaining four years. The BBC’s existing Charter continues until the end of 2027.
Nevertheless, campaigner David Gilmore contends that “even if you don’t watch the BBC you still have to pay for it”.
He continued: “You don’t have to pay for content put on by theatres or cinemas if you don’t watch it so why should you be required to pay the BBC if you don’t watch their content?”
The ‘Scrap the BBC TV Licence and replace funding with adverts or paywall’ petition appears on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website. At 10,000 signatures of support it would be entitled to a written response, at 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament – you can view it online here.
More than 15,800 people have backed a comparable petition calling on the UK Government to subsidise the TV licence fee for all State Pensioners and those reaching the official retirement age, which currently stands at 66.
According to current regulations, only elderly Brits above 75 who receive Pension Credit are entitled to a complimentary TV licence, providing savings of £174.50 on the yearly charge.
Petition founder Michael Thompson contends that “many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company”.
He continued: “With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession.”
Mr Thompson further stated: “We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries.”
The ‘Fund free TV licences for all pensioners’ petition has also been published on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website.
Who needs to buy a TV licence?
- A TV licence is needed in the UK to watch or record any programmes as they are being broadcast live on television
- It is also required to watch or stream live programming on any online TV streaming service, such as BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Amazon prime and YouTube
You can check if you need a TV licence on the TV Licensing website here.
Ways to pay for a TV licence
A TV licence costs £174.50. You can pay it all in one go, or:
- Pay by monthly Direct Debit – from £14.50 per month
- Pay less for your licence if you’re over 75 on Pension Credit, registered blind, or live in a care home
- Pay by quarterly Direct Debit – it works out at around £45 per payment
- Pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly with a TV Licensing payment card (from £6.50 per week) – once the card is set up you can pay online, through the TV Licensing app, by phone, text message or at any PayPoint
Can I get a discount?
Certain groups are entitled to TV licence discounts such as those who live in care homes, who could get it for free or pay a reduced amount if they are part of an Accommodation for Residential Care scheme – find out more here. People who are registered blind or severely sight impaired are entitled to a half price TV Licence (£87.25) and may be eligible for a refund on payments made in previous years – if they have been the registered TV licence holder.
Free TV Licence for over-75s
If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free over-75 TV Licence when you are 74 years old. TV Licensing will update your payments to cover you until your 75th birthday, at which point you’ll then be covered by your free licence. They will confirm this in writing.
If you think you’re eligible for a free licence but don’t currently have a TV licence, call 0300 790 6117 and speak to an advisor to request an application form. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 6.30pm.
