Under the proposed structure, it may not be possible to opt out of the license fee.
There was backlash after the BBC proposed linking the fee to council tax (Image: Getty)
The BBC has faced backlash after it proposed linking the TV licence fee to the value of people’s homes. The BBC Chairman, Samir Shah, suggested earlier this year that the £174.50 fee should be scrapped in favour of a progressive payment structure, tied to council tax bands.
He reportedly said the fee would be linked to property bands and collected at the same time as council tax. It would mean that households in higher council tax bands would pay more for BBC services, while those in lower bands could end up paying less, although people wouldn’t be able to opt out.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: “Why should people who are poor pay the same as people in wealthy households?”
He also denied that the BBC would consider a hybrid structure, where it would offer basic services, like news, for free, and charge for content such as drama or comedy series.
He also dismissed scrapping the TV licence in favour of a Netflix subscription-style service, because it would “not meet the BBC’s key role to offer something for everyone in the country”.
An alternative payment plan would need to be implemented in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
In January, it was reported that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy wanted to abolish the licence fee and considered funding the BBC through general taxation.
“Lisa does not believe that the licence fee is financially sustainable,” a Whitehall source told The Times. “But she believes that our national broadcaster should be owned by the nation: the money would go in from taxes but citizens would own it and be involved in decisions about its strategic direction.”
However, it was understood that Nandy had not discussed it with Rachel Reeves, who would be unlikely to support something to increase the tax burden.
Shah’s suggestion of linking it to council tax bands was strongly criticised, with many highlighting that it would be unfair on those who choose to opt out.
One reader responded to The Express: “What about people that do not have a tv or access to the web. Why should they pay for something they don’t have!!! That’s got to be illegal surely.”
Another questioned: “We don’t have a TV licence as we don’t watch TV so how is this fair for people like us?”
A third suggested it should remain as it is, with a flat rate across the board, writing: “Absolutely ridiculous the fee should be the same for everyone and Pensioners free (exempt) from paying it!”
Peter Caulfield has also launched a petition to prevent it from happening, saying it would “disproportionately burden those on low or fixed incomes, especially those already struggling to pay C.T, and risk penalising everyone while ignoring media consumption or ability to pay.”
No action has been taken so far to scrap the current license fee structure.
