• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

DG calls for iPlayer to be brought into Licence Fee

February 27, 2014 10.50 Europe/London By Julian Clover

Lord Hall (Tony Hall)BBC director-general Tony Hall has called for the BBC Licence Fee to include viewing of content through the BBC iPlayer. In a speech to the Oxford Media Convention Lord Hall said that one of the advantages of the Licence Fee was how it had adapted over the years.

“It started as a radio licence. Then TV. Then colour TV. And then the relatively simple change to the regulations in 2004 to cover the consumption of live TV on new devices such as computers. When it’s adapted itself so well over the decades, why would you suddenly give it up?

“When and how best to take the next step is, of course, a matter for the Government. Our view is that there is room for modernisation so that the fee applies to the consumption of BBC TV programmes, whether live on BBC One or on-demand via BBC iPlayer”.

There are an estimated 500,000 viewers that watch the BBC catch-up service through computers and other devices that have no television, and under current rules are not required to hold a licence.

Funding for the BBC is an ongoing sore, it is dropping daytime news summaries on BBC One and will not be commissioning any new daytime programming for BBC Two. At the same time there is pressure from third parties for the Licence Fee to be ‘top-sliced’, offering funding to other broadcasters.

“Is it necessary to sustain plurality?” Argued Lord Hall. “ITV has just agreed new 10-year licences with its national and regional news commitments intact, despite no public money. Channel 4 has announced a record level of investment in original UK content. Is it a good use of scarce resources? There’s a clear risk of public funding substituting for activity that would have happened anyway.”

Lord Hall said support for the Licence fee remained at 53% per cent – way ahead of subscription on 17% and advertising on 26%. I was the top choice for funding the BBC across all ages, all socio-economic groups irrespective of whether the viewer is in a Freeview, Sky or Virgin household.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Newsline, Regulation Tagged With: BBC iPlayer, BBC Licence Fee, Lord Hall Edited: 28 February 2014 11:36

Avatar photo

About Julian Clover

Julian Clover is a Media and Technology journalist based in Cambridge, UK. He works in online and printed media. Julian is also a voice on local radio. You can talk to Julian on Twitter @julianclover, on Facebook or by email at jclover@broadbandtvnews.com.

Latest News

  • Giga Europe prepares for the busy hour
  • England Hockey launches dedicated streaming service
  • Simply.TV provides YouSee with an improved UI and UX experience
  • New Total TV advertising measurement to be launched in Finland
  • Virgin remains top of Ofcom complaints league

Free Ebook

Whitepaper: Why Wi-Fi 6 is Key for ISP Success

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E client devices are entering the home in an unprecedented way, surpassing 50% market share since their introduction in 2019 (compared to four years for Wi-Fi 5). … [Download the eBook...]

Q & A

Q&A with Przemyslaw Frasunek, Redge Technologies

Broadband TV News speaks with Przemyslaw Frasunek, the CEO of Redge Technologies, about the CEE region OTT landscape and the most effective video security solutions.

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2023 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...