The incoming chairman of the BBC has told MPs that it “may be worth reassessing” how the corporation is funded.
Richard Sharp was appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport committee on Thursday.
The £157.50 Licence Fee is due to remain in place until the end of the current Royal Charter in 2027.
Amid a government review as to whether the cost of the Licence Fee should continue to rise with inflation, Mr Sharp said options included a tax similar to the one paid in Germany on households, regardless of whether there is any TV apparatus installed.
“I subscribe to the view that it’s the least worst,” he said, responding to a question on whether the fee should be retained, describing the fee as good value for most people, and adding the Licence Fee was broadly supported by much of the country.