• Subscribe to our Daily News Emails
  • 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
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

End of the road for the BBC Licence Fee in 2027

January 16, 2022 15.18 Europe/London By Julian Clover

UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorres has signalled that an announcement due this week on a new BBC Licence Fee settlement is likely to be the last.

A two-year freeze in the current £159 fee is due to be put forward as part of a series of crowd-pleasing measures designed to shore up embattled prime minister Boris Johnson.

After 2024 it is expected that the fee will rise slightly, before being dropped in favour of an as yet undecided funding model.

This licence fee announcement will be the last. The days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors, are over.

Time now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting and selling great British content. https://t.co/sXtK25q27H

— Rt Hon Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) January 16, 2022

Dorries said: “This licence fee announcement will be the last. The days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors are over. Time now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting, and selling great British content.”

Possible options include part-privatisation, along the lines of Channel 4, a government grant, or a direct subscription model. However, any change will take place only after the next General Election that will need to be held by May 2024 at the latest.

Plans to decriminalise non-payment of the Licence Fee were abandoned in January 2021.

Ampere Analysis research director Richard Broughton said there are now three big possible changes on the horizon; a change to BBC funding; the sale of C4 and a change to EU content quota rules and whether UK titles contribute. “Individually, any one of these could be bad for the UK production sector and the jobs it supports. Occurring in quick succession could be a perfect storm,” he said. Ironically, this all undermines levelling up and the agenda of pushing for representation of British values on TV.”

Since the Conservatives first regained power, as part of David Cameron’s 2010 coalition with the Liberal Democrats, the BBC has faced a series of reductions in the Licence Fee. These include being forced to take on the cost of a free Licence Fee for the over 75s, a measure that received government criticism when the BBC later withdrew it and taking on the funding of BBC World Service previously settled by a foreign office grant.

Last March, a report by the DCMS Committee concluded the Government had left itself with no option on the licence fee, largely because of a lack of infrastructure to facilitate other funding mechanisms.

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

Related

Filed Under: Top Story, TV Edited: 17 January 2022 12:37

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 X @julianclover, or by email at jclover@broadbandtvnews.com.

Latest News

  • RTLzwei and Warner Bros. Discovery plan joint advertising sales house
  • HbbTV Enables Secure Content Delivery with New DRM Specification
  • Deltatre to acquire Endeavor Streaming
  • BBC’s response to global news events drives audience growth
  • New EBU Digital Committee chair wants collective response to Big Tech

Most Popular

  • Deltatre to acquire Endeavor Streaming
    Deltatre to acquire Endeavor Streaming
  • BBC’s response to global news events drives audience growth
    BBC’s response to global news events drives audience growth
  • HbbTV Enables Secure Content Delivery with New DRM Specification
    HbbTV Enables Secure Content Delivery with New DRM Specification
  • New EBU Digital Committee chair wants collective response to Big Tech
    New EBU Digital Committee chair wants collective response to Big Tech
  • Harmonic to unveil streaming Innovations at IBC2025
    Harmonic to unveil streaming Innovations at IBC2025
  • Sky and ITV extend long-standing platform partnership
    Sky and ITV extend long-standing platform partnership
  • RTLzwei and Warner Bros. Discovery plan joint advertising sales house
    RTLzwei and Warner Bros. Discovery plan joint advertising sales house

White Paper

Eutelsat planning capital increase to become European Starlink

The French state has bolstered its take in Eutelsat as part of a €1.35 billion capital increase. … [Download the White Paper ...]

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

Editorial

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

Commercial

Arundel View Cottage
Wepham
West Sussex
BN18 9RA
sales@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2025 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.