Anger as Labour plot to make streaming-only households pay the BBC licence fee even if they don’t watch it _Nhy
The government is considering forcing households who only watch streaming services to pay the BBC licence fee.
The idea of expanding the licence to cover viewers of services such as Netflix and Disney+, is among the list of options being talked about by ministers, Bloomberg reported.
One critic branded the suggestion of extending the licence to include streamers as ‘one of the most bonkers ideas ever concocted’.
These discussions are understood to be taking place between the department for culture, media and sport and the office of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to sources.
The Government is looking at how to replace or change the current licence fee funding model when the current BBC charter ends in December 2027.
Currently people do not need a TV licence to watch ‘on-demand’ shows on services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
If people watch or stream live TV they are required to buy a licence.
Among the alternative options being considered by ministers are letting the BBC use advertising, hitting streaming services with a particular tax or making those who tune in to BBC radio to pay a charge.
The idea of expanding the licence to cover viewers of services such as Netflix and Disney+, is among the list of options being talked about by ministers
But one critic branded the suggestion of extending the licence to include streamers as ‘one of the most bonkers ideas ever concocted’
The government could still also decide to alter or even keep the current TV Licence system.
Funding through taxation or subscription remain options.
Ministers will also consider calls for a system which sees wealthier households pay more than poorer ones.
According to the report a subscription model could see people who watch the BBC’s on-demand service online pay a subscription fee.
John O’Connell, chief executive of pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Forcing streaming service users to cough up the license fee would truly be one of the most bonkers ideas ever concocted.’
He added: ‘Far from modernizing the BBC’s funding system, it would only further entrench the already archaic nature of the hated TV tax.’
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy recently ruled out general taxation as a replacement for the BBC licence fee.
The TV licence is to rise to £174.50 in April.She told BBC Breakfast earlier this month the licence fee was ‘not only insufficient, it’s raising insufficient money to support the BBC, but it also is deeply regressive.’
Currently people do not need a TV licence to watch ‘on-demand’ shows on services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
But according to Bloomberg, Ms Nandy’s remarks were not viewed as helpful by Number 10, as Government could yet still keep the licence fee model.
The report added Starmer’s office had not been impressed by her approach to the issue so far.
Last year’s BBC annual report showed there were half-a-million less TV licences than there were the year before, driven by the growth of streaming services.
The report by Bloomberg described the discussions as ‘preliminary’ with no decisions made on the funding model.
There have already been calls for streamers to help fund UK television.
Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky recently submitted evidence to a parliamentary inquiry, saying that ‘five per cent of each streamer’s UK subscription revenue’ should be ‘earmarked for a cultural fund’.
He said could be used ‘exclusively for high-end drama of specific interest to UK audiences’.
Any move to start charging streaming TV subscribers could provoke anger as these services already charge their customers to use them.
A DCMS spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on speculation. We will provide more details about Charter Review plans in due course.’
