An online petition has been launched urging the UK Government to scrap the BBC TV licence fee and bring in a new system
More than 5,500 people have put their names to an online petition calling on the UK Government to scrap the BBC TV licence fee. They want it to be replaced with either advertising or a paywall, ahead of the annual price hike in April. The current fee stands at £174.50 and is mandatory for households who watch or record any live TV, with non-compliance potentially leading to a fine.
However, this payment typically increases in line with the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate, which was 3.8 per cent. Such an adjustment would see the licence fee rise by £6.65 to £181.15 for the 2026/27 financial year, reports the Daily Record.
This isn’t a done deal, however, and will be confirmed by the UK Government before the start of the new financial year in April. The Government has determined that the licence fee will increase annually in line with the CPI inflation from April 1, 2024, for the remaining four years of the Charter period. The BBC’s current Charter is set to run until the end of 2027.
Campaigner David Gilmore, however, contends that “even if you don’t watch the BBC you still have to pay for it. You don’t have to pay for content put on by theatres or cinemas if you don’t watch it so why should you be required to pay the BBC if you don’t watch their content?”.
The ‘Scrap the BBC TV Licence and replace funding with adverts or paywall’ petition can be found on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website. If the petition garners 10,000 signatures, it’s entitled to a written response; if it hits 100,000, it could be considered for debate in Parliament – you can check it out online here.
A similar petition has already attracted over 15,800 signatures, calling on the UK Government to foot the bill for TV licence fees for all State Pensioners and those who’ve reached the current retirement age of 66. As it stands, only those aged 75 and above who are receiving Pension Credit are eligible for a free TV licence, saving them £174.50 on the annual fee.
The man behind the petition, Michael Thompson, argues that “many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company”. He went on to say: “With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession.”
Mr Thompson said: “We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries.”
The ‘Fund free TV licences for all pensioners’ petition can also be found on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website.
Who needs to buy a TV licence?
- A TV licence is needed in the UK to watch or record any programmes as they are being broadcast live on television
- It is also required to watch or stream live programming on any online TV streaming service, such as BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Amazon prime and YouTube
You can check if you need a TV licence on the TV Licensing website here.
Ways to pay for a TV licence
A TV licence costs £174.50. You can pay it all in one go, or:
- Pay by monthly Direct Debit – from £14.50 per month
- Pay less for your licence if you’re over 75 on Pension Credit, registered blind, or live in a care home
- Pay by quarterly Direct Debit – it works out at around £45 per payment
- Pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly with a TV Licensing payment card (from £6.50 per week) – once the card is set up you can pay online, through the TV Licensing app, by phone, text message or at any PayPoint
Can I get a discount?
Certain groups are entitled to TV licence discounts such as those who live in care homes, who could get it for free or pay a reduced amount if they are part of an Accommodation for Residential Care scheme – find out more here. People who are registered blind or severely sight impaired are entitled to a half price TV Licence (£87.25) and may be eligible for a refund on payments made in previous years – if they have been the registered TV licence holder.
Free TV Licence for over-75s
If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free over-75 TV Licence when you are 74 years old. TV Licensing will update your payments to cover you until your 75th birthday, at which point you’ll then be covered by your free licence. They will confirm this in writing.
If you think you’re eligible for a free licence but don’t currently have a TV licence, call 0300 790 6117 and speak to an advisor to request an application form. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 6.30pm.
