“That ‘buy a TV Licence’ QR Code is killing me”
Millions of viewers received a TV licence fee alert during the BBC’s airing of the England and Ghana World Cup match on Tuesday (June 23).
Fans watching the game at home quickly took to social media to hit out at the notice, which appeared intermittently on screens along with a QR code urging them to ensure they had a TV licence.
Currently, the standard UK TV Licence fee is £180 per year for both homes and businesses. The licence is required for those watching or recording live TV on any channel, or if using BBC iPlayer.
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The BBC deployed the use of the interactive QR codes during the live airing of the match at Boston Stadium, with millions tuning in to watch the game live on Tuesday. Viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their views, dubbing the move ‘cringy’ and ‘desperate’.
One BBC insider told The Times that the prompts were designed to be a “very soft reminder” that all viewers must pay if they were watching any of the broadcaster’s programming.
“We are expecting a very broad audience to be watching the football and there will be a small section who don’t often come to the BBC,” they told the newspaper.
“Buy a TV licence, err how about f*** off” one user wrote on X on Tuesday, as another commented: “That ‘buy a TV Licence’ QR Code is killing me, BBC better behave.”
“BBC begging people to buy a tv licence at half time is so desperate and cringy…” another posted, as a fourth wrote: “BBC putting a QR code in the corner telling us to buy a TV licence. Absolutely no shame.”
It’s understood the use of the on-screen QR codes has already been tested across a number of previous World Cup fixtures following a successful pilot at the FA Cup final.
A TV Licensing spokesperson said in a statement: “We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly licensed.” The body also posted a reminder on social media before the game, which read: “England take on Ghana tonight at 9pm on BBC One. Remember, you need a TV Licence to watch the game live. Buy your licence here.”
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