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BBC Eyes Streaming Services for License Fee
14 Jul
Summary
- BBC Director General supports expanding license fee to streaming.
- License fee payers dropped by over 500,000 last year.
- Enforcement of expanded fee on streamers would be difficult.
New BBC Director General Matt Brittin has voiced support for potentially expanding the television license fee to encompass streaming services. This idea is under consideration as part of negotiations between the BBC and the government regarding the corporation's future funding model.
Brittin noted that there is "logic" behind this proposal, especially given that license fee payers have decreased by over 500,000 in the past year. He drew a parallel to historical fee structures where even non-BBC live TV viewing required payment. The BBC argues that streaming platforms benefit from the UK's production ecosystem, which has been significantly shaped by the BBC's century of investment.
However, Brittin acknowledged that implementing and enforcing such an expansion would present considerable difficulties. The government is currently exploring various options for scope and collection methods. This move aligns with the UK Culture Secretary's recent indication of support for the streamer plan, signaling a potential shift in how public service broadcasting is funded in the digital age.
