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BBC license fee to rise to £145.50 next month

by Parm Mann on 9 March 2010, 15:43

Tags: BBC

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The government has confirmed that the cost of a colour TV license will rise by two per cent as of April 1st.

The increase, to be brought into effect by an order laid in the House of Commons today by Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw, is part of a five-year BBC funding settlement agreed in 2007.

As part of the deal, the BBC license fee was scheduled to rise at a rate of three per cent for the first two years - 2007 and 2008 - followed by a two per cent rise in the third, fourth and fifth years.

The two per cent increase for 2010 will raise the cost of a colour TV license from £142.50 to £145.50, whilst a black and white license will rise from £48 to £49.

Despite having been in the pipeline for years, the BBC's confirmation of the increase comes at a critical time. Earlier this month, the self-proclaimed "largest broadcasting organisation in the world" announced plans to slash its radio, television and online services as part of a strategic review billed as the biggest shake-up in the corporation's 88-year history.

With £600 million in cuts and the closure of two radio stations - 6 Music and the Asian Network - by the end of 2011, the annual rise in the BBC license fee is likely to be met with increased criticism in the run up to the general election.

Supporters of the licence fee have always maintained that it helps maintain a higher quality of BBC programming, but the rising cost has been put into sharp focus following a global economic downturn. In the latest twist in the BBC tale, Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has suggested that BBC Three and BBC Four could face the axe under a Conservative government.

Speaking to The Independent, Hunt said he was unconvinced that such "expensive" services offer value for money.

BBC Three is estimated to cost £115 million a year to run, with a further £71 million being spent on BBC Four. Both digital channels receive around 11 million and 4 million weekly viewers, respectively.

"There may be good public service broadcasting reasons why this investment is sensible but I'd like to hear arguments beyond the simple one that everyone pays the licence fee," said Hunt when questioning the license fee spend.



HEXUS Forums :: 52 Comments

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Still good value IMHO, especially compared to Sky where you have to pay AND you get adverts.
GheeTsar
Still good value IMHO, especially compared to Sky where you have to pay AND you get adverts.

It is good value but it depends entirely on what you watch, luckily i enjoyed most of the programs bar songs of praise and most soaps so apart from them i watch it regulary.

However this increase seems a bit off and makes it worse considering they just cut a portion of the services provided and yet the price is going up. Thats like taking the radio out of your car and charging you £50 extra in total for it (kinda similar).

But the thing is we cant question this or even debate it with effect simply because its up to the politicians and we all know they couldnt give a rats ass about the public unless its for votes.
GheeTsar
Still good value IMHO, especially compared to Sky where you have to pay AND you get adverts.

Ah! But with Sky you have the choice of whether or not to pay for the service - no such luck with the “TV License”.

TBH I think that the TV License is outdated and needs to be got rid of - I'm fed up paying for the BBC to make Eastenders and other such rubbish!
Flash477
Ah! But with Sky you have the choice of whether or not to pay for the service - no such luck with the “TV License”.

TBH I think that the TV License is outdated and needs to be got rid of - I'm fed up paying for the BBC to make Eastenders and other such rubbish!

Maybe, but on the other hand I love the ad-free access to their website and online resources, especially for sports.
GheeTsar
Still good value IMHO, especially compared to Sky where you have to pay AND you get adverts.

Comparisons with Sky are a tad silly IMO.

The choice and variety are not in the same league.