POLL: How ought to the BBC be funded?
The BBC is funded by means of the £159 annual television licence fee, but the general public broadcaster has confronted elevated calls to interchange the cost with different funding strategies.
Last week, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer mentioned the BBC might have to take a look at a “variety of sources” to maintain it afloat, confirming that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has started a review.
The South East Cambridgeshire MP informed the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg present on Sunday: “I do think it might need to look at a variety of sources for its funding. The licence fee isn’t the only way.”
The BBC has acquired funding by means of a licence since 1923, with all households watching or streaming dwell programming paying the price. The worth is about to extend by £13 subsequent 12 months in keeping with inflation after being frozen for 2 years.
The present funding association ends on December 31 2027, by which period a brand new funding mannequin should be authorised.
READ MORE: BBC licence fee being looked at ‘very closely’ as Lineker snubbed
Ms Frazer mentioned that going ahead, the broadcaster might have to take a look at a “variety of sources” to maintain it afloat as she insisted the licence price “isn’t the only way”.
IF YOU CAN’T SEE THE POLL ABOVE, CLICK HERE
In place of a licence price, the BBC may comply with streaming providers and undertake a voluntary subscription mannequin, with a month-to-month or annual worth to view the BBC’s programming.
It may additionally flip to ads to generate income or introduce a broadband levy on each connection within the UK to fund public service media.
The UK Government may comply with Australia by funding the BBC with an annual authorities grant, but this might compromise the broadcaster’s independence.
Another possibility is for a brand new tax to be launched on Britons’ incomes to fund public service media. Sweden launched such a tax in 2019, equating to 1 % of taxable revenue.
A BBC spokesman mentioned: “We are open-minded about the future and it is right there is a discussion on if and whether the licence fee needs to evolve.”
So what do YOU assume? How ought to the BBC be funded? Vote in our poll and depart your ideas within the remark part beneath.