BBC licence fee revolt as 2.8 million Britons refuse to stump up £159

BBC licence fee revolt as 2.8 million Britons refuse to stump up £159 (Image: GETTY) Millions of Britons have stopped paying for their BBC licence fees, with people refusing to stump up £159 for the broadcaster’s live channels and streaming service. Nearly three million people have said they are no longer willing to pay the annual charge as they have no intention of watching television channels or live programming. New numbers have revealed a picture of developing discontent among fee payers, with 3.83 million people having refused to pay the sum, an increase of 360,000 over the last 12 months. The new figures reported by the Daily Mail have prompted discussions about the BBC ‘s funding model and the future of the licence fee . But the broadcasters have insisted the current arrangement is “holding up well” and that the vast majority of households are paying the required fee. The latest numbers show the millions of Britons who feel they are not liable to pay for a licence – which is required for watching or recording live TV on television channels or streaming services. With fewer people feeling they have to pay up, TV Licensing (TVL), the body responsible for selling licences and collecting fees, has noted a sales decline. In 2022, the organisation sold 23.50 million new licences, 420,000 fewer than the previous year. Ultimately, fewer sales weaken the BBC ‘s finances, with licence fees making up a significant portion of its funding backbone. The licence fee accounted for 71 percent of the broadcaster’s £5.33billion income in the 2021/2022 year, with grants, rentals and royalties making up for the remaining £1.53billion. The current rate of licence fee evasion costs the BBC approximately £430million per year. Critics have argued the BBC should switch to a subscription-based funding model, but the broadcaster is confident that most British households are paying what is required. A spokesperson told the Daily Mail that approximately nine of 10 are fully licensed, with revenue having only fallen by 1.6 percent over the last year, despite mounting financial pressure on most Britons. They added: “The licence fee is the agreed method of funding until at least 2027 and ensures the BBC is an independent, universal broadcaster which invests in UK creativity and talent. “We welcome a debate on whether the licence fee needs to evolve for the future.”