Government Poised to Block 9 Percent Hike in BBC TV Licence Fee

The Government is planning to block a proposed 9 percent increase in the BBC TV licence fee.

Under current arrangements the annual fee, which has been frozen at £159 since April 2021, is set to increase in line with inflation from 1st April 2024. The hike, which would be the largest in forty years, would see the TV licence fee increase to £173.30.

As the legislation currently stands, a TV licence is needed to watch or record "live" TV programmes (e.g. at the time they are broadcast) on any TV channel, even though the licence fee is used almost exclusively to fund the BBC. A TV licence is also needed to watch BBC on-demand programmes via the iPlayer.

There are, however, several perfectly legal ways of viewing without a TV licence. No TV licence is needed to watch on-demand programmes on Amazon Prime Video (please use our link for a 30-day free trial), Netflix or YouTube etc.

Speaking at the recent COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "Final decisions haven't been [made], obviously, but the BBC should be realistic about what it can expect people to pay at a time like this."

The BBC is said to be terrified at the prospect of further real-time cuts, with a source telling the Telegraph: "We get that there are cost of living challenges, but some of our competitors have put up our costs by over 30 per cent.

"The BBC isn't expecting anything like that, but we would argue that we are important to the UK and we offer excellent value for money, and every penny in investment in the UK is good for the wider economy."

The BBC's financial woes are compounded by the fact that an increasing number of viewers are choosing to ditch the TV licence. Last year around 500,000 fewer TV licences were purchased than the year before, which cost the national broadcaster around £79 million in lost revenue. 

This decrease can mainly be attributed to the decline in the number of viewers watching normal (licensable) TV programmes and choosing on-demand (non-licensable) streaming services instead. People are also becoming disillusioned with the BBC as a whole, given the multitude of skeletons emerging from the corporation's closet.

Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain this morning. She was asked about whether the TV licence evasion should remain a criminal offence.

Getting straight to the point, Ms Frazer said: "I don't think it is appropriate that a person should be prosecuted for not paying the TV licence fee. That is something we will be looking at come charter renewal."

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More TV Licensing Dirty Tactics Exposed: False Assurances Given to Vulnerable Customers

Evening Standard court reporter Tristan Kirk has been doing a splendid job recently of exposing more TV Licensing dirty tactics.

He seems to have been paying a particular interest in uncontested prosecutions via the Single Justice Procedure, having obtained various examples of mitigation provided by customers accused of TV licence evasion.

Tristan has published the mitigation sections from two completed Single Justice Procedure notices.

The first relates to a single mother from Middlesbrough, who was interviewed under caution by Capita TV Licensing goon Julie Snowball.

Her mitigation reads as follows: "I did not realise that my TV licence had ended when Julie Snowball told me when she came to my address.

"I set up a payment plan for fortnightly payments. I received an email on 20th September with my payment plan dates. I was on the understanding that I would receive a payment card in the post, which I have not.

"I am a single mother on Universal Credit and Child Benefit. If any outstanding balances can be taken from my benefit please can I arrange that.

"I should have kept track of payments, hence why I wanted fortnightly payments with a card."

It would appear that this unfortunate lady has been given false assurances by the TV Licensing goon that visited her property - "set up a payment plan now and that'll be the end of the matter" - despite TV Licensing policy being quite clear that no such assurances can be given.

A second case relates to the case of a disabled Hull woman.

Her mitigation reads as follows: "When the man came to my house I didn't have the TV on.

"I only missed a couple of payments and he said that was fine and he would start me on a new payment scheme.

"I got the letter through the post about how much to pay and I paid £15 on 25-8-23 and I am paying the same every month.

"I get ESA of £220 a fortnight and I also get PIP as I am classed as disabled."

Again, it would appear that the goon who visited this lady gave her the false assurances that all would be well if she set up a new payment plan.

Despite TV Licensing claims that prosecution is a last resort, no out of court alternative was offered in either of these cases.

Tristan highlights that this sort of unscrupulous behaviour is not uncommon. He questions the public interest in prosecuting individuals who are vulnerable and in cases of genuine oversight or financial hardship.

Time and time again we have heard cases of TV Licensing goons telling downright lies on the doorstep, some of which make it as far as their completed Record of Interview forms presented in court as evidence.

TV Licensing simply cannot be trusted.

It employs some throughout unscrupulous individuals, who have a clear pecuniary advantage in obtaining "evidence of evasion" by fair means or foul.

If a TV Licensing goon calls at your address, by far the best option is to totally ignore them and immediately close the door.

Do not be lulled into a false sense of security of make the mistake of trying to assist TV Licensing with its enquiries.

We'd refer any newbies to the unscrupulous world of TV Licensing to our Quick Guide page.

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Huw Edwards Revealed as BBC Star at Centre of Sex Pics for Cash Scandal

Well knock me down with an inflatable dinosaur.

BBC News at Ten anchor Huw Edwards has been revealed as the high profile presenter at the centre of the sex pics for cash scandal currently playing out in The Sun newspaper.

I never saw that one coming.

Vicky Flind, Edwards' wife, released the following statement via the BBC this afternoon: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the 'BBC Presenter' I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.

"I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.

"Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.

"The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future.

"Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.

"To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.

"In the circumstances and given Huw's condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected.

"I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end."

In related news the Metropolitan Police has said that it will be taking no further action in relation to the original allegations, that Evans had obtained sexual images from a 17-year-old male.

Given Evans' current predicament I won't be commenting again for the time being.

In the short term, I hope he gets the treatment he needs and wish him a speedy recovery.

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