The number of TV licences has fallen by 82,000 in the five months leading up to this March. Overall, there are now 25,525,000 homes with TV licences, down from 25,607,000 last November. Although TV licence uptake has increased over the last decade, the new number represents the lowest figure since 2014-15.

In the Freedom of Information request from The Times, the new numbers represent increasing pressure on the broadcaster following a peak in 2017-18 of over 25,960,000.

With streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and now Disney Plus, the BBC has faced increasing pressure to retain its younger audience.

A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC is the most-used media organisation in the UK.

“Ninety-one per cent of the adult population — and eight out of ten young people — use the BBC every week.

“Whilst the number of licences in force has been around 25 million for the past ten years, it has risen in recent years but of course there will always be fluctuation and March’s figures will include the fact that some people have found it more difficult to pay during lockdown.

“Audiences are coming to the BBC in their millions as we have seen during recent weeks with record audiences for iPlayer.”

The uptake in licences over the last decade increased due to a crackdown on evasions and a rising population over the last decade.

Although TV licences have dropped in the last two years, BBC News has seen a spike in ratings and traffic due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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Finances have hit the broadcaster, however, with income set to be down by £125million this year.

TV regulator, Ofcom warned the BBC is at risk of losing a generation of viewers as 16-24-year-olds continue to turn to streaming services.

They said: “The BBC’s latest research suggests that younger viewers have experienced the biggest change in how they consume content, leading to significant declines in licensable activity.”

The current TV licence stands at £157.50 for the year.

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However, due to the virus there is a suspension of payment enforcement which means members of the public can have a TV licence without the threat of inspection.

Earlier this month, media website Tortoise news stated the BBC could release a new staggered licence fee system.

Depending on the licence fee cost, the payment could be staggered based on the value of household bills or taxes.

A BBC source told Tortoise news: “The future is probably some sort of household charge.

“This would be possibly based on utility bills or council tax bands.

“It should be progressive, too.

“The old flat charge doesn’t work when so many people are living longer and, in many cases, are considerably more affluent than the young.

“The only absolutely non-negotiable point is that the fee, or whatever you call it, has to be compulsory.”

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