BBC TV licence fee is ‘doomed’ says O’Sullivan

Television licence costs will increase according to the BBC amid government ministers considering whether to decriminalise non-payment of the fee. The TV licence fee deal is in line with inflation, which is in line with increases the government pledged to implement year on year in 2017. But how much will the BBC TV licence actually cost from April 1, 2021?

According to British law, you are required to have a TV licence if you watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel.

A licence is also required if you watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.).

Anyone downloading or watching any BBC programmes on iPlayer must also purchase a licence.

These rules apply to any device which you use, including a television, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

READ MORE: BBC TV licence fee to INCREASE this year – ‘Not worth it!’

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

How much is a TV licence now?

As of April 1, 2020, the new annual television licence fee increase from £154.50 to £157.50.

The British government is responsible for setting the level of the licence fee and announced in 2016 it would rise in line with inflation for five years from April 1, 2017.

This new licence fee equates to just £3.02 a week or £13.13 a month.

The cost of an annual black and white licence will rise from £52 to £53.

How much will your TV licence fee cost in 2021?

The annual television licence fee will increase from April 1.

The price will increase from £157.50 to £159 at that time.

DON’T MISS
BBC facing TV licence fee rebellion after surge in ‘harassment’ [INSIGHT]
Bitter SNP whinges over Union flag on driving licence [EXPLAINER]
TV licence fee: Over-75s giving up TVs as benefit aid blitz [ANALYSIS]

A recent poll of 1,700 people undertaken by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found more than half of Britons polled would support getting rid of the BBC TV licence fee.

The poll results showed 56 percent would support getting rid of the BBC licence fee and having the BBC switch to a private subscription-based model.

Only 19 percent would oppose these plans.

In total, 47 percent of those polled said they thought the BBC has failed to be impartial in recent years, compared to 28 percent who think it has succeeded.

The BBC scrapped free TV licences for those aged 75 and over last August.

New figures suggest up to 750,000 older people have refused to pay for a licence, despite losing their right to a free one, the Sunday Mirror reports.

The BBC confirmed that 2.7 million over-75s had paid for their licence.

An extra 750,000 applied for free licences available to anyone on pension credit, leaving a shortfall of 750,000 based on the 4.2 million over-75s who previously held free licences.

You can still get a free TV licence if you are aged 75 or older and you receive Pension Credit.

Individuals with severe vision impairment may also be entitled to a discounted TV licence.

Those living in a residential care home are permitted to request the person in charge of the care home apply for the TV licence on their behalf.

Anyone who does not meet one of these conditions and fails to purchase a licence, may be fined up to £1,000 if they are caught watching or recording live TV.

Source: Read Full Article