LoveMONEY poll: almost 80% think the TV licence fee needs to go

Most of you feel there are better ways to fund the BBC.

Almost eight in 10 loveMONEY readers want to see to see an alternative to the TV licence fee introduced.

That's according to a poll we ran recently on how the BBC should be funded. Of the more than 700 of you who voted, only 22% felt the existing fee was the best option. 

The most popular option, albeit only just, was for the BBC to switch to an advert-funded model to help it stand on its own two feet. Just over a quarter (28%) opted for funding it through general taxation, while on in five (20%) supported a paid-subscription model.

You can see the results of the poll in the picture below.

What you had to say

We were discussing the matter of the licence fee in an opinion piece by Ruth Jackson, who argued that there are better ways to fund the BBC.

In the comments section, a number of you expressed fairly strong views on the matter. For example, "Wilkster" described the licence fee as "a stealth tax that is so outdated it's untrue". They added that streaming services would "kill off terrestrial TV the same way mp3's did to vinyl".

Conversely, a reader with the username "Wbjb" argued that the BBC represented brilliant value for money, adding: "Very few people who pay a license fee don't get fantastic value from it.

"Our media is admired the world over and it makes a huge contribution to our economy and balance of payments. The cost is tiny (less than £3 per week) for the whole family, and that includes radio, the Internet and the iPlayer etc."

Another reader going by the username "Welldone" simply asked whether our article questioning the fee "was sponsored by Sky".

In case you're wondering, it wasn't.

Why is it relevant right now?

Last Friday (13 May), the BBC published its White Paper, making proposals for the corporation’s Royal Charter. 

Various points were covered, such as who will run the BBC, how it’ll be funded and how to produce more ‘distinctive’ content.

The Beeb has decided to keep the licence fee and close the iPlayer catch-up service loophole, meaning that even those who don't watch live TV will need to pay up. The licence fee will continue to climb in line with inflation until 2021-22. There’s also talk of a new paid subscription service to rival Netflix, aptly called ‘Britflix’.

Read: the cheapest ways to watch movies

What happens next?

A debate on the proposals will take place in the autumn, then the new charter will be drafted and signed. Hopefully they get it right- the charter won’t be updated for another 11 years.

If you didn’t get a chance to have your say, vote on the poll or comment below.

Have your own personal finance-related story to share? Tell us at uknews@lovemoney.com

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