People who only use streaming services may still have to pay the BBC license fee. (Image: Getty)
is reportedly considering making people pay the TV license fee even if they only use streaming services.
The move would be part of the Government’s plans to change the way the public-service broadcaster is funded, reports.
Anonymous sources familiar with the matter claimed to the outlet that the the Prime Minister’s office, the Treasury, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) are discussing a list of options.
Other funding options reportedly include allowing the to show adverts, making radio listeners pay a fee, and taxing streaming services.
Ministers could also create a tier system so lower-income households pay less than their higher-income counterparts, a subscription fee.
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The TV license fee is intended to fund the BBC (Image: Getty)
With a few minor adjustments and better enforcement, largely the same, according to a source who said it would’ve already been scrapped if there was a feasible alternative.
The DCMS refused to comment on “speculation”, but told the Express: “We will provide more details about charter review plans in due course.”
This comes as viewing habits change in favour of streaming services and the ‘s current 11-year charter is due to end in 2027.
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a year and anyone watching or streaming live programmes and any programme on iPlayer must pay one. Only those watching on-demand, non- content are exempt from the fee. The fee generated a staggering £3.66billion during the 2023/24 period.
Culture Secretary said she’d “already started initial discussions with the leadership about the Charter Review”, which will “future-proof our national broadcaster until well into the latter half of this century”.
She also confirmed that the Government is not considering funding the through general taxation.