TV licence warning letters (Image: Getty)
The BBC has sent out millions of letters to households across the UK warning of a £1,000 fine for those that refuse to pay up.
The national broadcaster sent out 41 million letters between 2023 and 2024, up from 36 million the previous year, according to The Telegraph.
The dramatic increase in the numbers of letters sent out may be indicative of the corporation’s precarious financial position. As it stands, the is funded by the £169-a-year licence fee, which anyone who watches live TV has to pay.
According to the latest figures, the has suffered a £80million shortfall in licence fee revenues.
BBC Broadcasting House (Image: Getty)
The number of homes forking out for the licence fee has has fallen by 500,000 to 23.9 million in the year to April 2024. This is down from 2023, which saw 24.4 million paying the levy.
The licence fee still generated more than £3.6bn in 2024, according to the ‘s annual report, but this is a historic low for the corporation.
The licence fee generated 30% more income in real terms between 2010 and 2011 than it does now.
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Anyone in the UK with a TV has to pay the TV Licence (Image: Getty)
Joanna Marchong, from pressure group the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “Taxpayers are sick of being asked to cough up for the archaic TV tax.
“As their revenues plummet and more and more tune out, they’re showing their desperation by sending out this many letters and even suggesting forcing users to pay the licence fee.”
She added: “If the wants people to stop changing the channel they need to begin to modernise their funding model.”
A spokesman responded to the challenges, saying: “We want everyone to get value from the , which is why we’re focused on delivering what audiences want from us – trusted news, the best homegrown storytelling and the moments that bring us together.”