BBC viewers ‘rush to cancel TV licence’ before April price increase
They don't have long!
The cost of a TV licence will soon be rising so some payers are considering cancelling their subscriptions before it comes into action.
On April 1 the annual fee will be going up by an extra £5 from £169.50 to £174.50. The money is used to pay for eight national TV channels plus regional TV services, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, 56 radio stations, the BBC website, BBC World Service and BBC apps.
‘This is a rise of just over 1p a day and is the second time the licence fee has increased since 1 April 2021,’ the TV licensing company have said.
‘The Government decided that the licence fee would rise annually in line with annual CPI inflation from 1 April 2024 for the remaining four years of the Charter period. The BBC’s current Charter runs until the end of 2027.’
Although some viewers may not be happy about it, it is legally required if you watch live television – on any channel – or use the BBC iPlayer.
Some people have suggested it should be scrapped altogether, or have said they are personally checking out.
If you watched the BBC coverage of the Baftas then you need a TV licence (Picture: Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)‘I will say it again as I think it is important. We need to scrap the BBC TV License Fee. Who is with me on this?’ wrote Jamie A on X, which led to some followers responding in agreement.
ElizaT56623 urged others to cancel: ‘We should defund the BBC. If I can live without watching iPlayer or any live TV broadcasts then I’m pretty sure you can too. It’s really easy to cancel your TV licence, I even got a refund!’
‘If there is ever a reason not to pay your TV licence this is it,’ wrote Ian and shared a short clip of David Tennant presenting the Baftas. ‘I don’t buy a TV licence, I don’t watch BBC, iPlayer or anything live on any channel or platform. After reading the tweets about the BAFTAs I think I’m allowed to say that I win,’ added Cheekypinot. While Sentinel called the TV license fee ‘blatant robbery’.
‘High time the license fee was scrapped,’ stated Louise Greenan.
Of course, not everyone feels this way and some people appreciate the BBC for providing TV that leads to major talking moments. From light-hearted entertainment shows such as The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing to Panorama documentaries on important issues. They also can break rating records with their beloved comedies.
Gavin & Stacey showed what the BBC is capable of (Picture: Tom Jackson/PA Wire)Last month there was more fury when it was revealed radical new measures are being considered by the UK government.
Ministers are debating whether to extend the fee to all streaming platform users to plug the BBC funding gap, according to Bloomberg.
Not everyone has to pay the rising costs – state pensioners aged over 74 and receiving Pension Credit can apply for a free TV license, and discounts are also offered for the blind, as well as those who live in care homes or sheltered accommodation.
Further information is available on TV Licensing’s official website.
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