we are not helping ourselves if we want free TV licences

Possible lack of response is due to knowledge of the attitude to the mature members of society, already demonstrated by this government.
But thanks for the link anyway.

Why should one group get free licenses?

Because we're on a fixed income with no prospect of earning anymore, or at least I am at eighty!

And because a high proportion are constrained to be indoors all day. Not that I intend to sign the petition.

Sorry, but I don't agree with free licence fee for all. Many of pensionable age are still working, so perhaps take it to 75 again, most not working by then, and on fixed income.
Although I think it should be payed for by those who want the services provided, as in Netflix etc. Although you'll find many countries have a fee. Apart from those that get free use on the world wide service, now that should be looked at very seriously.

I don't have a problem subsidising free TV licenses for the housebound and severely disabled either- no matter what age they are.

Same here keepingquiet.

keepingquiet

I don't have a problem subsidising free TV licenses for the housebound and severely disabled either- no matter what age they are.

Agree.

Agree keepingqiiet

I have no issue with those disabled and/or housebound or on a low income getting their TV licence.

Frankly, annoying as adverts are on tv and radio, let’s just abolish the licence, get decent new BBC dramas and be done with it!

Just because a few MPs will have a friendly debate in Westminster about the licence if the petition achieves 100,000 signatures doesn't mean anything will happen. It's not a Commons debate and has no legislative power to change things.

When around 3 million of the 13 million (not 10 million) State Pensioners are either already paying or on the cusp of paying higher rate tax i.e they have an income in excess of £50,250 a year, then why do they need a free licence?

Those age 75 or over who receive Pension Credit already receive a free licence so the poorest are helped.

You don't even need a licence depending on how you watch TV so the cost can be avoided.

Marg75

Because we're on a fixed income with no prospect of earning anymore, or at least I am at eighty!

Surely your state pension goes up each April. Many people in work are even more tightly limited in income than many olde rpeople, especially if they have children.

Sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander.

I really don’t have a problem with paying a TV licence.
I pay monthly by DD and it costs £15 a month.
I have 100’s of channels and apps to use for this cost.
If I went to the cinema, which is hardly ever, it would cost much more than that each visit taking in transport or parking.
I shall willingly subsidise those on low income and disabled.

Same here UTBB.

I would be lost without the BBC and will always be happy to pay for my licence. We all have different tastes but the Beeb offers a much greater variety of programmes than any other provider and is without ads. The cost is very low for all the hours of pleasure I get. In the day usually Radio 4 or 3 and in the evenings so much TV choice. I do have Netfllix but rarely watch it. I like drama but cannot cope with too much violence. I never watch soaps or reality shows but there is plenty of other programmes on offer, no other provider gives the depth of choice, particularly in its radio stations.

AGE should not be the issue but NEED . There are so many families with a limited income who are not eligible. I fully accept that there are pensioners on limited incomes but I have never met any. What does not help pensioners who have signed this petition is the fact there are lots of retired folks sitting inside and outside coffee shops - the cost per cup higher than a week's worth of TV licence.

The BBC is a statutory public corporation not a public company. Only the latter is required to have an AGM.

ITV is a public company listed in the stock exchange so holds an AGM.

The TV licence fee is not a tax. It is a charge to use a service just as we pay to use the services of other public corporations: British Rail, the Post Office and so on. Universities are public corporations. Students pay to study there.

Like any public or private body, the BBC had to balance its books, balance its income against its outgoings. The BBC is facing a huge reduction in its income as fewer people buy a licence so is having to change the way services are provided.

The changes are described here:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/listening-outside-the-uk/outside-uk-changes

If you live outside the UK, how you listen to BBC radio will change, starting from spring 2025.

Instead of using BBC Sounds, you’ll be able to use a new service at BBC.com and on the BBC app. BBC Studios has launched these all-new audio environments, tailored to outside UK audiences.The BBC’s content will remain available on other international podcast platforms.

International listeners will no longer be able to use the BBC Sounds app and website from spring 2025.

You can find out more about these changes on the bbc.com website.

Advice for UK Listeners travelling abroad

For listeners who reside in the UK, you will still be able to use the BBC Sounds mobile app when you are abroad.

Personally I consider the licence fee good value and don't mind paying it. I realise many people are struggling but I'm getting fed up of petitions asking for things that the government clearly can't afford. In particular the one suggesting that the tax allowance should be increased to £20,000! I want to see the freeze on the tax allowance removed but £20,000 is completely unaffordable! Whoever thought that one up is living on a different planet from the rest of us.

Silverbrooks:
Further to your comment on people who are on Pension Credit get their TV licence for free, that is not true, you have to apply via a form they send out to you and you have to prove that you actually receive it !!

Yes indeed the Pension will increase in April, it will be swollowed by increasing water rates, council tax and heating bills. Millions of us have been born too early to receive the full rise anyway.

I think any of these type benefits should be means tested. I have an ex colleague on FB who often rants about losing her winter fuel allowance and free TV license but she posts photos of her monthly holiday to exotic warm climates, every weekend all her restaurant dinners, her weekly nails done in a salon, she is clearly NOT on the breadline, if she can afford all that, then she does not need fuel allowance and TV license for free, money for the needy NOT greedy!

Well I m not very well off just over the pension credit line but I don’t mind paying once a year for the TV ….of course I d prefer not to but it’s not something I can get in a tizz about
It is what it is (I find myself saying this often now)

SMEM

Silverbrooks:
Further to your comment on people who are on Pension Credit get their TV licence for free, that is not true, you have to apply via a form they send out to you and you have to prove that you actually receive it !!

Yes, of course you have to apply for it. The BBC doesn't know who receives Pension Credit. But if you are 75 or over and receive Pension Credit (or live with a partner who receives Pension Credit) you will get a free licence.

www.gov.uk/free-discount-tv-licence#:~:text=If%20you%27re%2075%20or,get%20a%20discounted%20TV%20licence.