BBC licence fee update

^Free licences were given to the over-75s as part of a Labour government programme to reduce pensioner poverty. Fifteen years later that government funding was cut by the Conservatives.

Ever since then, the BBC has been pondering if it can afford to take on the bill. It's a cost that's rising every year as the number of pensioners continues to grow. In 2020 it's estimated there will be around 4.6 million households with at least one pensioner.

This then is a compromise; around a third of the cost will be borne by the BBC and two thirds passed on to 'wealthier' pensioners. The elderly are by far the biggest consumers of the BBC's output, the average age of BBC TV's audience is now over 62, the question is how far younger licence fee payers should subsidise these older viewers.

As consumption of traditional TV by younger viewers continues to drop there could well be questions about why they are being expected to pay for a service that the heaviest users get for free.^
Part of David Sillito’s, the BBC’s own media correspondent’s analysis.
I have to say I agree with the argument about younger viewers subsidising older viewers.

I'm told by UK family, 'I hope NZ TV is better than ours, they only show rubbish here.'

As far as I know, NZ gets the full, dismal round of Idols, 'reality' shows, American rubbish stuff and soaps - in fact, exactly what the UK gets. As well as some excellent documentaries and costume dramas from the BBC.

NZ doesn't have a license fee. I don't have a TV.

Hmmm. I’ve always been a Tory voter, but after reading this, I might have swung to vote Labour if it were anyone but that ghastly Jeremy Corbyn.
Don’t know why they couldn’t have just pushed it back to 80 instead of 75.
I agree with other posters, cut the saleries of the big names, some will move to ITV but the ones that are long in the tooth will stay, there isn’t that many positions available for presenters.
It’s a difficult one, my MIL who is 94, is not short of a penny and could afford it, but many of her friends could not and I imagine would be ashamed to ask if they were applicable to any scheme that would entitle them to it.
Anyway, now to catch up on Gentleman Jack and Killing Eve, they are producing some fantastic shows about women at the moment. Nothing like that in my day!

BBC have to fund it from somewhere as government have taken away the funding for over 75s. So they need to axe something else to fund it. BBC2? radio stations? You decide!
It’s £3 a week for licence fee.
And those on pension credit won’t have to pay.

Pension credit can be confusing but on Moneysavingexpert.com there is a very good explanation about the 2 parts of it which is certainly clearer than other sites and maybe it will help some people. This is the Martin Lewis site.

Thanks Gabriella, so obviously the pension situation for over 75s will be very different, as they are not on the new pension rate. Therefore I assume that a person on the full old pension with no other income and no more than £10000 in savings would be on pension credits.
They definitely need the free television license then as they would be able to claim pension credits.

Oh GabbyG ?????

I think some of your info is wrong re watching catchup on other channels.
See BBC website and TV licencing website

“Licensing” my dear!.

Bugger

Typical of the BBC. It has always been very political and as we are probably near to another general election people will blame the present government, not the BBC. Ii’s about time they reviewed the salaries of the likes of Gary Linekar and Claudio Winkleman.

gillgran
You will not have to pay for the months that you would have got free ie: Oct '19 -June '20.

Hm999
I think some of your info is wrong re watching catchup on other channels.
See BBC website and TV licencing website.

People with illness or disability will be eligible for allowances.
Anyone with a state and even a small private pension who is 'housebound' can surely afford £3pw for a tv licence. They aren't spending money eating out or splurging on new clothes, manicures, or hairdressing appointments.
Not all pensioners are on the breadline and it's hardly fair to give all pensioners a free licence.

maddyone
If you're entitled to the full state pension that's it but if your pension entitlement falls short of the full pension, you can apply for pension credit which will top you up to £167.25 pw for a single person. That amount is just pennies short of the full pension of £168pw.
There will be deductions for having savings of more than £10k and they will want to see bank statements.
Carers allowance is calculated as income.
If your partner is under state pension age you will not be allowed pension credit under the new rules (May 2019)
Look on the Yougov website for more info.

There is a need to look at the ridiculous payments made to most of those employed by the BBC and also to sort out the payments made to the Bosses and Directors. As it is a public funded organisation none of the Bosses and directors, including Mr Hall, should be paid more than the Prime Minister.

Thanks for qualifying that JillT Sorry if I misunderstood.

The worst hit will be those just above means testing level, living alone with a small private pension who are housebound with illness or disability. They are already being hit by increasing social care costs on top of increased utility and food bills.

The TV is their companion, they cannot use bus passes if mobility is poor. About 3 million do not have a TV due to having to budget carefully & those who need a food bank are often expected to give up their licence. They can listen to the radio.

Like winter fuel allowance & bus passes these were given in place of increasing the state pension. We have the smallest state pension in Europe, Germany is three times greater.

The younger generation need to fight for a better state pension as their pension investments will be dire after we brexit. They will be relying heavility on a state pension.

I might be wrong here, but I thought that if a retired person only has their state pension to live on, and absolutely not another bean, that this qualifies them for pension credit, and the amount payable depends upon if they have any personal savings or not, and how much they have in savings. I realise I may have this wrong, but perhaps someone could enlighten me.

You have misunderstood what I said rafichagran, perhaps I phrased it badly. What I was referring to was several previous posters who were rather annoyed that they did not qualify for pension credits because they have adequate income and felt that they were being penalised for having saved or invested for their retirement. You will find this is a common theme on GN when wr discuss anything to do with means testing. I certainly was not boasting about my income, far from it, I was saying that I am fortunate. I hope this has clarified my views and settled it in your mind

Who envies those who have to claim pension credit JillT I am sorry they are in that position. It's alright for you go on about your state pensions and private pensions you can afford it. You are lucky you can say you would be happy to pay the £154.50 per year.

The people who are going to feel it the most are the people who have to rely on the state pension alone. I am not old enough for my state pension yet at 62, and I still work, but will get a occupational pension to go with my state pension, but some of my friends will not be so lucky and although worked all there lives will not have a private pension.

You and others are really out of step with public opinion on this one. Yes people on pension credit should get it, but so should people on state pension alone.

Google 'Martin Lewis TV Licence' it was updated April 2019

Headlines
If you watch TV as it's being broadcast you need a TV licence – on any device.
If you watch or record shows as they're being shown on telly in the UK ('live TV'), you need to be covered by a TV licence. You also need one if you use BBC iPlayer. This is regardless of the device you're watching on.
However youdo notneed a TV licence if you only watch content after it's been shown on television – UNLESS it's on BBCiPlayer.
TV programmes downloaded or streamedafterbroadcast on other catch-up services are fine without one though.
Only watch catch-up TV? You DON'T have to pay (unless you're watching BBC iPlayer)

If you never watch the BBC and only watch programmes using other channels' catch-up services, it's possible to legally ditch the TV licence and save yourself £154.50 a year. This is because:
You only need a TV licence if you watch or record TVas it's being broadcastoruse iPlayer– if you only use other catch-up sites, you don't need one.
A rule that came into force in September 2016 means you need a licence to legally use BBC iPlayer, even if you're only watching catch-up TV. But that doesn't apply to other catch-up services, so theITV Hub,All 4andMy5are legal to use without a licence as long as you're not using them to watch live TV.
You can watch almost anything on these catch-up services: soaps, documentaries, dramas, cartoons, comedy, sport and films. And because services such as the ITV Hub only take a few hours to update, you can watch the latest instalment ofCoronation Streetnot long after it's been broadcast live on ITV 1.

Have you ever watched tv in other countries?
Yes
It is dire
In some it is. Some countries are much better. Are you just compairing English speaking channels?
no wonder our TV is the envy of the world
Its really not. BBC news in particular shows its bias when you compare reporting of same events to overseas news sources

I do not think everyone should fund the BBC anyway. They are a propoganda machine and with their history of institutionalised abuse it should be perfectly legal to watch other chanels if you dont pay for the BBC.

BBC should be funded by BBC viewers/supporters ONLY.

well, putting my tin hat on.....I am happy that I have enough in pensions and private pensions to not be in a position to have to claim pension credit, how churlish to envy those who have to claim! I also think that at £3 per week, the tv licence is good value when you see the quality of many of the programmes. Those of you who do not have tv licences, but watch BBC programmes recorded elsewhere should be ashamed of yourselves, why should the rest of us pay for the expensive commissioning of programmes such as Autumn/Spring/Summer Watch which you say you enjoy but do not wish to pay for? I do agree however, about some of the extortionate salaries paid.

I think all over 75s should just NOT pay!

It might have been better to do it in stages - it seems a bit abrupt for those already on the free license or nearing that age. Couldn't they have had a reduced rate for a while?

I agree that much could have been saved on 'celebrity' fees. [I also hate those weird swirls on BBC 2 between programmes. I bet they cost a bit!]