and as identified in the Green paper - the technical R&D that the BBC Does - worth £9 to the economy for each £1 the BBC spends
or the work in Archiving or BBC Bitesize the BBC does a lot which is not broadcasting - or is not receivable in the UK
It is a lot more that TV -(Although it is the overwhelming TV PSB and the only Radio /website PSB in the UK)
Total TV industry revenue would most likely be lower, although there is a wide range of uncertainty about how much.
Total content investment would be 5–25% lower.
Investment in first-run UK content would be 25–50% lower.
The net impact on viewers would vary, but most would suffer areduction in both choice and value for money -it would cost more each month
Another possibility is the privatisation of BBC1 akin to what the French did in 1985 with TF1. (Although the risk would be the decimation of ITV/C4/C5)
Spot Advertising (basically what ITV has had since 1955) is becoming unsustainable. ITV in particular recognise that, and in recent years they've started to generate revenue from charging one or two quid for SMS voting and competition entry.
That's a possibility for the BBC to adopt for some programmes for voting. Competitions are a different kettle of fish, but what if the prize is totally funded by the SMS's ......?
It wouldn't be big money in the grand scheme of things, but every bit might help
That's a possibility for the BBC to adopt for some programmes for voting. Competitions are a different kettle of fish, but what if the prize is totally funded by the SMS's ......?
It wouldn't be big money in the grand scheme of things, but every bit might help
The very last thing we need is for yet more lottery type betting to be shoved our way via the BBC.
Bauer, Global and the advertising their stations carry does that enough already.
That's a possibility for the BBC to adopt for some programmes for voting. Competitions are a different kettle of fish, but what if the prize is totally funded by the SMS's ......?
It wouldn't be big money in the grand scheme of things, but every bit might help
The very last thing we need is for yet more lottery type betting to be shoved our way via the BBC.
Bauer, Global and the advertising their stations carry does that enough already.
Well I'm not suggesting BBC Breakfast or Newsnight suddenly hires Andi Peters, but, for instance, what if the SMS voting on SCD was monetorised ?
That's a possibility for the BBC to adopt for some programmes for voting. Competitions are a different kettle of fish, but what if the prize is totally funded by the SMS's ......?
It wouldn't be big money in the grand scheme of things, but every bit might help
The very last thing we need is for yet more lottery type betting to be shoved our way via the BBC.
Bauer, Global and the advertising their stations carry does that enough already.
Well I'm not suggesting BBC Breakfast or Newsnight suddenly hires Andi Peters, but, for instance, what if the SMS voting on SCD was monetorised ?
It used to be about 15p
tor telephone votes. Guess most of the charge went to a phone agency rather than BBC?.
Also no DVD sales anymore?
But the BBC gets a cut from the tour.
Surely another clickbait. Can see the Daily Mail rant on the BBC getting free Government money to cover for non earners.
Round where my dad lives Reform are stirring up anti immigrant feeling and one claims is that asylum seekers get free TV licences or at least aren't chased to pay. No idea if true but helps locally to boost their popularity.
Surely another clickbait. Can see the Daily Mail rant on the BBC getting free Government money to cover for non earners.
Round where my dad lives Reform are stirring up anti immigrant feeling and one claims is that asylum seekers get free TV licences or at least aren't chased to pay. No idea if true but helps locally to boost their popularity.
Kent County Council funds television licences for young people in its care, added the spokesperson. Some of them, when they leave care, receive help to set up a home, which includes a television licence. There were 22 such children in 2024/25, including seven asylum seeker children, at a cost of around £1,200, according to an information request
Will probably stop now for asylum seeker children,?
We just have to wait and see what happens, for me the best thing is subscription or/and adverts, the second-best thing is maybe leaving it as it is, but don't send the letters out to those of use who don't wish to pay. I bet the big bosses of the BBC who ever they are now and quaking in their boots.
Another possibility is the privatisation of BBC1 akin to what the French did in 1985 with TF1. (Although the risk would be the decimation of ITV/C4/C5)
We just have to wait and see what happens, for me the best thing is subscription or/and adverts, the second-best thing is maybe leaving it as it is, but don't send the letters out to those of use who don't wish to pay. I bet the big bosses of the BBC who ever they are now and quaking in their boots.
Subscription is the biggest question because it places a barrier in front of the BBC and thus changes it irrevocably imo. The 100 year vision of the BBC was that it would be universally available. I doubt that this particular government would want to go down that route although it has to be listed as an option.
Can see the Daily Mail rant on the BBC getting free Government money to cover for non earners.
At the moment households with someone receiving pension credit get a free TVL. But the Government is not funding this. The BBC simply does not receive any money in respect of these households.
So, if free TVLs were extended to other benefit claimants, it's entirely possible (and I would suggest quite likely) that the same mechanism would apply.
Of course the BBC would not be in favour of this as it would mean the BBC would receive less TVL revenue.
However if this change was introduced, I suspect it would be coupled with something else to make up for the revenue shortfall - eg advertising on iPlayer etc.
The radiocentre wants BBC radio abolished as it thinks that a commercial operator could do a similar job and for much less money. They have always seen BBC radio as a thorn in commercial radios side and want it gone.
We just have to wait and see what happens, for me the best thing is subscription or/and adverts, the second-best thing is maybe leaving it as it is, but don't send the letters out to those of use who don't wish to pay. I bet the big bosses of the BBC who ever they are now and quaking in their boots.
Subscription is the biggest question because it places a barrier in front of the BBC and thus changes it irrevocably imo. The 100 year vision of the BBC was that it would be universally available. I doubt that this particular government would want to go down that route although it has to be listed as an option.
Subscription means diverting large sums of money to advertising to maintain or attract customers, it could also mean having to source money to finance programmes which could involve shareholders who would want some of any profits?
The radiocentre wants BBC radio abolished as it thinks that a commercial operator could do a similar job and for much less money. They have always seen BBC radio as a thorn in commercial radios side and want it gone.
I have said before (many times) that BBC radio serves as an additional outlet for the material produced by the BBC news gathering department
Take away that outlet and some of the economies of scale of that news gathering department disappear, and the cost of providing news to the remaining users increases, possibly to the point where it is decided that particular niche types of news are not economic to collect.
This is particularly relevant to the collection of UK "local" news (which is often done by reporters co-located within BBC Local radio station's offices).
By far the best solution to the "problem " of funding BBC radio is for it to be taken off the TVL and for it to be 100% adverting funded.
This is what would happen if it were "privatised" and replacement services provided by commercial operators. So there is no issue of competition for advertising funds (though it would seem possible that supply of advertising on radio is far more elastic than TV advertising and advertising supply would increase.)
Comments
or the work in Archiving or BBC Bitesize the BBC does a lot which is not broadcasting - or is not receivable in the UK
It is a lot more that TV -(Although it is the overwhelming TV PSB and the only Radio /website PSB in the UK)
PS - if you want to know what coud have happened in the Pre Streaming World if there was no BBC TV
the famed Barwise and Picard from 11 years ago https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2017-06/What if there were no BBC TV_0.pdf
Total TV industry revenue would most likely be lower, although there is a wide range of uncertainty about how much.
Total content investment would be 5–25% lower.
Investment in first-run UK content would be 25–50% lower.
The net impact on viewers would vary, but most would suffer areduction in both choice and value for money -it would cost more each month
No surprise there!
https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/12/commercial-radio-urges-bbc-ad-funding-ruled-out/
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/britains-story-the-next-chapter-the-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultation/britains-story-the-next-chapter-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultation
Presumably this, and questions answered online and in public debates, will end up as a draft Green paper to go before Parliament?
Spot Advertising (basically what ITV has had since 1955) is becoming unsustainable. ITV in particular recognise that, and in recent years they've started to generate revenue from charging one or two quid for SMS voting and competition entry.
That's a possibility for the BBC to adopt for some programmes for voting. Competitions are a different kettle of fish, but what if the prize is totally funded by the SMS's ......?
It wouldn't be big money in the grand scheme of things, but every bit might help
Bauer, Global and the advertising their stations carry does that enough already.
Well I'm not suggesting BBC Breakfast or Newsnight suddenly hires Andi Peters, but, for instance, what if the SMS voting on SCD was monetorised ?
... that why SCD and ESC voting is going online
https://www.advanced-television.com/2025/09/08/bbc-scraps-premium-rate-phone-voting/
tor telephone votes. Guess most of the charge went to a phone agency rather than BBC?.
Also no DVD sales anymore?
But the BBC gets a cut from the tour.
Any thoughts on this one? Similar related to Iplayer going to charge for old content soon
Presume it would be means tested and tied to Universal Credit, like the Warm Home Discount
Round where my dad lives Reform are stirring up anti immigrant feeling and one claims is that asylum seekers get free TV licences or at least aren't chased to pay. No idea if true but helps locally to boost their popularity.
https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/2487818/future-of-bbc-green-paper-for-new-charter#latest
Read and respond to that consultation , But unlikely free TV licences for benefits claimants will get in the final Green paper
I like this idea
Subscription is the biggest question because it places a barrier in front of the BBC and thus changes it irrevocably imo. The 100 year vision of the BBC was that it would be universally available. I doubt that this particular government would want to go down that route although it has to be listed as an option.
Yes I shall be giving that a good old read.
Quite impressed with Lisa Nandy's Blue Peter presenter look
At the moment households with someone receiving pension credit get a free TVL. But the Government is not funding this. The BBC simply does not receive any money in respect of these households.
So, if free TVLs were extended to other benefit claimants, it's entirely possible (and I would suggest quite likely) that the same mechanism would apply.
Of course the BBC would not be in favour of this as it would mean the BBC would receive less TVL revenue.
However if this change was introduced, I suspect it would be coupled with something else to make up for the revenue shortfall - eg advertising on iPlayer etc.
The radiocentre wants BBC radio abolished as it thinks that a commercial operator could do a similar job and for much less money. They have always seen BBC radio as a thorn in commercial radios side and want it gone.
No idea that existed lol
Something for her if it all goes belly up on the politics front
Subscription means diverting large sums of money to advertising to maintain or attract customers, it could also mean having to source money to finance programmes which could involve shareholders who would want some of any profits?
I have said before (many times) that BBC radio serves as an additional outlet for the material produced by the BBC news gathering department
Take away that outlet and some of the economies of scale of that news gathering department disappear, and the cost of providing news to the remaining users increases, possibly to the point where it is decided that particular niche types of news are not economic to collect.
This is particularly relevant to the collection of UK "local" news (which is often done by reporters co-located within BBC Local radio station's offices).
By far the best solution to the "problem " of funding BBC radio is for it to be taken off the TVL and for it to be 100% adverting funded.
This is what would happen if it were "privatised" and replacement services provided by commercial operators. So there is no issue of competition for advertising funds (though it would seem possible that supply of advertising on radio is far more elastic than TV advertising and advertising supply would increase.)