BBC Licence Fee Going Up & People Are NOT Happy

Is the BBC Licence Fee going up? It seems it will be.

For the past two years the licence fee has been frozen at £159 per year

BBC Licence Fee going up

BBC bosses are looking to claw back savings, a proposed 9% increase has been mooted ahead of the next financial year.

This would be a rise of around £15 annually, to an expected £173.30.

When asked about a rise above £170, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “Well, obviously, that’s high. This is something that we’re looking at, at the moment. And we’ll be making a decision on this in due course.”

When will they rise?

If it is signed off, which seems likely, it would be increase in April 2024.

Culture minister Lucy Frazer said a decision would be made “very soon”.

She was asked about the concerns over cost of living impacts grow.

She said: “I wouldn’t put it like that at all, no. What we’re concerned about is the cost of living. And as the government, we have taken a number of steps to protect people from the rise of the cost of living over the course of the last few years.

“What we’re looking at is the appropriate rate of inflation. And we’re considering that with an eye on the fact that we want to ensure that people continue to be able to afford their bills.”

What have BBC said?

A BBC spokesperson said: “The government and BBC agreed a six-year licence fee settlement in January 2022, which froze the licence fee for two years with increases in line with inflation from 2024.

“As is usual practice the government sets and confirms the cost of a licence each year and this remains unconfirmed for 2024/25.

“The BBC will continue to focus on what it does best: working to deliver world-class content and providing great value for all audiences.”

What have the viewers said?

Quite a lot, to put it mildly, at the idea of paying more for the BBC. It also appears a lot people (well at least claim) don’t pay it anyway.

1.

BBC accidentally showing what they really think of licence fee payers 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/IwzbluG64t

— Lance Forman (@LanceForman) December 7, 2023

2.

The anachronistic BBC Licence Fee is rising by £10 this year pic.twitter.com/FV0E7RapD1

— KulganofCrydee 🎗️🇮🇱🇬🇧 (@KulganofCrydee) December 7, 2023

3.

🖊️ 'Freezing the BBC TV licence fee is not enough – it needs scrapping' | Writes @RossjournoClark https://t.co/bQYXtkv4u3

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 4, 2023

4.

Fair point?

The BBC is not fit for purpose the license fee should be scrapped and they should get money in through advertisements like ITV or make it subscription service.

— Mrs JP 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧 (@Jayphoenix100) December 7, 2023

5.

Wait. There are still people who let the BBC steal a license fee from them? 😂

— Takesallsorts (@didyemateaye) December 7, 2023

6.

Presenter replied…

Hey everyone , yesterday just before the top of the hour I was joking around a bit with the team in the gallery.

I was pretending to count down as the director was counting me down from 10-0.. including the fingers to show the number. So from 10 fingers held up to one.

When…

— Maryam Moshiri (@BBCMaryam) December 7, 2023

7.

"Keep paying that license fee, suckers."#DefundBBC @BBC pic.twitter.com/aXO9HwibHz

— Ramon Agusta (@ramonagusta) December 7, 2023

8.

Seems a lot of people don’t bother paying it anyway!

I don’t care, I don’t pay#DefundTheBBC

— OutsideTheVillage (@OTVDesk) December 4, 2023

Related: The Reckoning – Jimmy Savile played by Steve Coogan forcing viewers to switch off as BBC slammed