Latest Headlines        Contact                 About

Latest TV & Radio News

BBC Licence Fee 

The cost of a TV licence is to rise by £5.50 to £180 from 1 April, the government has announced. 

The fee pays for BBC shows and services, and its cost increases in line with inflation every year until 2027, following an agreement made in 2022. 

A TV licence currently costs £174.50. It increased by £5 last year, and £10.50 in 2024. 

The government recently launched a consultation to ask the public what they think the next era of the BBC should look like, ahead of its charter renewal at the end of 2027. 

When it launched its green paper, the government said it was "keeping an open mind about the future of BBC funding", adding: "We have not yet identified a preferred model." 

Options include the current licence fee potentially being replaced with a different set of rates depending on which of the broadcaster's services people use. 

The consultation document also suggests the possibility of an advertising or subscription model, which could replace the current system where all households pay a flat fee. 

A BBC spokesman said: "The licence fee ensures the BBC has the financial stability it needs to deliver for audiences and support the creative industries across the UK. 

"It funds the full range of BBC services and helps us deliver trusted news, the best homegrown storytelling, and unmissable content that brings people together."

6 February 2026                                         

Back to the headlines                                                                    Next Story

 
Latest Headlines            Contact             About         

    Online since 1985