With viewers increasingly turning to subscription-based TV services, the U.K.’s traditional over-the-air broadcaster, the BBC, which has long relied on television license-fee revenue, has seen a steady decline in those revenues. The most recent figures show a hefty £1.1 billion (US$1.46 billion) shortfall in TV license-fee revenue last year.
Some BBC TV channels and radio stations may have to close, according to BBC Director General Matt Brittin.
In an effort to make up for the lost revenue, one idea being considered is to replace the existing annual license fee with a monthly £11 (US$14.57) internet fee paid by every TV owner in the country. Early public reaction has not been favorable, with critics questioning whether households should be required to pay another mandatory fee at a time when many are already paying for multiple streaming subscriptions. Supporters of a new funding model, meanwhile, argue that the BBC needs a reliable source of income if it is expected to continue providing its broad range of public-service programming.
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