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Nicky Morgan open to replacing BBC licence fee with Netflix-style subscription | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Nicky Morgan, the culture secretary, has said she is “open-minded” about scrapping the BBC television licence fee and replacing it with a Netflix-style subscription service. | Nicky Morgan, the culture secretary, has said she is “open-minded” about scrapping the BBC television licence fee and replacing it with a Netflix-style subscription service. |
The cabinet minister said she would consider it as an option during a select committee hearing in comments that will delight Tory critics of the broadcaster. | The cabinet minister said she would consider it as an option during a select committee hearing in comments that will delight Tory critics of the broadcaster. |
She raised the possibility in answer to a question from Julian Knight, the Conservative MP for Solihull, who asked her to consider scrapping the licence fee and suggested a subscription service as a possible policy for the party’s election manifesto. | She raised the possibility in answer to a question from Julian Knight, the Conservative MP for Solihull, who asked her to consider scrapping the licence fee and suggested a subscription service as a possible policy for the party’s election manifesto. |
BBC warned over TV licences as younger viewers flock to Netflix | BBC warned over TV licences as younger viewers flock to Netflix |
“I’m open minded and I will have decisions and listen to evidence on all sides,” she said, speaking to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee. | “I’m open minded and I will have decisions and listen to evidence on all sides,” she said, speaking to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee. |
“What I haven’t seen is any evidence, either way, what a subscription-based system would do in terms of the revenue. | “What I haven’t seen is any evidence, either way, what a subscription-based system would do in terms of the revenue. |
“The licence fee last year raised £3.7bn for the BBC. They obviously have other sources of income as well. So I would need to understand what, if you were going to change, that would do to their income.” | “The licence fee last year raised £3.7bn for the BBC. They obviously have other sources of income as well. So I would need to understand what, if you were going to change, that would do to their income.” |
Sources in her department later suggested that it would not be a priority for Morgan and pointed out that the government has committed to maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC until 2027 for the duration of the 11-year charter period. | Sources in her department later suggested that it would not be a priority for Morgan and pointed out that the government has committed to maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC until 2027 for the duration of the 11-year charter period. |
However, her comments will boost the hopes of some Tory MPs who dislike the BBC and have long been campaigning for an end to the universal £154.50-a-year licence fee. A subscription service like Netflix would mean people having to opt in to watch programmes on BBC channels and listen to its radio stations. | However, her comments will boost the hopes of some Tory MPs who dislike the BBC and have long been campaigning for an end to the universal £154.50-a-year licence fee. A subscription service like Netflix would mean people having to opt in to watch programmes on BBC channels and listen to its radio stations. |
The idea was recently raised by the rightwing Institute for Economic Affairs thinktank, which was welcomed by Knight, who predicted: “Personally, I think the next licence fee will be the last.” | The idea was recently raised by the rightwing Institute for Economic Affairs thinktank, which was welcomed by Knight, who predicted: “Personally, I think the next licence fee will be the last.” |
In the same hearing, Morgan said she would not intervene in the BBC’s decision to abolish free TV licences for over-75s. | In the same hearing, Morgan said she would not intervene in the BBC’s decision to abolish free TV licences for over-75s. |
She said she had “no plans” to review the BBC’s television licence shake-up, after the broadcaster agreed in 2015 to fund the free licences given to those aged over 75. | She said she had “no plans” to review the BBC’s television licence shake-up, after the broadcaster agreed in 2015 to fund the free licences given to those aged over 75. |
The BBC announced this year that only low-income households in receipt of pension credits would receive the benefit, meaning around 3.7 million elderly people will have to pay £154.50 a year in future. | The BBC announced this year that only low-income households in receipt of pension credits would receive the benefit, meaning around 3.7 million elderly people will have to pay £154.50 a year in future. |
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