[jfman]

The difference between something being funded directly by the Government or via taxpayers through the licence fee is not worth the distinction IMHO. The fact there are people who evade the fee is no different from tax evasion more widely. The additional costs will be borne by the licence fee payer (or, taxpayer).

The BBC may well be pushing for significant cost cutting which is why I’m sure it’s not looking forward to the suggestion it subsidises the internet connections of millions people who haven’t taken up IPTV solely to maintain the status quo of receiving television.

The BBC very efficiently transmits into almost every home in the land, and even among where users have alternative online services, DTT and satellite services remain commonly used.