Cable Forum - View Single Post

OLD BOY · 01-09-2020, 15:53

The licence fee is indeed doomed. From the Daily Telegraph:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...unding-battle/

[EXTRACT]

The new BBC director-general will be told to come up with a replacement for the licence fee after decriminalisation of non-payment was described as a “done deal”.

Tim Davie faces a three-pronged attack on the licence fee from the government when he takes up his job this week, senior sources said.

Ministers are expected to announce within weeks that people who fail to pay the licence fee will face civil penalties rather than criminal prosecution from 2022.

There are also moves to “level the playing field” by awarding broadcasting licences to commercial rivals. The media regulator Ofcom has already granted a licence to a new channel named GB News promising coverage “distinctly different from the out-of-touch incumbents”.

Meanwhile Mr Davie will be challenged to replace the licence fee altogether with a new funding model or face a battle when the BBC charter is renewed in 2027, Whitehall sources said.

One senior Whitehall source said: “The decriminalisation of the licence fee is a done deal. It will be done sooner rather than later.

“But it may be the least of the BBC’s worries. There is a real interest in levelling the playing field with more competition. Ofcom has already given a broadcasting licence to a proposed new channel, GB News and that may be a sign of things to come.”

One minister said: “There is real optimism that the BBC will come up with a palatable alternative to the licence fee themselves.

“Tim Davie seems to be open to the idea of a subscription model and his background would certainly suggest that"

01-09-2020, 15:53	#206
OLD BOY Rise above the players Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wokingham Services: 2 V6 boxes with 360 software, Now, ITVX, Amazon, Netflix, Lionsgate+, Apple+, Disney+, Paramount +, Posts: 14,589	Re: Funding of the BBC The licence fee is indeed doomed. From the Daily Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...unding-battle/ [EXTRACT] The new BBC director-general will be told to come up with a replacement for the licence fee after decriminalisation of non-payment was described as a “done deal”. Tim Davie faces a three-pronged attack on the licence fee from the government when he takes up his job this week, senior sources said. Ministers are expected to announce within weeks that people who fail to pay the licence fee will face civil penalties rather than criminal prosecution from 2022. There are also moves to “level the playing field” by awarding broadcasting licences to commercial rivals. The media regulator Ofcom has already granted a licence to a new channel named GB News promising coverage “distinctly different from the out-of-touch incumbents”. Meanwhile Mr Davie will be challenged to replace the licence fee altogether with a new funding model or face a battle when the BBC charter is renewed in 2027, Whitehall sources said. One senior Whitehall source said: “The decriminalisation of the licence fee is a done deal. It will be done sooner rather than later. “But it may be the least of the BBC’s worries. There is a real interest in levelling the playing field with more competition. Ofcom has already given a broadcasting licence to a proposed new channel, GB News and that may be a sign of things to come.” One minister said: “There is real optimism that the BBC will come up with a palatable alternative to the licence fee themselves. “Tim Davie seems to be open to the idea of a subscription model and his background would certainly suggest that"