A funding rethink can help BBC survive crisis | Letters

2026-03-12 - 17:23

Hugh Sheppard, Michael Thorn and William Ward respond to an article by Polly Toynbee on the future of the broadcaster Polly Toynbee says “the BBC’s funding system remains better than anything else anyone has come up with” (In a world of lies, we need the BBC more than ever. This week could be our last chance to save it, 6 March). Sadly, that isn’t true. Today, with hundreds of channels available from a wide range of broadcast and streaming services, for the BBC to collect TV licence fee is outmoded and unjust. With the number of households not holding a licence having risen to 12.5% in 2024-25, and a 30% loss of BBC funding, these trends are bringing the BBC to its knees. The BBC’s public consultation document stressed that it is “a national institution that belongs to all of us”, and mentioned reforming the licence fee, qualified by “We are not considering replacing it through general taxation”. The closing words of the last question asked if people could “suggest a different funding model”. Was this an open door, or is the mindset already closed? Retention, with fee collection outsourced by the BBC to Capita, is plain wrong. A different approach is essential so that those watching GB News don’t have to pay the BBC for the privilege. Continue reading...