STORY
The television licence fee should be reformed so that BBC funding is no longer linked to ownership of a television set, according to a report from the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. MPs said a universal source of funding should be retained and urged the Government to remain open to introducing a household levy as a longer-term alternative.
The committee also recommended ending political appointments to the BBC board and making the Royal Charter permanent, accompanied by regular reviews of the corporation’s funding, role and public purposes. It proposed giving the BBC an explicit responsibility to combat misinformation and disinformation, alongside further investment in BBC iPlayer and consideration of carrying programmes from other public service broadcasters.
MPs said the BBC should increase its commercial income, make better use of its property and avoid paying more than commercial broadcasters for imported programmes. The report was published as the Government prepares proposals for the next Royal Charter, which is expected to determine how the BBC will be governed, regulated and funded from 2028.