Petition Abolish the tv licence
We think the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is losing its popularity and we shouldn't be forced to fund it.
Government responded
This response was given on 12 December 2024
The Government has committed to the licence fee for the current BBC Charter Period, up to the end of 2027. Charter Review will consider how we ensure future funding of the BBC is fair and sustainable.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Prime Minister have committed to the licence fee for the remainder of the current Charter Period.
The BBC is a vital British asset and makes a huge contribution to lives up and down the country. It supports our democracy, brings our communities together, and helps to shape and define our nation through telling stories about the lives of people in all parts of the UK. Continuing to make that contribution, and deliver the obligations placed upon it, requires that the BBC receives ongoing and sustainable public funding.
As the media landscape undergoes the next generational shift, the BBC too must adapt and be supported to do so. The forthcoming Charter Review is a key opportunity to set the BBC up for success long into the future. It will look at a range of issues and, as a priority for this Government, will start a national conversation to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country. Charter Review will also look to uphold the BBC’s independence and ensure that it maintains the trust of the public.
As we address these vital issues about the future form of the BBC, we must also ensure that there is a sustainable funding model that is fair for those who pay for it. The Government is keeping an open mind about the future of the licence fee, but we are clear that the BBC's funding and its operation are inseparable.
The Government will be taking forward this issue as part of the Charter Review process. We will work closely with the BBC, and engage with other broadcasters, stakeholders across the creative industries as well as the British public to inform our thinking. This will include the opportunity for stakeholders and audiences across the country to respond to the Charter Review public consultation before the new Charter comes into effect in 2028.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
At 100,000 signatures...
At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament
Related activity
BBC Funding: debate in Parliament
On 18 December, MPs debated the future funding of the BBC in Parliament.
This was a Westminster Hall debate led by Sir John Whittingdale MP. Culture, Media and Sport Minister Stephanie Peacock MP responded on behalf of the Government.
Explainer
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to debate a topic of their choice, and receive a response from the Government.
They are a way to:
• Raise awareness of an issue
• Seek to influence government policy
• Put the views of a backbench MPs, political parties, and the Government on record.
They do not involve a vote on a particular action or decision.
See our visual explainer on how these debates work.
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