Open petition: Do not extend the BBC licence fee to streaming services
Created by Alec Burns
Closes on
There are widespread reports that the Government is considering extending the BBC licence fee to include subscribers of streaming services that are not owned or run by the BBC. We believe this is a wholly unacceptable proposal.
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, we believe the Government should be finding ways to save the public money, not expanding their means of taxation. We feel the BBC already has a tarnished reputation, and this move could further diminish the reputation of the BBC.
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Government responded to this petition
The Government is considering responses to the public consultation on the BBC Charter Review Green Paper. We are keeping an open mind on future funding of the BBC. No final decisions have been taken.
Read the response in full
As part of the Charter Review the government ran a public consultation which asked people from different communities to be part of the conversation on the future of the BBC. The Government is keeping an open mind on the future funding of the BBC and no decisions have been taken at this stage. Ongoing policy development includes consideration of impacts on households, consumers, investment and the wider creative economy.
The BBC exists for all of us. It is a vital national institution that informs, educates and entertains audiences across the UK. The BBC sits at the heart of the UK's creative and media ecosystem, delivers trusted news and information, supports jobs and growth across the nations and regions, and continues to provide services used by the vast majority of UK adults each month. The Government believes a thriving BBC benefits the whole country and is committed to ensuring it has a sustainable future.
In these uncertain times, it is a light on the hill for high quality journalism and one of the most trusted organisations both at home and abroad. Reuters Institute research found that 59% of UK respondents trusted BBC News in 2026, making it one of the UK's most trusted news brands. Ensuring it remains relevant and trusted by audiences is vital and increasingly challenging in these polarised times. This is why this Charter will support it to thrive as an organisation for the coming years. And when the BBC thrives, we all benefit.
At the same time, the changing media market and audience viewing habits mean the Charter Review needs to consider whether the current funding model remains suitable for the future. Audiences now have much greater choice in what media they consume, and how and when they do so. These changes are having a direct impact on TV licence uptake, with the total number of licences in force falling by 3 million since 2017/18. The Government therefore believes it is right to consider how the BBC can continue to be sustainably funded for the long term.
We understand that ensuring the licence fee is affordable is important. We want to ensure that costs are kept as low as possible for households to support them with the cost of living, while ensuring the BBC has sufficient and necessary resources to continue to deliver for all of us. We are looking at a range of options, including how the BBC can operate more efficiently, generate more commercial revenue, and how the licence fee could be reformed.
We are aware of the financial difficulties faced by some households and are committed to supporting them. The Government has already extended the Simple Payment Plan, supporting more households to split up their annual licence fee payment into more manageable weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments. The change, which came into effect in February 2025, makes a greater number of households eligible for the plan.
Support also continues to be provided to those who are most vulnerable, including with free licences for over-75s on Pension Credit and reduced fees for care homes and those who are registered blind or severely sight impaired. As the Charter Review Green Paper makes clear, we are considering a range of options to better account for different household situations in future, including targeted interventions such as introducing new concessions or alternative payment schedules.
We are now considering responses to the public consultation on the Charter Review Green Paper and engaging with stakeholders. The Government expects to publish a White Paper on the future of the BBC before the end of the year.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
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If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.
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This petition will stay open until 11 December 2026.