Yahoo News Pensioners with pay-TV shouldn’t get a free licence in 2020
Let’s call it the BBC’s Theresa wobble moment: the day in 2020 when the corporation is saddled with the entire cost of free licences for the over-75s and has to find ways of mitigating that £650m loss. Committees ponder, plans are made – but no one yet has a simple route through, as pensioners who are used to not paying suddenly face a new reality.
The best scheme thus far – no free licences if you’re living with someone under 75 – involves much snooping and checking, guarantees of public outrage. But try this alternative on for size.
The BBC is Britain’s core broadcaster. Its licence is effectively your entry fee to the world of broadcasting. So paying that money is a basic responsibility. If, therefore, you’re getting your fix via Sky or Virgin, if you’re supplementing your core by buying Netflix or Amazon Prime on top, then that should disqualify you from claiming a free licence: the needs of the BBC come first.
It’s a technical question of collating subscription lists. You’re targeting 18m homes even before the Netflix equation kicks in. And what, pray, could be fairer? The voice and eyes of Britain take precedence.
On the Boos
The proudest accolade for correspondents during this churning election campaign is already evident: the Award of the Raised Finger for TV reporter most booed and heckled at party meetings. So far, to her credit, Laura Kuenssberg is in the lead, with Michael Crick of C4 News in hot pursuit. Watch Robert Peston of ITV these next weeks, though. Plenty of time for catcalls during the pauses in mid-question as well as at the end.
