In an interview for The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, hosted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie argues that the BBC remains a vital public-service institution in a media landscape transformed by global streamers, political pressure and declining trust. He also shared his thoughts on the licence fee model, and the […]

Citizens in Switzerland have voted against an initiative to reduce the annual licence fee to the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) – the country’s national public broadcaster. The fee, which has already been cut in recent years, currently costs 335 Swiss francs (€372) per household per year. The initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, […]

The BBC has published its plan “to boost the UK’s creative economy, support democracy and give greater value to audiences”. In a 100-page response to the Government’s Charter Review consultation, the BBC described this as an “urgent opportunity for the UK to secure the world’s leading public service media organisation” for the UK and beyond. […]

Analysis demonstrating the role the BBC plays to inform, educate and entertain children across the UK has been released. The BBC continues to provide safe, age appropriate content at a time when the online environment is becoming increasingly fragmented, commercialised and risky for young people. But the report warns of an alarming decline in UK […]

The annual cost of a TV licence will rise to £180 (€207) from April 1st as required by the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement, in line with inflation. The increase follows the methodology of calculating the licence fee in line with the consumer price index (CPI) until the end of the BBC Charter Period. The licene […]

The Public Accounts Committee of the UK House of Commons has warned that if the collection and enforcement of the licence fee is not modernised, the BBC risks compliant fee payers questioning the fairness of the system. In a new report on the BBC’s accounts, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warns that the broadcaster’s mission […]

The number of jobs in Wales supported by S4C, the Welsh-language public service broadcaster, has grown to more than 2,500 – an increase of over 370 jobs since the last research report in 2022/23. S4C contributed £150.3 million (€170.7m) to the Welsh economy during 2024/25, despite a real-terms decrease in licence fee funding compared to […]

The BBC has published the results of what it calls its “biggest ever listening exercise” revealing “resounding support” for its ethos. The Our BBC, Our Future questionnaire, launched in March, received 872,701 responses, with people from across the UK sharing their views on the organisation and its future. The results will play a central part […]

Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has indicated that Labour is considering a ‘mixed funding’ model for the BBC as the government looks for ways to replace the unpopular licence fee. Speaking during a fringe event at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Nandy said she was looking at a “whole range of options” to replace […]

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the UK House of Commons is to hold an Evidence Session with senior BBC representatives, including its Director General Tim Davie. The session on September 15th will examine the BBC’s collection of the Licence Fee in 2024/25, as well as assess the organisation’s overall financial management. As a result […]