A former BBC presenter has delivered a damning verdict on the future of the TV licence fee. Ex-presenter Roger Bolton homed in on the license fee, the mandatory tax for those with television sets in the UK.
The levy rose to £174.50 in April, meaning it is now the third-highest tax of its kind in Europe, while other nations are abolishing or reducing their equivalents. Switzerland has the highest levy, at 335 francs (£304) per household per year, though European countries including Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Cyprus and Bulgaria have all scrapped their versions of direct taxes for national broadcasters. For its part, the BBC argues the license fee offers good value for money, emphasising that it works out at a payment of just 48p a day. All television users pay a flat fee, which Mr Bolton told GB News was a “fundamental problem” for the BBC as the tax was not progressive in nature.
He said: “The first question is: Is it value for money? And I’ve tried to address that. I think it’s incredible value for money. I also think it’s doomed. There’s always been a fundamental problem with it, it’s not a progressive tax. Everyone pays the same, which I believe is unjust.
“I think there’s an increasing number of people refusing to pay it, and I don’t think that’s sustainable. Very few people actually get prosecuted, but even so, I don’t think that approach can continue. So yes, I believe it’s doomed. The real question is: can we find another way?
“But as I always say on these occasions, the conversation we need to have is about the role of public service media. Is there still a role for it? If there is, then what do we want it to deliver? How do we deliver that? And then how do we pay for it?
“At the beginning, I was trying to suggest that we mustn’t think of this just in terms of television. The BBC licence fee, in real terms, has dropped by around 38 to 40% since 2010, due to government pressure. So, inevitably, you’re seeing less on screen.
“But don’t forget everything else: local radio, the website, the World Service all of that. So before we rush to get rid of the licence fee, which I do think is doomed and I can’t see it lasting more than four or five years, let’s first have the conversation about what kind of public service media we want, and then figure out how to fund it.
He added: “Just to say, when you look at the alternatives to the licence fee, each comes with its own set of problems.
“Advertising? Well, if you’re happy with programmes being interrupted, fine. But the advertising market isn’t big enough. The BBC would dominate it and, frankly, your company and many others would struggle to survive.
“Subscription? There’s still a significant number of people who aren’t online, and governments have to deal with that. Otherwise, you’re effectively switching them off altogether.”
Mr Bolton was known as an editor of the BBC’s Panorama and Nationwide programmes, as well as presenting the Channel 4 viewer feedback show Right to Reply.
He later appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Feedback and Sunday programmes but was removed as the voice of the former in 2022.
The corporation thanked him for his service but did not provide a reason for the decision to remove him.