How might the BBC be funded if the licence fee is scrapped?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025

As green paper on corporation’s charter renewal is launced, what funding options might be under consideration?

Advertising. Subscriptions. A household levy. The government claims to be considering all options for funding the BBC. In reality, however, many industry insiders believe radical reforms will be dodged in favour of sticking to the licence fee model – perhaps for the last time.

Advocates for the licence fee have long argued it is the only model that allows the corporation to stick to its guiding “universality” principle – producing programming for everyone.