The UK government has asked the BBC not to raise TV licence fees for two years

London, January 18 (Xinhua) -- The British government announced on the 17th that it would ban the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) from raising tv license fees in the next two years to alleviate the burden of people's livelihood caused by the economic downturn.

Speaking in Parliament on the same day, Britain's Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Doris said that until 1 April 2024, the BBC must maintain an annual TV licence fee of £159 (£1 is about 8.6 yuan) and prohibit price increases; thereafter, by the end of 2027, the increase in TV licence fees must be in line with the inflation rate.

The UK government says the BBC will still receive around £3.7 billion in licence fees in 2022. In addition, the UK government will invest more than £90 million a year to support BBC International's overseas operations.

The BBC issued a statement on the same day saying that BBC's operating income in the UK has shrunk by 30% in the past 10 years, and this price limit means that the BBC will be under greater financial pressure, which will hurt the development of the BBC and the entire British cultural industry.

As a government-backed public media organisation, the BBC does not broadcast advertising, has no advertising revenue, and about three-quarters of its operating funds come from the TV licence fees that households owning television in the UK must pay.

Every 11 years, the BBC needs to renew the Royal Charter with the UK government, which plans where the BBC will fund, how it will operate and where it will go. According to the agreement reached at the end of 2016, the standard of licence fees collected by the BBC each year will be set by the Government. The Royal Charter will be subject to mid-term review this year and expire at the end of 2027.

British media believe that the Johnson government has long been interested in reforming the BBC and may plan to completely abolish the TV license fee after 2027 to force the BBC to switch to financing models such as paid subscriptions and participate in global digital media competition.

Source: Xinhua News Agency