A strategy for BBC funding

For £160 per year we can access all BBC services at no further cost. It funds 71% of the BBC revenue annual budget and there seems to be a view that we don't want to pay it. We should test that.

Every household who wants to register for BBC subscription from April 2025 at a cost of £240 per annum would be asked to do so by April 1st 2024. This will leave the UK government the option to offer subscriptions to their national broadcaster on a means-tested basis to anyone who wants the service but feels they cannot afford it.

It is not essential that every household has access to BBC services and I suspect that the same people who dodge paying for other subscription services will continue their nefarious activities.

Strategy without a vision is, of course, reckless. What vision drives my strategy? A BBC funded by a loyal subscription base that it maintains without political interference. All of our institutions are undermined by political ideologies that are not shared by the general public. The BBC is one of these that other nations scratch their heads with incredulity when they view us from afar.

The future of public broadcasting is a dilema for many countries but the BBC is the brand leader and it must lead so that others can follow.

I suspect that the people who run the BBC prefer to be public victims rather than Reithian visionaries.

What's my strategy based on though? Over 50% of my fellow UK residents use the BBC Radio and TV weekly. That's not including the online content that isn't programming. That's a huge customer base and linked to a strong brand.

What reaction am I expecting from the organisations that the BBC tries to compete with? They can only fight for a share of our wallets as consumers. Myself? I fund Amazon Prime and Netflix alongside the TV License in my home. I won't need to give up anything much to cope with the higher fee and I would definitely subscribe. I think I am typical of every one of the regular consumers.

What would the BBC do to attract those current license payer that chose not to register? Well, what indeed? Depends on the numbers. Depends on whether they need to be able to replace subscribers as they die. Depends on what the BBC decides to do with the subscribers' cash.

You say, "what about the people who won't be able to access subscription services?". I say that is one for the government to solve if it want to make its public service broadcaster available to the people that it has disenfranchised. I expect that a well defined problem will be easily solved.