On Thursday, the BBC Trust confirmed that they were freezing the price for the cost of a TV License until 2013. Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt and the rest of the government have managed to convince the BBC to keep the current fee, which stands at £145 the same.
The Trust has proposed a two-year freeze, due to the economic recovery, although Mr. Hunt still wants to review the structure again in 2012. Understandably, Mr. Hunt was delighted at the BBC Trust’s decision.
"I have made it clear that the BBC needs to take proper account of the current economic climate and this move, which comes with the Trust's assurances that it will not significantly impact on the quality of services provided to licence fee payers, will be welcomed by the public."
Traditionally, the BBC is required to increase the TV license every financial year by 2%, but the recent recession, and the budget cuts that the corporation has been forced to make of late has made this an almost untenable rise. The news come on the same week that the current chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons announced that he would not be standing for election at the end of the year and the corporation’s drama controller was placed on ‘gardening leave,’ as she is joining Channel 4 next January.
There have been many calls in recent months for the BBC to either reduce or axe the TV License fee, neither were really logistical. However, this is a step forward between the BBC and the coalition government, so it is a positive move, whatever the final outcome may be.
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