Scrap TV licence, says Lineker
MATCH Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker has said the TV licence fee should become a voluntary charge.
The former England striker’s comments will spark anger among bosses at the BBC which is in a battle with Government over how it is funded.
Lineker, the highest-paid BBC star with earnings of £1.75million in 2018-19, said the licence fee was the broadcaster’s “fundamental problem” and in need of reform.
The £154.50 annual charge on every household watching television should be abolished he said adding: “You’re forced to pay it if you want a TV and therefore it’s a tax.”
Lineker suggested the fee – which is currently enforced through the criminal courts – should become voluntary and be charged at higher rate to subsidise elderly viewers.
He said: “I would make the licence fee voluntary. I’ve always said for a long time, I would make it voluntary. I don’t know the logistics of how it would work.
“You would lose some people, but at the same time you’d up the price a bit. It’s the price of a cup of coffee a week at the moment. If you put it up you could help older people, or those that can’t afford it.”
Downing Street is already looking at decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee – a decision that could cost the broadcaster hundreds of millions of pounds in funding.
The system is guaranteed to exist for the next seven years, although last week BBC director general Tony Hall announced he would quit to allow his successor to negotiate the amount it can charge from 2022.
The BBC’s news operation is also preparing to announce deep cuts tomorrow in a bid to make millions of pounds of cost savings.
The corporation has already confirmed plans to scrap the awardwinning Victoria Derbyshire show, while substantial redundancies are on the cards.
Meanwhile former chief political correspondent John Sergeant has said the BBC needs to become a subscription service or face carrying adverts if it is to survive.
Writing in the Radio Times Sergeant, 75, said: “It’s hard to see how the BBC can last in its present form for much longer. The average age of the audience is increasing, the number of viewers is falling.
“Young people are more likely to be hooked on their tablets and smartphones. It is time to think of different ways of paying for BBC programmes, whether it be some form of payment by subscription, as well as programme sponsorship, if not a move towards advertising in general.”