SAVE 0VER-75s’ FREE TV LICENCES
Theresa May yesterday urged the BBC to ‘think again’ about scrapping free TV licences for the over-75s as figures showed viewers switching off in their droves.
The PM joined campaigners pressuring the corporation over its controversial plan – while it shells out huge salaries for its top stars.
The BBC has said the free licence will only be available to households which receive pension credit from June 2020.
Its annual report on Tuesday revealed that the total pay bill for its 22,000 staff had soared by £83million to £1.48billion.
The report showed that last year over-55s watched almost an hour less BBC TV over the average week than the previous year.
Last night saga, which provides products for the over-50s, said the BBC risked losing even more of its ‘most avid supporters’. speaking during Question Time in the Commons, Mrs May said: ‘The BBC received a good deal with Government in terms of funding. I think there are many people who will ask why it is that the BBC could raise their salary bill for the top performers and personalities at the same time as taking the action that they have done on TV licences. The BBC need to think again.’
The annual report showed over55s spent 12 hours, 54 minutes watching BBC TV every week in 2018-19 – down from 13 hours, 53 minutes the year before. They spent 14 hours, 31 minutes a week listening to BBC radio – down from 15 hours, 10 minutes.
The report also showed the proportion of each age group tuning into BBC TV and radio weekly has fallen. a total of 92 per cent of over-55s watch BBC TV each week, but 56 per cent of 16-34 year olds do. some 72 per cent of over55s listen to BBC radio a week, but just 51 per cent of the younger group do.
Lisa harris, chief executive of saga, said the free TV licence for over-75s was an ‘absolute lifeline’.
she insisted: ‘Many over-75s today have been long-time supporters of the BBC and the principles they believed it always stood for. however, with the withdrawal of the free TV licence and stories that suggest the BBC may not have been entirely transparent about the wages of some of its biggest stars, they risk losing some of their most avid supporters.’
sophie andrews, of older people’s helpline silver Line, said: ‘Many of our callers are extremely worried that they might lose their free TV licence. Between the Government and the BBC this needs to be resolved and we urge them to consider the wider implications for the well-being of older people.’
IF an organisation was caught exploiting a loophole to cover up exorbitant pay rises to its staff, imagine the howls of outrage from the BBC.
But while purporting to be a champion of transparency, that is exactly what the Corporation is doing.
BBC bosses hoodwink the public by giving outrageous rewards to stars through its commercial arm, BBC Studios, whose payroll remains shrouded in secrecy.
It means the taxpayer-funded salaries thrown at already fabulously remunerated big names are never disclosed. That cynical stunt should end right now.
Isn’t it sticking two fingers up at pensioners being stripped of their free TV licences when the bill for presenters – who often just parrot off an autocue – is soaring?
When hard-pressed over-75s are forced to pay £154.50 a year, the Beeb cannot keep enjoying the best of both worlds – the perks of the public sector and salaries that go with commercial enterprise.
Theresa May says the Corporation must ‘think again’. She’s never been more right.