Survey: BBC licence fee doesn’t offer value for money
July 12, 2017
Research conducted by Broadband Genie has found more than half (60 per cent) of the public believe the TV licence doesn’t offer good value for money. Additionally, it seems many believe the current system is outdated, as 68 per cent say it’s unfair for users to have to pay for a licence if they’re just watching live content online which isn’t produced by the BBC.
With the licence fee now increasing with inflation and BBC content becoming harder to access online, viewers are more tempted than ever to switch to a streaming service. Ninety-one per cent of respondents say streaming services provide quality content, and 93 per cent say they offer good value for money, compared to the 40 per cent who say the TV licence offers good value for money
A survey by Broadband Genie in August 2016 found 39 per cent of TV licence subscribers were considering cancelling their licence for a streaming service in the near future. However, that same survey found the vast majority (73 per cent) believed the UK was better off with the BBC.
A study carried out by research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics in December 2016, suggested that 71 per cent of people feel the BBC is important to them personally and 71 per cent are satisfied with the services it provides. The older and more affluent people are, the more positive they’re likely to be about the BBC. Consequently, only 29 per cent of people feel the licence fee should be scrapped and support for it rises with age and income. It’s seen as the most popular main way to fund the BBC (admittedly, by a minority 41 per cent of respondents), ahead of advertising (28 per cent) and a subscription fee only for those who use BBC services (15 per cent).
Rob Hilborn, Head of Strategy at Broadband Genie, said: “Streaming providers such as Netflix and Amazon have set the bar incredibly high when it comes to quality programming. They not only consistently churn out amazing content, but they’re doing it at a very attractive cost for consumers. There is no doubt the BBC is still a valuable and loved brand that delivers great programming and services, but the current model is outdated and restrictive for users in 2017. The licence can feel like an expensive barrier you’re forced to pay to get the content you actually want from other providers.”