MPs have urged the BBC to cut its £180 licence fee while extending it beyond television sets to devices such as mobiles and laptops. The Commons culture committee says a broader, cheaper charge could encourage more households to pay, as the Government considers how the BBC will be funded and governed from 2028.

The committee cited figures suggesting 94 per cent of people use the BBC, but only 80 per cent have a licence; 27 million households own a television, while fewer than 24 million licences are in force. Director general Matt Brittin said the BBC had lost £1.2 billion to £1.3 billion in licence fee income over ten years, partly because fewer households paid, and evidence suggested fewer than 40 per cent might pay by 2037/38. MPs also proposed keeping a household levy under consideration, making the charter review permanent and strengthening the BBC’s independence from political interference.