The BBC's funding model is back at the centre of debate in London, with October 15 reporting saying the licence fee could be overhauled and a levy on streaming services is among the options under consideration.
The corporation's royal charter, which sets out its governance and funding, is being renegotiated with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport under Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, and the current charter runs to December 2027.
A BBC spokesperson said the corporation has consistently argued the current funding model is outdated and needs reform, and that it will keep engaging with government on a model that is sustainable and universal. A department spokesperson said a range of options is being looked at and no final decisions have been made.
A Whitehall source quoted in the reporting warned that added levy revenue would not by itself close the BBC's funding gaps, while supporters of the idea argue some of the money should help sustain local journalism. The decision will shape how Britain's public broadcaster is paid for well into the next decade.
