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BBC silence over licence loophole: Corporation refuses to say how many households do not need one because they catch-up online

More than a million households do not pay the �145.50 annual fee
Corporation fears it could lose out if the figure was known to the public
Many people legally watch TV through catch-up services such as iPlayer

By Larisa Brown

PUBLISHED: 02:13, 5 April 2013 | UPDATED: 07:49, 5 April 2013

The BBC is refusing to disclose how many people say they do not need a television licence because they are watching shows online.

The corporation fears it could lose a significant amount of money if the figure was made known to the public, it emerged last night.

More than a million households do not pay the �145.50 annual fee, according to The Times newspaper.
The BBC turned down a freedom of information request asking for the number of households who had said they didn't need a licence fee

The BBC turned down a freedom of information request asking for the number of households who had said they didn't need a licence fee
Comedian Peter Kay is to star in a new sitcom which will be the first BBC series to be shown in its entirety on catch-up service iPlayer before hitting television screens
John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the Government should discuss alternatives to the licence fee

Comedian Peter Kay, left, is to star in a sitcom that will be shown on iPlayer before terrestrial channels, while Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee chair John Whittingdale, right, said the Government and BBC should discuss an alternative to the licence fee

Instead, many people watch television perfectly legally by using catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player.

Some programmes, such as a forthcoming Peter Kay sitcom, are even being made available on iPlayer before they are broadcast.

The fast growth of catch-up services and videos available online on sites such as YouTube is prompting calls for a review of the licence fee, amid concerns it has not kept pace with changing viewing habits.

John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the Government and the BBC should discuss alternatives to the licence fee.

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�In an era when people are more and more not watching television as it is broadcast, it becomes harder and harder to justify [the licence fee],� he said.

If people do not pay the fee, and receive a letter from TV Licensing, they can choose the option saying �no licence fee needed claim�.

A growing number of people are believed to be taking advantage of the �catch-up� loophole, says the newspaper.

If viewers are happy to wait a few minutes to watch programmes online after they have been shown on television, then there is no need to buy a licence.

With the exception of Match of the Day, almost all programmes are available on catch-up services.
Some programmes are even being made available on iPlayer before they are broadcast

Some programmes are even being made available on iPlayer before they are broadcast

The BBC turned down a freedom of information request asking for the number of households who had said they didn�t need a licence fee.

The corporation refused to disclose the information on the grounds that �disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime [and] the collection of the licence fee�.

It said this was because the information would be �of use to those seeking to evade paying the licence fee�.

Mr Whittingdale urged the BBC to disclose the figures in order to generate a proper debate about the licence fee, including alternative ways of funding, such as subscription.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it might look at changing the scope of the licence fee when deciding the fee that will apply from March 2017.

Its time this TV TAX was stopped, why do we have to pay �450.000 a year to some dancing prat at the BBC to brain wash us about our wonderful government,

2Anne · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 399 Location: Norfolk

Its time the BBC was scaled down and the license fee dropped.
Most of the BBC is utter rubbish and their fixation with news programmes and vile shows like East Enders shows the low standard,.
The sooner they go the better and a small govt.BBC was paid for out of general taxation.
No one likes to be criminalised for not paying out for a license for boring BBC rubbish.