Government said to be planning to push the BBC to a subscription model
Jenny Priestley 3 hours ago
Government said to be planning to push the BBC to a subscription model
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Government said to be planning to push the BBC to a subscription model
https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/making-the-bbc-a-subscription-service-would-be-hugely-positive-for-uk-media-industry title=Share via Email class=share-email>
A rumoured government plan to scrap the licence fee and turn the BBC into a subscription-driven broadcaster would be hugely positive for the UK media industry according to one analyst.
The Sunday Times reported the government is preparing to overhaul the BBC by forcing it to sell off the majority of its radio stations and scale back other parts of the business, as well as ending the licence fee and forcing it to compete against the likes of Netflix and Sky on a subscription model.
In many ways, this would be a better business model than the current licence fee, assuming low churn and premium pricing were components of the subscription, Alex DeGroote, independent media analyst and senior advisor to Trillium Partners, tells TVBEurope.
Subscriptions would be set overall at a higher rate than the current licence fee. In the short to medium term, there might also be meaningful disruption as the BBC made the transition to a mixed economy funding model, he adds.
DeGroote adds that turning the BBC into a subscription-funded broadcaster would be a major shot in the arm for the UK's commercial broadcasters. Talent would move freely, investment would move more freely. The UK is very good at creating premium content, and with the BBC part of the commercial ecosystem, this would be further enhanced. News has been adversely impacted by the BBC's huge investment in online website news provision, which has been to the detriment of the commercial sector (which is often ad-funded). This would reverse.
Since the news broke, supporters of the BBC have taken to social media to express their dismay at the reports #savetheBBC was trending on Twitter for much of the day on Sunday. DeGroote says he believes the majority of viewers would actually support a move to a subscription service. There is a chronic mismatch between the people and age groups who actually consume the BBC, and the people and age groups who the BBC want to appeal to, he says. The BBC is popular with older demographics, not under 35s. It is time the BBC and Ofcom understood that more clearly. But everyone gets older, so the dynamic is not as bad it seems.
Asked whether he thinks the government will be successful with its plans, DeGroote says he thinks so and the technology is already in place to facilitate such a move. The BBC needs to be cherished and nurtured, everyone accepts that, he continues. But long-term strategic planning needs to start now. And from an outside or market perspective, the BBC needs to cooperate with the commercial sector, and with its global PSB cohorts.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
20/01/2026
December, the first month of winter and the holiday season, has traditionally encouraged families to spend time together in front of the television. During this...
20/01/2026
During December, streaming's share of TV viewing in Mexico settled at 24.3%, an increase of 0.1 share points from the previous month.
Disclaimer: YUMI TV,...
20/01/2026
Christmas Day is Most-Streamed Day Ever with 55 Billion Viewing Minutes, led by...
20/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
20/01/2026
Disguise and ASB GlassFloor today announced a strategic partnership that turns the arena floor into a fully customizable interactive digital surface. This will ...
20/01/2026
Last summer, ITV celebrated the tenth anniversary of its popular reality dating show, Love Island. To ramp up the excitement of series 12 (launched in the UK on...
20/01/2026
Berklee's Mark Ethier Named One of SPIN's Most Influential People in Mus...
20/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
20/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
20/01/2026
Emergent, a provider of AI-powered media production solutions, today announced its presence at ISE 2026 in Barcelona, taking place February 3 6, where it will u...
19/01/2026
CFP National Championship 2026: Indiana Football's Digital Crew Generate Hyp...
19/01/2026
CFP National Championship 2026: Van Wagner Relies on Experience for Indiana-Miam...
19/01/2026
CFP National Championship 2026: Game Creek Video Fields Premiere IP Compound for...
19/01/2026
CFP National Championship 2026: For a Slew of Studio Shows, ESPN Turns Hard Rock...
19/01/2026
CFP National Championship 2026: ESPN's Sweeping Live Game Production Leverag...
19/01/2026
The new L3Harris NOVA binocular system is the every-soldier goggle' - and the beginning of a new era for night-vison capability....
19/01/2026
The Majority of Those Surveyed Prefer to Buy Brands Who Advertise in Content Tha...
19/01/2026
New Workflow Enhancements for All Broadcast Pix Systems, Plus 4-Channel ISO Recording for Hybrid and Roadie Tyngsboro, Mass. - January 2025 - Broadcast Pix ann...
19/01/2026
Monday 19 January 2026
Sky News reinvents News at Ten for the modern audience with The Wrap
Sky News today announces The Wrap, a bold evolution of its 10pm ou...
19/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Announces the Series Nights & Days, Directed by Kamila...
19/01/2026
DPA Microphones is striking a new chord in piano miking with the debut of its DPK2015 Piano Stereo Kit, an out-of-the-box, plug-and-play miking solution that ta...
19/01/2026
DPA Microphones will present its 4099 CORE Instrument Microphone and redesigned...
19/01/2026
Trianel relies on Arvato Systems for future-proof data center operations
Moving to the cloud: Arvato Systems implements extensive IT migration project
Migrat...
19/01/2026
Celebrating 21 Years of the RT Choice Music Prize
RT Choice Music Prize
In association with IMRO and IRMA
Irish Album of the Year 2025 - Shortlist Announce...
18/01/2026
January 18 2026, 21:30 (PST) Dolby Cinema Arrives in Bengaluru: Dolby Laborator...
17/01/2026
Lightware, an industry leader in signal management, is helping to elevate the Google Meet experience with the introduction of an integration with Taurus UCX. Th...
17/01/2026
Clear-Com announced a strategic partnership with NETGEAR AV to offer four high-performance networking switches as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) solutio...
17/01/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, today announced a new U.S. distribution partnership wit...
17/01/2026
NUGEN Audio announces the latest evolution of MasterCheck, its industry-trusted optimization plug-in for cross-platform mastering and loudness verification. Des...
17/01/2026
BHV has announced that it will highlight its new SportsBox remote vision mixer and picture processor at ISE in Booth #4H900 marking its official introduction in...
17/01/2026
Clear-Com will return to ISE 2026 to demonstrate its latest intercom solutions for broadcast, live production, and AV professionals. Exhibiting at Stand #4P700...
17/01/2026
Grass Valley, a leading provider in live production solutions, will exhibit at ISE 2026 in Barcelona from February 3 6, presenting its vision for how modern Bro...
17/01/2026
Utelogy Corporation, the global leader in connected workplace management, monitoring, control, automation and analytics closes out a record-breaking 2025. The c...
17/01/2026
FOR-A, a cutting-edge video broadcast technology company backed by more than 50 years experience, will showcase its innovative production solutions at ISE 2026 ...
17/01/2026
Techex, the UK-based expert in live video solutions over IP and cloud, today announced that Tim Jackson has joined the company as Senior Director of Sales and B...
17/01/2026
Redflag AI, an AI-powered content protection platform, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online, today...
17/01/2026
Encompass Digital Media has today announced the appointment of David Hunter as Chief Operating Officer (COO). As a highly respected technology and operations le...
17/01/2026
Glensound is set to showcase its audio and intercom solutions supporting broadcast, live events and professional AV environments at ISE 2026 (stand 7H800, Fira ...
17/01/2026
As Matrox Video marks its 50th year of innovation, the company will use ISE 2026 to showcase the latest advancements across its AV-over-IP ecosystem, highlighti...
17/01/2026
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today announced the nominees for the 2026 HPA Awards Innovation & Technology, marking an expanded evolution of the ...
17/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
16/01/2026
From Berlin to London: Amazon delivers NBA Europe games for an international aud...
16/01/2026
How Vizrt, TriCaster Helped Harvard Athletics Embrace Vertical Video and More to...
16/01/2026
SVG GameDay, Ep. 1: PMY Group's Mike BonnerThe longtime industry veteran provides insight into his approach to producing live eventsBy Kristian Hern ndez, S...
16/01/2026
Attacking the Pin: Inside the PGA TOUR's Replay Remodel With Hawk-Eye Innova...
Government said to be planning to push the BBC to a subscription model
