BBC iPlayer fee: Viewers of catch-up service could be charged to offset £650m of cuts

‘Viewers could be charged for tuning to BBC programmes on its iPlayer and other online catch-up services to compensate for a £650m a year cut in government funding.

George Osborne confirmed that he has asked the BBC to foot the £650m bill for free television licences for the over-75s to make a “contribution” to balancing the nation’s books. The plan, revealed by The Independent last month, is expected to be phased in from 2017.

The Chancellor hopes to strike a deal with BBC bosses under which they would be allowed to charge for digital services, which could raise at least £150m. It is unclear how the charges would be levied. The £650m cut represents about a fifth of the BBC’s £3.7bn income from the licence fee.’

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