The television licence fee could be extended to cover catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer as part of an overhaul of the levy being considered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
British viewers must pay for a £145.50 television licence if they watch or record programmes as they are broadcast, whether viewed via a television, computer, mobile phone or video games console. However, computer catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer – via which 153m television and radio programmes were broadcast in September – do not require a licence.
The issue is likely to intensify over the next year, as a rash of new internet-enabled set-top boxes, including the BBC-backed YouView, are expected to launch.
on Nov 4th, 2011 at 09:32
Will Youview ever launch? Its a great concept but it has had so many delays, and Youview themselves have’nt spelt out exactly what it will or will not be capable of doing.