The BBC is considering charging web users to watch TV programmes using its iPlayer catch-up TV service. Update: BBC: no plans to charge for iPlayer.
The BBC iPlayer is currently free and offers UK web access to TV and radio shows that have previously been broadcast on its channels. However, one of a number of ideas currently being mulled over by the corporation includes the introduction of a 'pay-per-view' system.
The BBC told The Guardian it was not planning to create a "two-tier" licence fee system, and was instead simply "a micropayment to cover costs including payments that would have to be made to programme makers for the rights".
"We never stop future-gazing at the BBC and there are always a number of new ideas under discussion. Any such ideas would need to be developed in conjunction with the industry and with rights-holders and they would certainly not lead to a two-tier licence fee," the BBC added.
ITV has already revealed plans to charge web users to access bespoke content that will only be made available through its ITV Player online TV service.
In July last year, the broadcaster said it will begin a trial of paid-for internet-only shows or 'webisodes' of its popular shows such as Coronation Street and The Only Way is Essex at the start of this year.
However, it confirmed shows that have already been broadcast on TV will remain free to watch via the online catch-up TV service. Although ITV did not say how much the 'webisodes' will cost or whether they'll be subject to a one-off fee or a monthly subscription.
Have your say in our poll: Should the BBC charge for iPlayer use?
Comments
LevonTostig said: Too easy to solve: BBC license shows to Netflix and Hulu, and whatever isn't on iTunes, get on to iTunes. Shows that are worth watching will be paid for by the global market.
sirjohng said: The TV Licence Fee is for the use of a television receiver with which to watch ANY TV programmes thus:A television licence is required for each household where television programmes are watched as they are broadcast, irrespective of the signal method (terrestrial, satellite, cable or the Internet). A licence is not required, however, if you use your television only to watch DVDs or play video games, or you only watch programmes on your computer after they have been shown on TV.The licence fee is used almost entirely to fund the BBC's domestic radio, television and internet services. The money received from the fee represents approximately 75% of the cost of these services with most of the remainder coming from the profits of BBC Worldwide
uksnapper said: I made enquiries about getting a copy of a programme a couple of years ago as a house I was living in at the time was featured in it.When I got the appropriate form to fill out and return along with my cheque for £150 I decided that it was overpriced so did not purchaseIm happy to pay modest fees for visual entrainment via the internet as an alternative to an annual licence fee,paying only for what I would watch and being able to watch archived programmes would be very useful
Johnyboy said: Oh dear, here we go again. 40p a day for 24 hour access to ALL Freeview television including 4 HD channels. Come on, I am a pensioner now but I started thinking about how to pay for things when I retired, years ago, it is called budgeting. Free bus passes, special concessionary rates to enter practically any venue, cafes / restaurants that have special concessionary days, the list goes on. Try living where there is no Beeb as Matt says, you would soon change your tune then.
Peage said: If they do this, then I will simply stop using the service, like many others.The BBC should look at the money it pays some of its so-called talent, reduce this, sack a few executives etc., not keep hitting the poor consumer.
Nkn said: I think it will just increase TV piracy. There are alreadynumerous sources to get TV programmes and now people have got used to havingthe service freely and readily available there will be more tempted. Also anybody remember the good old VHS/DVD recorders and thenewer PVR’s?
Snuffy said: This could backfire badly. They might find more potential viewers going elsewhere. More calls for an end to the Licence Fee which is already looking pretty well doomed. And some programme makers (a lot of Beeb content is from independents) may not want to have their work subjected to, effectively, a 'popularity trial by money' system after it has had its first broadcast.
Matt Egan said: Hi Jim. I take your point, and you have my sympathies (and the use of PC Advisor for free!) I assume you know that over 75s don’t have to pay, but you are in the happy position of being retired and under 75. I still think the licence fee is a bargain: compare what you get for just over a tenner a month across TV, radio and online, with what you’d get for paying Sky, BT or Virgin that much. It’s a lot more, let me tell you.
Mr Jim Hawkin said: Mr EganThe License Fee may be an "absolute bargain to you" but to us OAP's its more than a weeks pension and there are a lot of people who struggle to pay it that are not pensioners. You on your many thousands of pounds a year have no idea how some people managed to scrape this amount together every year or live in fear of a knock on the door. May I also remind you that PCA is also read by poor people as well as your affluent readers.Thank-you for your time.
Matt Egan said: It is absolutely not taxation. Don’t access colour TV services and you don’t have to pay it. It’s a service you can choose to pay for. As to your second point: although there are, clearly, issues with the way the BBC is funded and supervised, I suspect it works out as the least worst option (despite the layers of bureaucracy that are the principle issue I have with the organisation). I wouldn’t, for instance, want the government of the day to closely supervise the BBC – would you? Much of the money spent by the BBC goes to independents, but the non-commercial nature of the BBC means it can commission content other stations never would. I just returned from a week in the US and, trust me, that makes you pine for the BBC.
Howard said: MATT,I agree with the free loading statement, but you are totally incorrect the TV license of course it is taxation if you receive the BBC it is a mandatory requirement failure to do so can lead to your internment in HM. Prisons.This way the BBC have a phenomenal amount of guaranteed money to use with very little or no supervision. To my mind this is not the way forward it makes it very unfair for the independents to progress or compete when they who are solely funded by their own expertise and commercial funding that they have to compete with what is a very dubiously managed service funded by....taxation.
Matt Egan said: It's not a tax: you can choose not to pay it as long as you choose not to access BBC services. I can only assume that's what you do, because if you ever watch BBC tv or listen to BBC radio, your principled stance on tax is merely window dressing for freeloading off the rest of us.
Two_cents_worth said: I don't pay a licence fee because I believe the Licence Fee is a tax, yet there is NO representation. No taxation without representation. It's simple. Make the BBC properly accountable to the public and then I'll pay the tax. iPlayer is great but if they charge, the same applies. You want to tax me, give me representation!
thebewilderedprophet said: I guess when this happens I'll just stick to netflix
David smith said: bbc aren't perfect, but they make the best documentaries in the world by far. & provide a free online news service if charging a bit for iplayer allows them to continue as a global force, good on them. better than rupert murdoch & his corporate cronies controlling everythingsome of you chumps could do well to remember that
Tim Page said: Whoa.. the very Guardian article this piece is lifted from says that a charge is being considered for stuff which HAS ALREADY COME OFF iPLAYER, not for using the current iPlayer service.So it's a new service, enabling you to see older stuff than the current rights agreements allow to go on "catch-up".Your licence fee would already cover what you get already, and the BBC would offer new ways to see older stuff.. just like you can get Frozen Planet on DVD (in return for - shock horror - *money*, even though you paid for its production).
Johnyboy said: Indeed the Licence Fee is a steal as the Beeb's programmes are among the best in the world for content and technically and as RuralMikeUK says, use the PVR!
Matt Egan said: 'I moved abroad and now can't enjoy the benefits of living in the UK'. That's up there with when ex-pats say, without irony, they moved abroad because of all the foreigners in the UK (not that I am suggesting this is inputkm's attitude). There's a grey market for spoofed IP addresses in many ex-pat communities purely to use the iPlayer. It doesn't cost the licence fee payer anything, but it those people *were* paying something, we'd all enjoy the benefits. (And, for the record, I think the Licence Fee is an absolute bargain.)
Beargroupster said: not only that the country has not got good Broadband speeds every where.Most times you struggle to get 4 mbs. Charge, charge ,charge but do not upgrade the infrastructure!!
tony robinson said: skip the crappy license fee and bring in ads! They might as well as they pump out too many so called public information clips anyway. They are stuck in the dark ages. Grab grab grab,i am sick of it!!!