[Brekkie]

It's a debate really with no easy answers and the most likely alternatives to the licence fee will be a licence fee in all but name - and if it's based on the models of European countries who've replaced the licence fee it will almost certainly be a levy which will likely cost many people more than currently without the option to opt out (even for businesses) - but with a lower rate for those on lower incomes. Advertising isn't an option as it would kill the rest of the market, which is already on life support - and for similar reasons I doubt streamers and pay-TV providers would be keen on them being a direct subscription competitor too.

Hopefully the DG now putting pressure on the government to fund World Service again will see results after the election, and funding S4C independently once more would ease pressure on BBC finances and make finding a longer term solution more viable.


Ironically Gladiators might well be the saviour of the BBC - on paper it's the sort of show that should be left to the commercial market but it's return, alongside shows like The Wheel and Big Show, has shown how the BBC has a role to play in providing entertainment programming for the masses. Of course too the reality of the licence fee nowadays is it doesn't remain within the BBC - through independent commissions many producers and of course ITV do receive a good chunk of it through commissions which supports the wider industry at a time when the industry is doing it pretty tough.