We tested life without BBC content for one week to see if the compulsory £174.50 licence fee is still justified in 2025
Switching off the BBC made no difference to my life and made me realise the TV Licence needs to go(Image: Getty)
The £174.50 licence fee has always been a point of contention, but it’s become even more so recently. Despite its long-standing presence, I’ve never really questioned it until last month when BBC Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness were compelled to step down amid bias allegations in their coverage.
With the public being charged a mandatory fee amidst a series of scandals, justifying the licence fee is becoming increasingly challenging. So, I decided to experience life without it in response to the growing calls for its abolition.
I was completely cut off from BBC content – no news, no Strictly Come Dancing, absolutely nothing. A week later, what had changed?
Nothing, really.
I found numerous other streaming platforms to occupy my evenings, and staying informed was a breeze with social media and the plethora of other news sources available.
Sure, I missed my weekly Strictly fix, but most clips are readily available on social media. As for TV series, Netflix’s Stranger Things kept me hooked for the past week.
Life carried on as usual.
If there’s one thing this licence-free week has taught me, it’s that the current system is antiquated and doesn’t belong in 2025.
There’s no question that the BBC creates some fantastic programmes. Like many, I’m eagerly anticipating the return of Line of Duty.
However, compelling people to pay for something they may not need is a different issue altogether. It’s not a subscription; it’s a legal obligation, and we’re required to pay it whether we tune into the BBC or not.
ITV doesn’t charge a licence fee, and while adverts can be somewhat bothersome, I’d prefer the BBC to be ad-funded rather than draining precious funds in today’s Britain. Turning off the BBC made me realise that it’s no longer the dominant broadcaster.
Life continues, news still emerges, and other streaming platforms keep flourishing. My week without the BBC has reinforced my belief that the mandatory licence fee is outdated.
If politicians like Rachel Reeves are going to make us shell out more elsewhere, shouldn’t there be more aspects of life where we have the freedom to choose whether we want to pay or not?
Ultimately, it served as a reminder that no one should be obliged to finance something they might never watch.
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