Press Releases

The BBC management today issued a press statement following publication of the BBC Trust's review of licence fee collection.

The statement, from Zarin Patel, Chief Financial Officer, reads: "The BBC welcomes the Trust's recommendations and is pleased that it recognises the major progress achieved by TV Licensing in reducing evasion and collection costs, so that as much money as possible goes to the BBC's programmes and services.

"We will closely examine and act on the Trust's recommendations on the tone of TV Licensing's early reminders and letters to households with no TV sets. We keep our letters under constant review so the Trust's guidance and the public's views in this area are very welcome. We appreciate the Trust's endorsement that strong messages in our later letters are needed to deter evasion.

"We strive constantly to make paying the licence fee as easy as possible and will discuss future payment plan options with the Trust and the Government, which sets and regulates the payment plan rules.

"We will report back to the Trust in June with an action plan."

Notes to Editors

The BBC is a public authority in respect of its television licensing functions and retains overall responsibility for collection of the licence fee. "TV Licensing" is a trade mark used by companies contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of television licence fees and enforcement of the television licensing system.

The majority of administration is contracted to Capita Business Services Ltd (which undertakes the majority of the administration of the TV Licensing system), with cash related payment schemes contracted to Revenues Management Services Ltd (RMS). Over the counter services are provided by PayPoint plc. Marketing and public relations activities are contracted to the AMV Consortium. The consortium is made up of the following four companies: Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO Ltd, Fishburn Hedges Boys Williams Limited, PHD Media Limited and Proximity London Ltd.

Since the BBC took over responsibility for licence fee collection from the Home Office in 1991, the evasion rate has fallen from 12.7% to 5.1% last year. The annual cost of collection has declined to 3.6%, its lowest ever level, and a record 25m licences are in force. (Figures for financial year 2007/2008)

Information on TV Licensing

If you use or install television equipment to receive or record television programmes as they are being broadcast, you need to be covered by a valid TV Licence. Viewing television without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Paying for a TV Licence: a colour TV Licence currently costs £139.50. A black and white TV Licence currently costs £47.00. From 1 April 2009 a colour licence will cost £142.50 and a black and white licence will cost £48. The level of the licence fee is set by Government.

Ways to pay:

Over-the-counter – people can now pay at any of almost 20,000 PayPoint outlets across the country

Direct Debit - monthly, quarterly or annual Direct Debit payment schemes are available and can be set up online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/directdebit. To find out more about paying in weekly instalments over the counter, online, by text message or over the phone on the cash payment plan, call 08457 289 289

Online – people are now able to pay online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info by Direct Debit or with a debit or credit card

Debit or credit card over the phone - this facility accepts payment from a range of debit cards including Maestro, Delta and Connect

By post – send a cheque made payable to TV Licensing to: TV Licensing, Bristol BS98 1TL

For Easy Read information about TV Licensing visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/easyread.

For more information about TV Licensing please visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info or call 0844 800 6732.

BBC Press Office