Hunt hints at BBC licence fee review

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has hinted at a potential licence fee review, after claiming that VOD viewing will make the BBC licence fee obsolete sooner rather than later.

In his first interview since joining the cabinet, Hunt underlined his support for the BBC and said the government is “committed to the principle that the BBC should have a ring-fenced pot of money over a multi-year period”.

However,  Hunt said that as technology develops and viewing habits change, the BBC may have to adapt to a new form of funding.  “It is not going to be possible to have a tax every time anyone buys a computer,” he said.

Hunt, who openly criticised the BBC when in opposition, said the public deserve “value for money” from the corporation.

In the past, Hunt said the Conservatives would “rip up” the BBC’s royal charter and licence fee agreement, although he later claimed to have ruled out making such changes to the BBC.

Speaking to the MediaGuardian now, Hunt has hinted at plans to review the licence fee as early as next year, five years before the end of its charter.

Hunt is also expected to cut certain industry regulations, which he said date back to a “pre-internet era”, such as CRR.

“CRR is an example of micro regulation that we can do without. Telling people the price at which they can sell airtime is an example of regulation inherited from the pre-internet era. It’s very important if we are going to have, not just a strong BBC but strong competition to BBC, that we look at whether that regulation is appropriate,” he said.