BBC Asks For Licence Fee Increase To £110 In 4 Years

The BBC director-general, John Birt, is to press the Government to increase the licence fee to what could be over £110 by 2002. A £6 increase to the licence fee was introduced in April this year under a five year agreement created with the previous Government.

The BBC is now telling Labour that it will fall into a cycle of decline if it does not receive more money in the last two years of the five year deal. “Modest, incremental, real increases” are required according to Birt whose annual remuneration was recently increased by 9% to £387,000.

The BBC will start a public campaign before laying down licence fee proposals to the Labour Government. Birt says that he must have the assent, and ultimately support, of the British public, if the Corporation is to justify a rise in the licence fee.

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