The BBC iPlayer is currently a free service to all those living in the UK. However, that could be about to change, with the BBC considering a range of options to cover the cost of the service, currently not a part of the TV license fee. So, would you pay to use the BBC iPlayer?
The BBC iPlayer
is an astoundingly solid and reliable service which offers all UK residents the chance to watch BBC programming for up to seven days after broadcast. It has gained in popularity massively over the last year or so and is now used by a fair portion of British television viewers.
With that in mind, you’d think that the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) would be happy with the way things are going with its Web strategy. And it is to a certain extent. However, there’s one massive loophole that the BBC, or at least its technology chief Erik Huggers, thinks needs closing. As usual, it comes down to money.
TV Licensing
For those not resident in the UK, you may not be aware that all UK residents have to pay a license fee just for the privilege of watching television. The current annual price of £142.50 pays for all of the BBC’s output, including analog and digital television channels, and the range of BBC radio stations. But not, as it turns out, the iPlayer.
Because the iPlayer only allows viewers to watch BBC content after the original broadcast, it isn’t actually covered in the license fee. Sure, the BBC has to use license fee payers money to maintain the service but anyone in the UK can legally watch (or listen) to BBC-made programming without having an up-to-date television license.
Huggers’ Loophole
Speaking recently to the Broadcasting Press Guild, Erick Huggers, the man in charge of the iPlayer and a host of other BBC services, gave his opinion on the loophole, with The Register reporting him as saying:
“My view is that if you are using the iPlayer you have to be a television license fee payer. I don’t believe in a free ride. If you are consuming BBC services then you have to be a license holder.”
“I do know we are seriously looking at what is the impact on new digital technology on something we currently call the TV licensing.”
Options, Options, Options
If the BBC does decide to act to close this loophole then there are very few options open. One is to increase the license fee to help cover the cost. But that would penalize those people who obey the law but have no interest in using the iPlayer. Otherwise the BBC will have to charge for the iPlayer, either by way of a separate license purely for video-on-demand or via an iPlayer subscription fee.
I really cannot see the former option being taken up because many people already resent the license fee and would be angered if asked to pay more. So it looks as though the iPlayer will have to become a paid-for service sooner rather than later. Which will clearly hit viewer numbers.
Conclusions
One upside of charging for the iPlayer is that the service could then be made available to non-British residents. If people from other countries are willing to pay the fees required to cover bandwidth costs then why shouldn’t the BBC take advantage of that?
The BBC has stated that Erik Huggers opinions are his and his alone. While The Department for Culture Media and Sport, the sector of the British government in charge of TV licensing, has stated there are currently no plans to change legislation to include the Internet in the license fee. But I’m fairly sure that position will change over time.
