Overview

• A new expert panel, including David Elstein and Sir Peter Bazalgette, has been formed to review the BBC's funding model, considering alternatives to the licence fee.
• The review aims to assess the sustainability of the current licence fee system and explore options for a more progressive funding model, such as a TV tax or subscription-based services.
• The panel will also examine ways for the BBC to increase commercial revenues and transition to any new funding model.
• The government has launched the review amid concerns that the current licence fee system is unsustainable in the streaming age.
• Any final decisions on the BBC’s funding model will be made as part of the upcoming Charter review, with the licence fee confirmed to remain until December 2027.