Main content

The new deal for the 大象传媒 in today's budget. Good for the corporation? Good for the audience?

The 大象传媒 is to take responsibility for free TV licences for the over-75s. Will taking control of an aspect of social welfare policy challenge the corporation's independence?

In today's budget, the Chancellor George Osborne announced that responsibility for the policy and delivery of free TV licences for the over 75s is to be shifted from the government to the 大象传媒 - at a cost of more than half a billion pounds.

To balance that, says the 大象传媒's Director General Tony Hall, the government has committed to let the licence fee increase by inflation; to close the so-called catch-up loophole which permits viewers to watch TV without a licence; and to return the ring-fenced money from the licence fee which is currently being used to support broadband roll-out.

Is it a good deal for the audience and the 大象传媒? Does it mean cuts or continuity? We investigate.

Available now

30 minutes

Broadcast

  • Wed 8 Jul 2015 16:30

Podcast