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About TV Licensing

The BBC and TV Licensing

The BBC is a corporation incorporated under Royal Charter granted by the Monarch under the Royal Prerogative. The current BBC Charter came into force on 1 January 2017 and runs until 31 December 2027. It explicitly recognises the BBC's editorial independence and sets out the Corporation's public purposes. The Charter is supplemented by a Framework Agreement between the BBC and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. It sets out the BBC’s public obligations in detail and covers the BBC's regulatory obligations and funding arrangements.

The Charter and the Framework Agreement provide the constitutional basis for the BBC. The BBC is governed by a Board, which is responsible for the strategic and creative direction of the BBC and is responsible for the proper, effective and independent exercise of all the functions of the BBC in accordance with the provisions of the Charter and the Framework Agreement. Led by the Director-General, the Executive Committee is responsible for the operational management of the BBC, which includes directors from across the BBC.

The BBC is required to issue TV Licences and collect the licence fee under the Communications Act 2003 (opens in a new window). "TV Licensing” is a trade mark used by companies contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of television licence fees and enforcement of the television licensing system. Administration of TV Licensing is contracted to Capita Business Services Limited (‘Capita’). Over-the counter services are provided by PayPoint plc (‘PayPoint’) in the UK, and by the Post Office in the Isle of Man and Channel Islands. Wescot Credit Services Ltd ('Wescot') is the supplier for the Simple Payment Plan. Marketing and printing services are contracted to RAPP Limited. Media services are contracted to Havas Media Limited. The BBC is a public authority in respect of its television licensing functions and retains overall responsibility.

 
Who has oversight of TV Licensing?

The BBC’s contracts with companies engaged to administer the television licensing system are managed by the BBC’s TV Licensing Management Team. The team sits within the BBC’s Chief Customer Officer Group, and ultimately reports to the BBC’s Executive Committee.

The National Audit Office (opens in a new window) (“NAO”) is the BBC’s auditor and reviews statements from TV Licensing contractors as part of annual independent audits of the BBC. The NAO reports to parliament on the BBC’s collection activities in the annual Licence Fee Trust Statement, prepared as required by the Exchequer Act. The BBC is also subject to ad hoc NAO audits and independent internal BBC audits. The TV Licensing Management Team is part of this process, which also includes audit of statements from TV Licensing contractors..

The licence fee is imposed by law (the Communications Act 2003) (opens in a new window) enacted by Parliament (opens in a new window). The licence fee amount is approved by Parliament in Regulations made pursuant to that Act. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (opens in a new window) is the responsible government agency for broadcasting in the UK.

In respect of its powers to use detection equipment under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (opens in a new window) and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (British Broadcasting Corporation) Order 2001 (opens in a new window), as of 1st September 2017 the BBC is subject to the independent oversight of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office (opens in a new window) (“IPCO”).

How can I contact TV Licensing?

TV Licensing can be contacted via:

Who is head of TV Licensing?

Shirley Cameron is the Director of Revenue and Customer Management and heads up the TV Licensing Management Team.

Why does the BBC use contractors to administer the television licensing system?

It is more cost effective than the BBC undertaking these functions in-house. Contracts are awarded following completion of competitive procurement processes undertaken in accordance with EU Public Procurement Regulations.

More information about BBC partners and suppliers can be found at:

www.bbc.com/partnersandsuppliers/

What major contracts does the BBC have with companies engaged to administer the television licensing system?

The BBC contracts the companies listed below to administer the collection of TV Licence fees and enforcement of the television licensing system in the UK:

  • RAPP Limited
  • Capita Business Services Limited
  • PayPoint plc
  • Havas Media Limited
  • Wescot Credit Services Ltd
     
How does the BBC monitor the performance of companies engaged to administer the television licensing system?

The BBC’s TV Licensing Management Team is responsible for ensuring that these companies comply with contractual obligations, and that service standards are continually improving. The contracts define service levels, and specify that contractors must comply, where applicable, with the statutory requirements (such as data protection and equality legislation) incumbent upon the BBC as the responsible public authority in respect of television licensing.

How many staff are employed by companies engaged administer the television licensing system?

TV Licensing contractors are evaluated on value for money and service delivery. Staffing levels are a matter for them and not the BBC.

Does TV Licensing contact people about licences?

Yes. We are required to enforce the law, which means we write to inform unlicensed premises about when they need a TV Licence. Communications are designed to make it simple to get licensed when needed and keep those with a TV Licence up to date with important information about TV Licensing, such as changes in the law. We encourage customers to opt for email communications to minimise environmental impact and reduce cost which allows more to be spent on BBC programmes and services. We also encourage households with no requirement for a licence to let us know so that we can cease letters for an appropriate period.

 

General information about TV Licensing is available in other languages:

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