For as long as I can remember the BBC has been getting stick surrounding the license fee that all TV owners in the UK are forced to pay. Countless times do I hear that it will be dispensed or that the Beeb will have to stick with what it has at the moment, as charging the British public more will not be tolerated. Whatever you position on this argument and whether you hate or love the BBC, it is undeniable that it has shaped broadcasting and has contributed more than most to cultural ‘stimulation’ of a nation.

The BBC’s commercial arm, BBC worldwide has the enormous job of making money from BBC programming outside of the TV license land. It is here that I have a few simple ideas about how the Beeb from an outsider prospective could help cash in a few extra pounds.

One of the most successful releases that the BBC has made in recent years, beyond Digital Channels was the introduction of the BBC iPlayer. Inevitably transmitted TV and IPTV will become one of the same, and once broadband becomes ubiquitous and fast enough to cope with millions streaming content at any one point, the airways will no doubt be given over to wifi. With this being said more pressure will be placed on the BBC to offer on demand TV and therefore make available all their historic and new content.

This opens up a massive revenue stream for the BBC internationally. While I hope that for the time being the license fee remains in place for those in the UK. My backing for this ‘tax’ is thanks to Stephan Fry’s lecture on public service broadcasting, which is both witty and powerful; it sufficiently makes all the right arguments for me. For those that want to watch or read more, I urge and recommend you to.

Back to the revenue stream. Just like the exceptional News website which internationally features advertising. This content could also be opened up to the same revenue stream. Even more profitable is that of international subscription or pay for programming. If this would take off which I am sure that it would, this additional revenue could not only be invested in providing infrastructure to building a historic library but also allow for more money to be given to programme creation. This after all is one of the most important tasks of the BBC, to provide original programming, that entertains, informs and without bias provides the nation information.

Beyond opening up content internationally and ensuring it is priced similarly as the license fee paying inhabitants of the UK. I would also like to see the BBC slicing and dicing it’s content so that TV would be streamed as pure audio on digital radio. I’m sure there isn’t as much money in this, but it sure would be useful to not to have to miss programmes because you need to travel, or want to watch sport/go out while listening to Top Gear etc.

Anyway what are your thoughts on the license fee? is this a good idea? could it help the BBC to reduce it’s fees in the UK, while still earning the money to make the organisation as good as it now? – Please do comment with your thoughts.

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