Over-75s will be asked to opt in to BBC licence
The BBC will ask over-75s to opt back in to pay the licence fee to help fund the corporation, according to one of its senior executives.
The broadcaster agreed to take over responsibility for funding TV licences for over-75s from the government as part of a deal agreed in the run-up to this week's budget.
It will be phased in from 2018/19 with the BBC paying the full bill from 2020/21 while the licence fee of £145.50 will rise in line with the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation.
Writing in a BBC blog, director of policy James Heath said the move would "reduce the BBC's licence fee income by around £725 million" a year.
He said: "We will give those eligible households an opportunity to voluntarily pay for a TV licence and so make a contribution to the cost of the BBC's services."
The deal committing the BBC to fully funding TV licences for over-75s has been described as "awful" and "objectionable" by former Conservative cabinet minister and ex-BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten.
He said corporation bosses signed up to the change because Culture Secretary John Whittingdale was "threatening" them with a much tougher settlement.
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