Should the BBC be downscaled?
The Government has launched a consultation on the future of the BBC ahead of its 2016 Royal Charter renewal. Its main focus is, controversially, on downscaling the BBC. So we wanted to test attitudes on this, with some deliberately stark options.
How it works today: You need a TV licence to watch any TV channel (not just BBC), unless you only watch catch-up (see our Do I need a TV licence? guide) – but the TV licence primarily funds BBC TV, national & local radio and BBC online. Overseas services can be funded by commercial profits.
Should the BBC be downscaled? Please choose the option NEAREST to your opinion.
The Government has launched a consultation on the future of the BBC ahead of its 2016 Royal Charter renewal. Its main focus is, controversially, on downscaling the BBC. So we wanted to test attitudes on this, with some deliberately stark options.
How it works today: You need a TV licence to watch any TV channel (not just BBC), unless you only watch catch-up (see our Do I need a TV licence? guide) – but the TV licence primarily funds BBC TV, national & local radio and BBC online. Overseas services can be funded by commercial profits.
Should the BBC be downscaled? Please choose the option NEAREST to your opinion.
Results
I'm aged under 25 (514 votes)
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| No, make it bigger – increase the licence fee to pay for more |  | 39 votes (8%) |
| No, make it bigger – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 24 votes (5%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – and same licence fee (rising with inflation) | | 168 votes (33%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 68 votes (13%) |
| Yes, downscale TV arm to news plus other programmes you wouldn’t get elsewhere – cut but keep the licence fee | | 27 votes (5%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by ads | | 21 votes (4%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by subscription | | 10 votes (2%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by advertising | | 107 votes (21%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by subscription | | 30 votes (6%) |
| Close the BBC entirely | | 20 votes (4%) |
I'm aged 25 to 34 (2201 votes)
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| No, make it bigger – increase the licence fee to pay for more | | 118 votes (5%) |
| No, make it bigger – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 65 votes (3%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – and same licence fee (rising with inflation) | | 804 votes (37%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 271 votes (12%) |
| Yes, downscale TV arm to news plus other programmes you wouldn’t get elsewhere – cut but keep the licence fee | | 104 votes (5%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by ads | | 62 votes (3%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by subscription | | 39 votes (2%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by advertising | | 536 votes (24%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by subscription | | 146 votes (7%) |
| Close the BBC entirely | | 56 votes (3%) |
I’m aged 35 to 49 (4443 votes)
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| No, make it bigger – increase the licence fee to pay for more | | 191 votes (4%) |
| No, make it bigger – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 134 votes (3%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – and same licence fee (rising with inflation) | | 1793 votes (40%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 526 votes (12%) |
| Yes, downscale TV arm to news plus other programmes you wouldn’t get elsewhere – cut but keep the licence fee | | 190 votes (4%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by ads | | 103 votes (2%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by subscription | | 83 votes (2%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by advertising | | 1040 votes (23%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by subscription | | 272 votes (6%) |
| Close the BBC entirely | | 111 votes (2%) |
I'm aged 50 to 64 (5390 votes)
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| No, make it bigger – increase the licence fee to pay for more | | 267 votes (5%) |
| No, make it bigger – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 175 votes (3%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – and same licence fee (rising with inflation) | | 2161 votes (40%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 704 votes (13%) |
| Yes, downscale TV arm to news plus other programmes you wouldn’t get elsewhere – cut but keep the licence fee | | 262 votes (5%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by ads | | 151 votes (3%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by subscription | | 87 votes (2%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by advertising | | 1195 votes (22%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by subscription | | 281 votes (5%) |
| Close the BBC entirely | | 107 votes (2%) |
I'm aged 65+ (3670 votes)
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| No, make it bigger – increase the licence fee to pay for more | | 139 votes (4%) |
| No, make it bigger – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 112 votes (3%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – and same licence fee (rising with inflation) | | 1455 votes (40%) |
| No, keep roughly as now – but scrap licence fee and pay for it from general taxation | | 452 votes (12%) |
| Yes, downscale TV arm to news plus other programmes you wouldn’t get elsewhere – cut but keep the licence fee | | 363 votes (10%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by ads | | 97 votes (3%) |
| Yes, to just news, weather, radio, website – via huge cut to licence fee & rest funded by subscription | | 59 votes (2%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by advertising | | 687 votes (19%) |
| Scrap BBC special status & licence fee – fund by subscription | | 179 votes (5%) |
| Close the BBC entirely | | 127 votes (3%) |
16,218 votes received.
We try to use technology to limit voting to one per person. Occasionally, this may erroneously block a few people's votes (eg, from shared offices). Apologies for that.
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