A campaign demanding free BBC TV licences for all state pensioners has gained significant momentum, with over 20,000 people signing a petition on the Parliamentary website. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is now required to respond to the calls, which seek to reduce the TV licence fee from £180 to £0 for every state pensioner.
The Labour Party government faces growing pressure as the petition, which needs only 10,000 signatures to mandate a government response, has already surpassed that threshold. The petition states: "We want the Government to fund free TV licences for existing pensioners and those who reach the official retirement age. When people reach retirement age, we think they should receive a state-financed free TV licence."
Campaigners argue that many pensioners live on a tight budget, relying heavily on television for companionship. With rising food costs and increasing utility bills, they believe providing a free TV licence is a necessary concession. The petition adds: "We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries."
Currently, the TV licence is free only for those receiving Pension Credit, a benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The licence covers all TV channels, including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave, and international channels, as well as pay TV services like Sky, Virgin Media, and EE TV. It also covers live TV on streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, and all content on BBC iPlayer.
If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. The petition remains open until 21 July 2026.
