THE BBC: AFTER THE LICENCE FEE?

Autumn 2025 is the start of a process that could prove existential for the BBC — negotiations with the government on the next Royal Charter and the level of licence fee. Debate on this has never been more febrile. Anti-BBC talk now comes from friends as well as enemies. What is the BBC getting right, and what wrong? Are there viable alternatives to the licence fee? What will the organisation look like after 2027?

Some answers are in this thirty-six chapter book. Two BBC Director-Generals, former senior television executives, media journalists, and media academics contribute.

The editors

This is John Mair’s sixty-fourth edited book — and his sixth on the BBC. He is a former BBC producer.

Andrew Beck has edited nine books in the last four years. A former teacher he now works as an adviser, author, and editor.

Janine Chandler worked in brands and innovation, as BBC Head of Brand Strategy, and now leads Jump In Puddles, a certified B Corp consultancy.