Ofcom Chief Labels BBC Licence ‘Regressive Tax’, Calls for Funding Review

A prominent activist has labelled the BBC as ‘anti-public,’ while GB News has had its model of hiring active politicians as presenters praised as ‘innovative.’

The scene at BBC Broadcasting House in London, after red paint was sprayed over the entrance on Oct. 14, 2023. James Manning/PA

In an interview with the Financial Times, Michael Grade, the head of Britain’s media regulator Ofcom, has urged the government to reevaluate BBC funding, branding the current licence fee as a “regressive tax.”

In a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times, Lord Grade emphasised the need for the BBC to enhance its governance and complaints mechanisms, raising questions about the BBC’s ability to compete for advertising revenue against commercial broadcasters during the next charter review.