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A Modest Proposal for BBC iPlayer in the Streaming Age

The BBC’s TV licence still works for many viewers, but iPlayer lacks a flexible way for streaming-first audiences to pay for the programmes they want. A subscription option could expand public service broadcasting without replacing the licence itself.

Dear BBC,

The strangest thing about modern television is that it has never been easier to watch almost anything, except sometimes the programmes people are most willing to pay for. After discovering Small Prophets, I found myself in exactly that position: willing to subscribe, even willing to rent, and unable to do either.

I wanted to share a few thoughts and one big idea with you. It is a modest proposal, but I believe it could bring your digital service into the modern way media is consumed, while retaining the TV licence model that still works for many viewers.

I understand that changing your model is a matter of legislation as well as internal decisions, but none of it is written in stone. The world changes, and institutions must change with it or risk being left behind. The legislators will respond if you give them a compelling alternative to the TV licence, and it may be the only way for you to continue to thrive.

You provide an important public service, and you have a lot of great content. The shift to digital and on-demand viewing cannot be denied, and you have to adapt to that reality. Reframing your model to fit the way people now consume content is not a betrayal of your values; it is an acknowledgement of the world we live in and a way to ensure that you continue to thrive.

To begin, I will examine the underlying mismatch between your current model and the way many people consume media today, and then I’ll share my proposal for how to address it.

The problem

This is not a criticism; it’s an observation of reality. The TV licensing model was designed for a different era, with different technology and different consumer habits. It worked well for a long time, but it is time to offer an alternative that appeals to younger generations who have grown up with streaming services, social media, and a wealth of on-demand content at their fingertips. The BBC doesn’t currently fit into their world, and many see it as a relic of the past, with a licensing model that increasingly feels rooted in a different era. And then you release something like Small Prophets, and it becomes a sensation in that world. But they can’t watch it without shelling out for a TV licence, or turning to piracy.

Some will inevitably turn to piracy. That, or they circumvent the system in other ways to get access to the content they want. And that benefits no one. So, I’m proposing embracing their reality, and giving them a legitimate way to access the content they want, at a reasonable price, and in a way that fits with their existing media habits.

I’m going to steer clear of the current debate around the TV licence, and the various arguments for and against keeping it. That’s not the point I’m trying to make. There are still plenty of people who get a lot for their annual licence fee, and see it as value for money, so I’m not suggesting dropping it entirely, just offering another option.

My solution

Small Prophets made me want to do something that you won’t let me do. I wanted to either rent the show on iPlayer, or even subscribe for a month so I could watch it. So, in light of those desires, I have the following suggestion:

Let people subscribe to iPlayer, independent of the TV licence.

I doubt I’m the first to suggest this, and I wanted to add my perspective to the conversation.

I’d suggest something modest, perhaps around £5 a month. That would give you unlimited access to everything iPlayer has to offer. The price point should sit squarely between having no access and a full TV licence. £60 a year is far less than the cost of a full TV licence, and is cheaper than most other streaming services.

The subscription would not allow you to view live BBC channels, on iPlayer or through any other means, but it would allow people who don’t want that to get what they want without paying for things they don’t want, or to which they have ethical or cultural objections. I would happily spend a fiver any time you release something I want to watch, and I may even subscribe for longer to have access to the many full series that you have on there.

You’re clearly best placed to determine the right price point. I went with a fiver because that’s what I would be happy to pay to watch the first series of Small Prophets, and I think it would be a good starting point. I would probably have taken the opportunity to watch the most recent two series of Doctor Who as well, since I haven’t seen them yet. I think it’s also worth exploring selling access to individual shows, but I think the subscription model, if priced right, could be the most effective way to go.

You could go further and open the subscription up to other countries. Charge more for international subscribers if you want, but I’m sure there are ex-pats and others around the world who would be happy to pay for direct access to British TV. I appreciate existing licensing deals in place that would make this difficult initially, but with a long-term plan, you could work towards making it a reality, possibly in addition to those licensing deals.

Now, you may well say, “why not just buy a TV licence?” And to that I would say, “because I don’t want to.” I don’t want to pay for access to live TV channels that I have no interest in. I don’t want the only option to be paying annually when I may only want a month here and there. I want the flexibility to pay for what I want, when I want it, like I can with every other streaming service.

How would it work alongside the TV licence?

If someone wants to watch live BBC TV channels, they would still need to buy a TV licence. Along with it, they would receive a code to enter into iPlayer while logged in to their BBC account. It would unlock full access until their licence expires. Every year they would need to enter the new code that came with their renewed licence.

That code is associated with their BBC account. If they need to move it to another account, let them, but only once a month. If someone is paying for the subscription, you apply standard streaming service household controls. That seems both fair and familiar to modern viewers.

While it’s true that this would probably see a significant number of TV licence holders switch to the cheaper subscription, it would also see a significant number of people who don’t currently have a TV licence becoming paying customers. Diversifying your revenue streams would strengthen your long-term sustainability. It would allow you to save on the costs of licence enforcement, while expanding your paying audience.

The benefits

Summary

The BBC has survived every technological shift it has encountered by adapting how it delivers its content while protecting why it exists. Broadcasting is giving way to digital delivery, schedules to on-demand viewing, and audiences are moving accordingly. A flexible iPlayer subscription would not replace the TV licence but complement it, meeting audiences where they already are while strengthening the public-service mission that makes the BBC unique. Give people a way to support the programmes they love on their own terms, and many of us will gladly do exactly that.

– Stuart