BBC mulls iPlayer licence

The BBC is considering plans to change the TV licence to stop people getting a 'free ride' through the iPlayer.

Plans were outlined this week by a senior BBC executive to the Broadcasting Press Guild.

Erik Huggers of the BBC said: "If you are using the iPlayer you have to be a television licence fee payer. If you are consuming BBC services then you have to be a licence holder."

At the moment, you need a TV licence to watch live television content through the BBC's website but not to use the iPlayer service.

But the BBC is unhappy that many people are able to access catch-up content without paying and have proposed either introducing a special iPlayer licence or increasing the cost of the TV licence to cover the iPlayer.

A third idea is that the iPlayer could become a subscription service. However, the plans are far from solid at the moment.