BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024-25

Public Accounts Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 10 Jul 2025 Parliament page
An average 85% of UK adults use the BBC each week, spending 6hr26min watching BBC TV/iPlayer. In 2023-24, there were 23.9 million TV licences in force at the end of the year, around 775,000 of which were free licences for those aged over 75. In 2023, the value of the … Read more
6 Recommendations
26 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 7 events
14 May
2026
Correspondence
27 Apr
2026
Correspondence
16 Mar
2026
Correspondence
19 Jan
2026
Report published
21 Nov
2025
Report published
15 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
15 Sep
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
15 Sep 2025
View on parliament.uk
Leigh Tavaziva · BBC Shirley Cameron · BBC Tim Davie CBE · BBC
Title HC No. Published Items Response
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024–25 HC 1230 21 Nov 2025 32 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
11 Conclusion Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
Licence fee collection costs increased significantly, driven by postal expenses.
In 2024–25, the BBC spent £166 million on collection of the licence fee, (equivalent to 4.3% of licence fee income), up from £143 million (4.0%) in 2023–24. It issued 60.2% of licences electronically, and around 40% paper licences.19 The BBC … Read more
Government Response
The BBC will consider the regulatory aspects and practicalities of making an e-licence the default position and will give an update on this in the Licence Fee Trust Statement for 2025/26.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
BBC faces sustained financial pressures from real-terms licence fee reductions, requiring significant PSB savings.
The BBC faced sustained financial pressures due to real-terms reductions in licence fee income, which rose only modestly to £3.8 billion in 2024–25, compared to £3.7 billion in 2023–24. The rise was due to an increase in the cost of … Read more
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
Fierce competition and fragmented media habits challenge BBC's engagement with younger audiences.
The BBC told us that it operated in an environment of “phenomenal competition” from global streaming platforms and social media, which had transformed audience behaviour.55 The BBC noted that younger audiences were increasingly fragmented in their media habits, with almost … Read more
Government Response
The BBC is committed to delivering outstanding value to all audiences as a universal public service, and to serving younger digital-first audiences and making services available to unconnected audiences.
HM Treasury
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26 Recommendation Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
Universal broadband availability is crucial for the BBC's equitable transition to online services.
The inability to maintain “universal, easy-to-access distribution” is one of the BBC’s principal risks.59 When we asked about how the BBC is preparing for the transition to online, the BBC told us that any move towards it must ensure “no … Read more
Government Response
The BBC is committed to delivering outstanding value to all audiences as a universal public service, and to serving younger digital-first audiences and making services available to unconnected audiences. The BBC’s digital-first strategy aims to serve all audiences, while keeping in line with its commitment to universality; they cite usage stats and initiatives.
HM Treasury
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27 Recommendation Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
Digital transition requires sequenced improvements in broadband availability to protect audience access.
The BBC cautioned that without universal provision of affordable broadband, a switchover would be “a self-inflicted wound” and reiterated the BBC’s commitment to maintaining significant broadcast services during the transition.62 It noted that, during the analogue switch off, it introduced … Read more
Government Response
The BBC is committed to delivering outstanding value to all audiences as a universal public service, and to serving younger digital-first audiences and making services available to unconnected audiences. The BBC’s digital-first strategy aims to serve all audiences, while keeping in line with its commitment to universality; they cite usage stats and initiatives.
HM Treasury
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28 Conclusion Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
BBC’s 'Across the UK' programme aims to strengthen connections with regional audiences.
We heard that the BBC is widely trusted, with the Chair highlighting the World Service as a clear illustration of the BBC’s global reach and reputation.65 At the same time, the BBC is also focused on strengthening its connection with … Read more
Government Response
The BBC agrees to communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.
HM Treasury
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30 Conclusion Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
BBC needs to articulate clear outcomes for licence fee payers beyond staff relocation.
We asked the BBC how the Across the UK programme and other initiatives would lead to better representation and connection for communities, beyond relocating staff and spend. The BBC told us it would measure change through audience perception within regions … Read more
Government Response
The BBC agrees to communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.
HM Treasury
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31 Conclusion Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
BBC struggles to demonstrate clear pathway from structural changes to improved audience outcomes.
The BBC highlighted its ongoing audience research and engagement, aiming to avoid institutions feeling “distant” from the people.75 The BBC also told us about persistent differences in engagement and the extent to which people across geographies and socio-economic backgrounds feel … Read more
Government Response
The BBC agrees to communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.
HM Treasury
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32 Conclusion Acknowledged
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Tru…
Concerns remain that \
We asked whether choices labelled “local” are genuinely relevant to smaller communities, particularly in radio and local news. We underlined that local radio remains a “lifeline” for older audiences, and emphasised that, for example, “in Sheffield, local means Sheffield” rather … Read more
Government Response
BBC will share information on an annual basis as part of the BBC Annual Report and Accounts which identifies the level of investment in its content from the Nations and Regions of the UK as well as audience data; target date 2026.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 6 classified
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 9
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 5
Rejected 1
Total 6 recs + 26 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
14 May 2026 To committee Letter from the Director, Across the UK at the BBC relating to BBC’s Implementation of Across the UK, 25 March 2026
Parliament page
27 Apr 2026 To committee Letter from the Chief Operating Officer at the BBC relating to BBC accounts and trust statement, 16 April 2026
Parliament page
16 Mar 2026 From committee Letter to the Director General of the BBC relating to Treasury Minute response: BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024-25, 16 March 2025
Parliament page