BBC licence fee price to increase on April 1

The UK government has confirmed that the BBC licence fee will increase from £147 per year to £150.50 on April 1.

The move marks the second price increase in as many years, and comes after the government announced in 2016 that the fee would rise in line with inflation for five years from April 1, 2017.

Last year, on April 1, the licence fee increased from £145.50 to £147 per year in what was the first price rise since 2010.

Licence fee payers will receive a payment plan or a reminder reflecting the new amount when their licence is next due for renewal. Those buying or renewing a licence after 1 April will pay the new fee.

All UK viewers who watch BBC television or access programmes on-demand through its iPlayer catch-up service are required to pay the licence fee.

The BBC provides nine national TV channels plus regional programming, 10 national radio stations, 40 local radio stations and one of the UK’s most popular websites.