In the UK anyone over 75 is entitled to a free tv licence, but here the situation is slightly different, the ‘free’ licences are means tested.
How the scheme is funded is also different. In the past the UK government used to fund the UK scheme, but it’s soon going to be the responsibility of the BBC to find the cash. In Jersey the States fund the scheme. Some local politicians say this discriminates against Islanders and have argued the BBC should also cough up cash for licences here.
A half-way house phased deal has been struck. The means-tested scheme will continue, but the BBC will gradually help cover the costs. In 2018/19 the BBC will cover one third of the costs, and in 2019/20 two thirds of the costs. That’ll save the States – in other words taxpayers – £90,000 in the first year, and £180,000 the following year. From 2020/21 the BBC will cover the full cost of the Jersey scheme.
The current cost of a colour tv licence is £145. Currently there are 37,300 licences in Jersey, which nets the BBC £5.4m a year. Of those, 1,520 are ‘free’ over 75s licences, for which the States pay the BBC £220,000. If the scheme was extended to cover all over 75s in the Island regardless of their income, it would cost an estimated £516,150 a year.