Former culture secretary says BBC licence fee is unsustainable due to streaming rise

Former culture secretary Sir John Whittingdale has stated that the BBC's licence fee is now "unsustainable" due to the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. He suggests the BBC needs to explore new funding options. Whittingdale's comments follow a report indicating a decline in BBC viewership and a growing number of people refusing to pay the licence fee. He mentioned that the broadcasting landscape has changed significantly since the last charter review. In response, the BBC defended its position, claiming it remains the most used media brand in the UK. The BBC plans to engage the public to shape its future and address concerns about its funding model.