More than three million households will lose their free TV licences after the BBC announced it would introduce means-testing for the over-75s.
This means only those who receive pension credit will now get a free licence, making about 1.5 million households will be eligible.
The new scheme, which will come into force in June 2020, will cost the Corporation an estimated £250m a year. Maintaining universal free licences would have cost £745m a year, which the BBC said would be equivalent to the budgets of BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC News and Radio 5 Live put together.
The BBC Board said it is “the fairest option to help the poorest pensioners” and “the fairest option for all licence fee payers, as this means everyone will continue to receive the best programmes and services that the BBC can provide.
“The new system will be “simple and straightforward” self-verification, with individuals asked to provide proof of pension credit, the BBC added.
