Thousands take part in our TV licence fee survey - complete our poll to have your say on whether or not it should be scrapped

Do you think the TV licence should be scrapped?Do you think the TV licence should be scrapped?
Do you think the TV licence should be scrapped?

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A snap survey asking people for their opinion on the BBC licence fee has had more than 10,000 responses in less than 24 hours.

Our short survey - produced in partnership with the UK’s newest national news title, nationalworld.com - asks four simple questions:

Should the licence fee be scrapped?

Should it be replaced with an opt-in service?

Is the licence fee good value for money?

Is the BBC in need of reform?

[The survey is now closed]

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The survey was launched in the aftermath of the Princess Diana and Martin Bashir interview scandal.

An inquiry into Bashir’s controversial interview with the late Princess found the BBC covered up ‘deceitful behaviour’ used by the journalist to secure the interview.

Now questions are being asked about the governance and funding of the broadcasting corporation.

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The BBC is funded by the licence fee - which households across the UK are required to pay by law for watching or recording live television.

It is also required to receive video on demand programme services provided by the BBC via its iPlayer service.

The TV licence fee has been labelled as undemocratic by some and there have been calls for it to be scrapped.

We have produced this short survey to ask you for your thoughts on the licence fee, if it should be scrapped or changed and whether the not the BBC is in need of reform.

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The licence, originally a radio licence, was first introduced by the Wireless Telegraphy Act in 1923.

In 1991, the BBC assumed the role of TV Licensing Authority with responsibility for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee.

In January 2006, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) changed the classification of the licence fee from a service charge to a tax.

The standard TV licence fee costs £159 per household per year and is collected by the BBC and primarily used to fund the radio, television and online services of the BBC itself.

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A person who watches or records live TV without being in possession of a TV licence is referred to by the BBC as a 'TV licence evader' and can face criminal prosecution.

The maximum penalty for anyone who doesn’t pay their licence fee is £1,000 but if the person refuses to pay the fine they can be imprisoned.

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