BBC plans to match iPlayer data to addresses to fight licence fee evasion amid £550M shortfall.

The BBC is exploring using iPlayer data to link up to 40 million user accounts to household addresses in an effort to detect TV license fee evasion, as it faces a £550 million annual shortfall from non-payment. Under UK law, a £174.50 annual licence is required to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, and users provide personal details like email, date of birth, and postcode during registration. The BBC, which collected £3.8 billion from over 23 million licenses in 2024/25, says it is evaluating data-driven enforcement to improve compliance, though fines have declined to just over 25,000 in the past year. Outgoing director-general Tim Davie warned the current system is at "profound jeopardy" without reform, stressing the need for change to ensure the BBC’s long-term survival as a public service.