The first licence fee - for radio - was issued in November 1922. The amount was ten shillings (50p). After the war (1946) this was increased to one pound and then in 1965 to one pound five shillings (£1.25p). Radio only licences were abolished in February 1971.

The first combined Radio/TV licence - for £2 - was issued in June 1946. The first supplementary licence fee for colour TV was introduced in January 1968.

Broadcast Receiving Licences: 1922 - 2008

DateRadioTV B&W
(with radio)		TV Colour
(with radio)
November 192210s------
June 1946£1£2---
June 1954£1£3---
August 1957£1£4*---
October 1963£1£4+---
August 1965£1 5s£5---
January 1968£1 5s£5£10
January 1969£1 5s£6£11
July 1971---£7£12
April 1975---£8£18
July 1977---£9£21
November 1978---£10£25
November 1979---£12£34
December 1981---£15£46
March 1985---£18£58
April 1988---£21£62.50
April 1989---£22£66
April 1990---£24£71
April 1991---£25.50£77
April 1992---£26.50£80
April 1993---£27.50£83
April 1994---£28£84.50
April 1995---£28.50£86.50
April 1996---£30£89.50
April 1997---£30.50£91.50
April 1998---£32.50£97.50
April 1999---£33.50£101
April 2000---£34.50£104
April 2001---£36.50£109
April 2002---
£112
April 2003---
£116
April 2004---
£121
April 2005---
£126.50
April 2006

£131.50
April 2007---£45.50£135.50
April 2008
April 2009
April 2010
Fixed to 2016		---£47
£48
£49

£139.50
£142.50
£145.50

Source BBC

* Excise duty of £1 imposed, not receivable by the BBC.
+ Excise duty abolished, BBC given full amount.