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. In March 2003, there were 24.1 million licences in force - 20.1 million colour; 0.1 million black and white; 3.7 million over 75s; and 0.2 million concessionary.

 

Broadcast Receiving Licences: 1922 - 2003

Date
Radio

TV B&W
(with radio)

TV Colour
(with radio)

November
1922

10s
--
--
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
n/a
£9
£21
November 1978
n/a
£10
£25
November 1979
n/a
£12
£34
December 1981
n/a
£15
£46
March 1985
n/a
£18
£58
April 1988
n/a
£21
£62.50
April 1989
n/a
£22
£66
April 1990
n/a
£24
£71
April 1991
n/a
£25.50
£77
April 1992
n/a
£26.50
£80
April 1993
n/a
£27.50
£83
April 1994
n/a
£28
£84.50
April 1995
n/a
£28.50
£86.50
April 1996
n/a
£30
£89.50
April 1997
n/a
£30.50
£91.50
April 1998
n/a
£32.50
£97.50
April 1999
n/a
£33.50
£101
April 2000
n/a
£34.50
£104
April 2001
n/a
£36.50
£109
April 2002
n/a
£37.50
£112
April 2003
n/a
£38.50
£116

* Excise duty of £1 imposed, not receivable by the BBC. Example can be found on the 1960s licences page

+ Excise duty abolished, BBC given full amount.