The BBC have sparked fury among England fans after a licence fee warning popped up during Tuesday’s match against Ghana. The Three Lions were taking on the African nation in the second round of group matches at the tournament in North America.
England started off on the front foot with a stunning 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening game, giving them control of Group L from the off. Ghana were also winners in their first match, meaning the clash in Boston was a meeting of the top two teams.
However, it was around a quarter of the way through the match when the anger started to grow, when during the first hydration break, the BBC prompted viewers to make sure they have a valid TV license. The broadcast displayed an on-screen graphic that featured a QR code, which directed viewers to a page where they can purchase a license fee.
@danielsjourney1 wrote: “BBC kindly giving us a QR code to remind us to pay for a TV licence, have a day off. Let people watch the World Cup without trying to take more money.”
@andiecaz wrote: “The BBC begging for licence fee money during the match…. like that’s gonna work.”
Speaking to The Times, a BBC insider said: “We are expecting a very broad audience to be watching the football and there will be a small section who don’t often come to the BBC.”
It’s believed the BBC bosses are viewing the tournament as a chance to target viewers who bypass the fee, but tune into the broadcaster for major events. It’s estimated that around 80 per cent of households pay for the fee, but 94 per cent of those use BBC services each month.
The Beeb claim that the gap forces them into drastic cuts and other money-saving measures, with a current plan to axe 2,050 jobs across a two-year period currently being rolled out. It’s suggested £500million will be saved by the measures, with the BBC having defended the move.