BBC is losing £1bn a year in potential licence fee revenue, say MPs

Public accounts committee calculates cost of households either evading the fee or saying they do not need TV licence

The BBC is now losing more than 1bn a year from households either evading the licence fee or deciding they do not need one, according to a cross-party group of MPs who warned the corporation is under severe pressure".

Attempts to enforce payment of the licence fee are also stalling. The number of visits to unlicensed homes increased by 50% last year, but it did not translate into either higher sales or successful prosecutions. BBC executives have said they face the increasing problem of householders simply refusing to answer the door.