Stuart Anderson MP is calling on residents across South Shropshire to contribute to a government review of the BBC. A 30-minute survey is now open for locals to share their thoughts on the future of the public broadcaster.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Residents in South Shropshire are passionate about ensuring our farming and rural communities are fairly represented in the media. So, it is always hard to hear when residents feel they are being neglected in the national conversation at the same time as the TV license fee is set to rise to £180 in April. I want to ensure that residents get value for money from the BBC. As the state broadcaster, the BBC must uphold a high degree of impartiality and ensure an equal voice for our communities. I urge residents to respond to this short survey that the government has launched as part of its Royal Charter Review, which sets out how the BBC is governed, regulated, and funded. I hope that the BBC and government will also work together to ensure our communities are better represented."
The BBC's Royal Charter sets out how the broadcaster is governed, regulated, and funded. However, it is set to expire on 31st December 2027. On 16th December 2025, the Government published its Green Paper - 'Britain's Story: The Next Chapter.' The consultation document outlines changes being considered to the BBC. This includes actions to ensure that the BBC is a trusted institution, delivers services for the public good, drives growth across the UK, and receives sustainable and fair funding.
Launching the Review in December, Culture Secretary Nisa Landy MP said: "People, right across our nation, must be able to access content that genuinely reflects their lives, their communities, and their contributions." The BBC claims that almost half of residents in Shropshire consume local content produced by the BBC. Their analysis has found that 47.7% of people in Shropshire consume content from BBC Local each week across TV, radio, and their website. However, the Countryside Alliance has said that rural households are "poorly served" by the BBC's output, with rural issues often framed through an "urban lens."
In December 2025, a YouGov survey of 6,495 adults found that only 2% believe the BBC represents rural areas “very accurately”. In response to this situation, Stuart has said that residents in rural areas must get value for money from the BBC. It comes as the government announced on 6th February 2026 that the annual cost of a standard colour TV licence would rise to £180 from 1st April 2026 – an increase of £5.50 on the current price of £174.50 a year. This follows last year's hike of £5. Stuart has added that the BBC must become more representative of rural areas which are home to more than 6.7 million, representing 17% of England’s population. He has also said that the BBC must also do more to serve older people, who make up more than a third of residents in South Shropshire.
Residents need a TV Licence to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer, or electronic device as they are broadcast, and to watch on-demand BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. Residents can get a free TV licence if they are aged 75 or over and in receipt of Pension Credit. Residents can also get a discount if blind or in residential care. The survey closes on 10th March 2026.
