BBC's advertising revenue in the UK 2018-2023

The BBC reported an advertising income of 298 million British pounds in the year ending March 31, 2023. This figure marked an decrease of around three percent compared to the previous year.

Advertising on the BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the leading public service broadcaster in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1922 and celebrating its centennial birthday on October 18, 2022, the company also reigns as the oldest national broadcaster worldwide. But even though the BBC is primarily funded by license fees, which allow it to circumvent commercials and remain politically impartial, the corporation also generates revenue from advertising. Its three commercial subsidiaries include BBC Studios, BBC Global News, and BBC Studio networks, which operate across multiple platforms and global regions. Categories of advertising that are prohibited include those promoting religious belief systems, adult products and services, tobacco, weapons, and politics (in the UK only).

Winds of change for the BBC and its license fee

The BBC generates most of its income through an annual TV license fee that UK households must pay to receive live television programming (on any channel), stream online television content via the internet, or watch BBC programs on BBC iPlayer – regardless of the devices that are used. In 2022, the BBC's license fee income of 3.8 billion British pounds accounted for more than 70 percent of the BBC's total annual income but based on the government's decision to abolish the fee by 2027, the BBC and its programming are facing an uncertain future.