TV licence set to rise by next year - how much and how you could get one for free

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The TV licence fee is set to increase from £169.50 to £174.50 a year, but there's still an opportunity to check if you qualify for a free one.

The hike, which represents an additional £5 annually or a 2.96% rise, will take effect from April next year. Meanwhile, the cost of a black and white TV licence will also see an uptick from £57 to £58.50 per year, marking a £1.50 increase.

After a two-year freeze in 2022 and 2023 by the previous Conservative government, the price cap was lifted this April, resulting in households having to fork out an extra £10.50 annually for their TV licence, reports the Mirror.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "We welcome confirmation that the licence fee will increase in line with inflation next year.