The BBC is anxious to extend its compulsory and legally-enforceable TV licence fee charge to those only viewing catch-up systems, such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Player, on lap-tops, tablets or phones, and currently exempt.

The BBC are concerned that an estimated 1,000 households a day say they have got rid of their television sets and are refusing to pay the annual £145.50 licence fee, a total of 500,000 households so far creating a potential loss to the BBC of more than £70 million.

The corporation is cutting 1,000 jobs, more than 5% of its workforce, in response.