There has been much speculation recently over whether or not the BBC should continue to charge a licence fee, currently standing at £145.50 for a year’s viewing. There is talk that the Corporation can instead make its income by selling a package similar to Sky TV or by even showing advertisements though the 1922 founding fathers would turn over in their graves at the thought of such heresy.

Other television companies seem to get along alright relying on advertisement revenue so why should the BBC be any different? Some will complain that one of the great attractions of the BBC is that there are no commercial breaks during its programming but does it really matter that much?

May be it’s a sign of age but I quite enjoy ITV’s commercial breaks giving me the opportunity, as they do, to make myself a drink of coffee or nip out to the little boys’ room!

On balance, perhaps people would prefer to save themselves the £145.50 and put up with the commercial breaks as long as there is no loss of quality in the programmes. And as for revenue well, commercial organisations are prepared to pay top dollar for adverts at peak viewing times so that shouldn’t be a problem. From the Government’s point of view, all that revenue is going to mean some hefty tax bills so it seems a winner all round.