Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 25
56th Report - BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024–25
Published 21 Nov 2025
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024-25 All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The BBC told us that it operated in an environment of “phenomenal competition” from global streaming platforms and social media, which had transformed audience behaviour.55 The BBC noted that younger audiences were increasingly fragmented in their media habits, with almost infinite choice, making it harder for the BBC to sustain engagement.56 It said that to stay relevant and ensure BBC content was surfaced and trusted by younger viewers, it had built the biggest news service on Instagram, was present on TikTok, and collaborated closely with YouTube.57 It also emphasised that the BBC was developing action plans for younger audiences, but cautioned that “what doesn’t work is a massive lurch to youth and trying very hard to be the coolest one on the block,” instead stressing the importance of authenticity and trusted presenters. The BBC also noted that while Radio 1 and educational services like Bitesize continued to attract young people, the BBC needed to focus on creating big hits and titles that appeal to this demographic, such as popular dramas, to sustain engagement.58 52 BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25, p. 223 53 Q 66 54 Q 57; BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25, p. 10 55 Q 57 56 Q 68 57 Qq 66, 69 58 Q 66 15
From: Public Accounts Committee, 56th Report - BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024–25 (HC 1230), 21 November 2025
Government response
Latest Treasury Minutes progress report to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-sixth Report of Session 2024-26
The government responded to the whole report on 4 June 2026 (deadline 21 January 2026).
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-sixth report from Session 2024-26
Published 19 January 2026.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The BBC's response agrees with some recommendations, partially agrees with others and disagrees with the recommendation to report on targets for reducing "no-licence needed" declarations and evasion.
- On licence fee collection, the BBC agrees with modernising collection and enforcement for online viewing, but says it is not "currently practical to set a firm timeline".
- It disagrees with reporting progress against targets for "no-licence needed" declarations and evasion, saying "an evasion target is not considered appropriate" and a target for NLNs would not be appropriate.
- On digital licences, the BBC agrees and "will consider the regulatory aspects and practicalities" of making an e-licence the default, with an update in the Licence Fee Trust Statement for 2025/26.
- On commercial returns, the BBC partially agrees, saying it "will ensure" BBC Commercial's overall returns including dividends are published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, with a target date of 2026.