The BBC is scrapping its TV licence fee for King Charles III’s coronation weekend

The BBC has announced it will scrap the licence fee over the weekend of the coronation of King Charles III.

The special dispensation for the historic event will allow venues to screen the programming without having to pay for a licence.

King Charles is set to be coronated on Saturday 6 May, with a live-streamed ceremony on the day and a huge Coronation Concert on Sunday 7 May.

An extra bank holiday has also been confirmed for Monday 8 May to mark King Charles III’s coronation.

A TV licence normally costs £159 annually for a colour TV licence and £53.50 for a black and white TV licence.

But the dispensation will mean that everyone can watch the coronation programming on TV, and venues like churches, town halls, libraries and community centres which don’t have a licence can still screen it.

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👑📣The @BBC has announced a special one-off TV licence dispensation for the #Coronation.

If you’re hosting an event, you won’t need a TV licence to screen coverage of the Coronation Ceremony or Concert over the weekend of 6-7th May.

For more info🔽https://t.co/YX9WT7iRaX pic.twitter.com/t30YeqFWo4

— Department for Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) February 28, 2023

It will also mean that people hoping to host a traditional street party can watch it together.

A statement from TV Licensing said: “A dispensation has been given to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort and Live Ceremonial Coverage on Saturday 6th May and The Coronation Concert on Sunday 7th May 2023.

“This dispensation allows events to be organised for communities in venues where TV is not usually watched to screen live programmes throughout the weekend without needing to purchase a licence. This includes, for example, community venues such as churches, town halls, community centres, libraries and streets across Britain as well as commercial premises acting as community venues such as concert halls, performing arts venues, cinemas and shops. It also applies to any outdoor venues which have the facilities to screen.

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“BBC coverage should be free to watch, so please don’t charge anyone for the viewing. Even if your screening is taking place at a venue which normally has a commercial purpose you must not charge for tickets, and the public should be allowed to bring their own food and drink.”

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons / Flickr Parliamentary copyright/ Roger Harris