At 100, the BBC must face the harsh reality: the licence fee is unsustainable

Broadcasting House in central London, October 2022. ‘Defensive sentimental attitudes must end if the BBC is to flourish in its second century.’ Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Perhaps it was bashfulness that led the BBC to leave until the final item of the Radio 4 news bulletins this morning a mention of celebrating its own centenary today. Or maybe the reticence reflected mild embarrassment.

The British Broadcasting Corporation as we know it (state-owned, licence-fee funded) doesn’t strictly come to dance at its centenary ball until 1 January 2027. What launched on 18 October 1922 was the British Broadcasting Company, a private consortium of radio manufacturers, with programmes that were initially no more than an inducement to buy a wireless, as they were known. But because the logo conveniently remained BBC, and John Reith managed both institutions, it’s reasonable to cut a cake today.