TV licence shake-up ‘must not’ hike cost

A radical shake-up of the TV licence system must not result in viewers paying more, opposition parties have warned.

Plans to impose an “entertainment charge” on every household in the country, whether they contain a television or not, has prompted concern the switch-over will be used as an excuse to turn the financial screw.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte announced the move last year due to the increasing use of laptops, tablets and smartphones as conveyors of TV programming, and will outline how the system will work when he receives a report on the matter at the end of next month.