The BBC faced a wave of criticism from viewers after displaying a TV licence fee alert with an interactive QR code during its live broadcast of the England vs Ghana World Cup match on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The notice, which appeared intermittently on screens, urged viewers to ensure they had a valid TV licence, currently set at £180 per year for homes and businesses.
Viewers React on Social Media
Fans quickly took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their frustration. One user wrote: "Buy a TV licence, err how about f*** off," while another commented: "That ‘buy a TV Licence’ QR Code is killing me, BBC better behave." A third viewer posted: "BBC begging people to buy a tv licence at half time is so desperate and cringy..." and a fourth added: "BBC putting a QR code in the corner telling us to buy a TV licence. Absolutely no shame."
BBC's Rationale
According to a BBC insider who spoke to The Times, the prompts were intended as a "very soft reminder" that all viewers must pay for a licence if watching any BBC programming. "We are expecting a very broad audience to be watching the football and there will be a small section who don’t often come to the BBC," the insider said.
Previous Trials
The use of on-screen QR codes had been tested in earlier World Cup fixtures following a successful pilot at the FA Cup final. A TV Licensing spokesperson stated: "We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly licensed." The body also posted a reminder on social media before the game, saying: "England take on Ghana tonight at 9pm on BBC One. Remember, you need a TV Licence to watch the game live. Buy your licence here."
