Solutions

The latest discussion paper on Over-75s Licence Fees, commissioned by the BBC from Gus O'Donnell and his team at the super-soaraway Frontier Economics, has no immediate answers for Auntie.

The problem is pressing; the deal forced on the BBC by Osborne and Whittingdale has already made the BBC cough up £250m to subsidise the bill for 2018/29, with the rest paid by the Department of Work and Pensions. Next financial year, the BBC contribution rises to £450m, before taking full responsibility for the future of the concession in 2020/21, when the total cost is estimated at £745m.

Maybe Auntie could invent a sort of media means test. If the over-75s can afford, say, a Sky subscription or Netflix account of their own, maybe they should pay a full licence fee, with a concessionary rate to less-media-rich elderly at £100 p.a. ? At the rate Netflix are moving, that should limit the damage...