Radiocentre urges MPs to reject advertising on the BBC amid strong public opposition

Radiocentre, the industry body for commercial radio, has urged MPs on the Culture, Media & Sport (CMS) Committee to reject proposals that could see advertising introduced around BBC content in future, highlighting strong opposition from the public and the negative economic impact.

The CMS Committee is currently examining the BBC Charter Review process which the Department for Culture, Media & Sport launched in December 2025. Radiocentre has responded to the CMS Committee and also published, for the first time, its full response to the government’s Green Paper consultation (available here).

Radiocentre’s evidence includes exclusive polling carried out by More in Common. This found that moves to introduce advertising alongside the licence fee, are strongly opposed by the public. The polling found that almost two thirds of people (65%) are against these plans.

The research also raises concerns about the distinctiveness of BBC radio, with just 1 in 6 members of the public (17%) saying it offers truly unique content.

In addition, Radiocentre has shared updated economic analysis with MPs, which shows that advertiser funded BBC radio would not be viable in its current form and would have a significant negative impact on commercial media across the UK.

Radiocentre CEO Matt Payton said:

We welcome the CMS Committee’s focus on BBC Charter Review. However, continued uncertainty around the BBC’s future funding model is unhelpful, particularly given the increasingly challenging economic climate. The government should rule out advertising across all BBC platforms at the earliest opportunity ahead of the next stage of the Charter Review process.

Our evidence to government and MPs highlights that advertising alongside the licence fee is deeply unpopular with the public, and risks undermining the BBC’s ability to deliver distinctive content.