Polling and the BBC License Fee

What do British people believe should happen with this charge?

A Telegraph article asserts in its headline:

Almost two thirds of Britons want BBC licence fee scrapped

The article in The Sun claims:

one in six say they never watch the Beeb despite being made to pay for it

This post looks at the results of the Savanta ComRes poll, and other polling on this topic.

What the Savanta ComRes poll said

Savanta ComRes conducted an online poll of 2,274 UK adults, between 16th and 19th October. ‘Defund the BBC’ sponsored the poll. For its weights, Savanta ComRes use age, gender, region, and social grade (among others).

Surveys provide estimates, subject to many sources of potential error. There is a range around each estimate: it could be somewhat higher of lower.

The first question was:

Which of the following statements best reflects your view on the TV Licence Fee?

• The TV Licence Fee should continue as it currently is;
• The TV Licence Fee should not continue as it currently is;
• Don’t Know.

In the sample, 32% clicked it should, and 59% selected that it should not. The response options do not talk about scrapping the license fee. It is a consideration of the status quo.