We firmly believe the BBC must make a firmer commitment to this region. We can calculate that Licence Fee payers in the BBC's Midlands & East region contributed £952 million in licence fee payments in 2022, but we estimate generously that less than £120 million was spent in the region.

Put another way, spending in the region accounts for just £20 or so of the £159 Midlands licence fee. It is the lowest share of in-region spending for anywhere in the UK. Which also means that the Midlands & East is contributing £139 per licence fee to spending elsewhere - mainly to London. 

The BBC's own discolsures in its Annual Reports have revealed that network televsion spending in the Midlands received the lowest share in the UK in 8 of the last 9 years. In 2022 that share was a measly 2.7%. Whilst spending in London accounted for a 42% share, the North saw 20.6%, the South 10.9%, Scotland 8.4%, Wales 5.4%  and Northern Ireland 3.9%.

Yet, the Midlands & East region accounts for 25% of the UK population and licence fee payers, and fully one quarter of the BBC's licence fee revenues. This simply cannot be defended... 

The region with the most licence fee payers, receives the lowest BBC spending. 

We want to see a much fairer, 50% share of our licence fee coming back into the Midlands region to support programme makers, regional jobs and to help raise the profile of this fascinating, talented and highly populated region...

Click on any of the links below to find out more:

BBC Regional Expenditure Analysis

BBC in the Midlands Today

The BBC Charter