The BBC has launched a consultation on licence fees for older people in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Following a public consultation, the BBC board decided that from August 1 this year any UK household with someone aged over 75 who receives pension credit will be entitled to a free TV licence paid for by the BBC.

The BBC is now consulting on what concession for older people should be extended to Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Free licences are available to all over 75s in the Isle of Man.

It was announced in June that free licences to Manx residents over 75 will continue until the end of 2020.

The BBC’s current thinking is that it would be fairest for the Corporation to fund a similar concession for older people in the Crown Dependencies as the UK so that all licence fee payers are treated broadly in the same way.

That would mean that the BBC would fund free TV licences for the poorest pensioners aged over 75 in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

To determine who would be eligible for a free TV licence paid for by the BBC, the board proposes to use existing income criteria set by the respective governments wherever possible.

The Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man governments can pay for any further concessions they wish to, says the BBC.

The Corporation insists that no final decision has been taken.

In 2015 the UK Government took the decision to stop funding free licences for over 75s.

A proposal that the Manx government should no longer fund free BBC licences were approved as part of the 2015 budget.

The move sparked protests, particularly from veterans’ groups.

But at the first Tynwald of the new administration following the general election, Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan announced that universal free television licences for those aged 75 or over were reinstated.

The BBC’s consultation will run for six weeks until September 10. You can read and respond to it at https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/reports/consultation/age-related-tv-licence-policy-cd