December 28, 2015 9.31 am This story is over 99 months old

New figures reveal number of Lincoln households with black and white TVs

Memory lane: New figures released by TV Licensing have revealed that are still 14 households with black and white licences in Lincoln.
Children watching BBC show Andy Pandy on a BW TV set. Photo: TV Licensing

2016 may just be a few days away but for some it appears that old habits die hard, especially when it comes to televisions.

New figures released by TV Licensing have revealed that are still 14 households with black and white licences in Lincoln.

Nationally, over 9,000 people stubbornly keep watching their favourite programmes on black and white screens, despite the advancements in smartphones and tablets.

However, the number of black and white licences issued each year has steadily been declining.

In 2000 there were 212,000 black and white TV Licences in place, but by 2003 that number had shrunk to 93,000 and in 2006 the number stood at less than 50,0002.

The cost of a black and white TV Licence remains frozen at £49 until BBC Charter Review in 2016. A colour licence costs £145.50.

A TV Licence is needed if you’re watching or recording programmes at the same time as they’re shown on TV.

Mark Whitehouse, spokesperson for TV Licensing in East Anglia which covers Lincolnshire, said: “It’s astounding that more than 300 households in total across East Anglia still watch on a black and white telly, especially now that over half of homes access TV content over the internet, on smart TVs.

“Whether you have the latest 4K TV or a black and white set from the 1970s, however, if you are watching or recording live television, then you do need a TV licence.”