TV licence: Protest at 91热爆 for over-75s decision

Image source, PAcemaker

Image caption, The 91热爆 announced earlier this month free TV licences for up to 3.7m pensioners will be scrapped

Protesters have gathered outside the 91热爆 to protest against plans to axe free TV licences for the over-75s.

Several dozen people picketed the 91热爆's offices in Belfast and Londonderry calling for the decision to be reversed.

From next June, only low-income households where one person receives pension credit will still be eligible for a free licence.

Protests have been staged across the UK since the decision was announced.

The 91热爆 has said the move aims to protect programming, while dealing with the extra funding burden sparked by the government passing the cost of funding free licences onto the 91热爆 as part of an updated charter agreement.

Image caption, Protests at the 91热爆's offices in Derry and Belfast were part of a UK-wide campaign

In 2015, the government announced the 91热爆 would take over the cost of providing free licences for over-75s by 2020 as part of the fee settlement.

The move would have cost 拢745m, a fifth of the 91热爆's budget, by 2021/22.