BBC's on-screen TV licence QR code prompts backlash during England vs Ghana friendly

Millions of viewers watching England take on Ghana in a World Cup warm-up match at Boston Stadium on Tuesday, 23 June were interrupted by on-screen TV licence prompts and a QR code from the BBC, drawing swift and vocal criticism across social media.

The alerts appeared intermittently throughout the broadcast, directing viewers to purchase a licence at the current standard rate of £180 per year. The requirement applies to anyone watching or recording live TV on any channel, or using BBC iPlayer.

Fans quickly vented their frustration on X, formerly Twitter. “Buy a TV licence, err how about f*** off,” one user wrote, while another posted: “That ‘buy a TV Licence’ QR Code is killing me, BBC better behave.” Others labelled the move “desperate and cringy”, with one viewer adding: “BBC putting a QR code in the corner telling us to buy a TV licence. Absolutely no shame.”

A BBC insider told The Times the prompts were intended as a “very soft reminder” aimed at a broader-than-usual audience drawn in by the football. “We are expecting a very broad audience to be watching the football and there will be a small section who don’t often come to the BBC,” the source said.

The on-screen QR codes had already been tested across several earlier World Cup fixtures after a successful pilot during the FA Cup final. TV Licensing confirmed the approach in a statement: “We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly licensed.”

Before kick-off, TV Licensing also posted a reminder on social media: “England take on Ghana tonight at 9pm on BBC One. Remember, you need a TV Licence to watch the game live.”

The backlash underlines the sensitivity around the licence fee at a time when the BBC’s funding model faces ongoing public and political scrutiny.