Vote below in our poll on whether the licence fee should be ditched and let us know more about what you think by scrolling down and leaving a comment. Our poll comes after Mr Sharp, who has been chosen by the Government as its preferred candidate for the BBC chairman post, described the licence fee as the “least worst” method of funding the corporation.
Appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Sharp told MPs: “The question is, ‘Is the BBC value for money?’ Yes it is. How do we raise that money? That is certainly an issue.
“I happen to be satisfied looking at it in a relatively superficial way that the current process is fit for purpose.”
Former Goldman Sachs banker Mr Sharp also told MPs the BBC’s culture needs to be “rebuilt”.
He insisted there was a lack of “trust in leadership and trust in process” at the corporation and that issues over equal pay had “created a sense of unfairness”.
He pinpointed impartiality as “clearly the biggest issue” that needed to be dealt with – after the issue was previously raised by new director-general Tim Davie.
Mr Sharp said: “Clearly some of the problems it has had recently are really quite terrible and reflect a culture that needs to be rebuilt so everyone that works at the BBC and cherishes the BBC feels proud to work there.
“Then in my view that would produce a better output inevitably.”
Asked if he was a supporter of Brexit, he said: “I am considered to be a Brexiteer.”
READ MORE: Leading Brexiteer savages BBC over lack of political diversity
He said: “If the BBC doesn’t mean anything to somebody in Sunderland then it is failing.”
Mr Sharp will take over from Sir David Clementi as the BBC’s chairman.
It comes at a time when the BBC is facing major competition from streaming services such as Netflix.
The BBC sparked controversy last year when it ended free TV licences for most over-75s.
Under the changes, over-75s must now receive pension credit to get a free TV licence.
Speaking in July, Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “At Age UK we’re bitterly disappointed by this decision on behalf of the millions of over 75s who have had a torrid time over the last few months and for whom this must feel like another kick in the teeth, during a terrible year.
“Many older people on low incomes have told us that if they have to find £150 plus a year to pay for a licence then they will have to forego some other essential, or try to survive without TV at all.
“We genuinely worry about the mental health of older people living on their own in this situation if they have to give up their cherished TV – for some it really is all they have and their main way of alleviating their chronic loneliness.”
Meanwhile, the Defund the BBC campaign group has amassed nearly 100,000 followers on Twitter since it was launched in June.
The campaign is calling for non-payment of the licence fee to be decriminalised and for the £157.50 annual charge to cover BBC content only.
