The BBC is upping its TV licence price again in April

BBC TV is increasing its prices yet again this year, so you’ll want to make sure you’re well aware before you notice a change on your account.

As reported by the Evening Standard, television viewers know far too well now that this will mark the fifth year in a row that the network has upped its prices. The BBC is responsible for a handful of TV channels in the UK, including BBC One, BBC News, BBC Parliament, and more. Apparently, the decision to increase the yearly price again is simply due to inflation. The publication points out how much the BBC has been criticized for continually upping the yearly cost, especially when other competing services such as Netflix are cheaper.

Popular television series made by the BBC include Doctor Who, Sherlock, Killing Eve, and Peaky Blinders, most of which can be found on other streaming services in the UK, the US, and beyond.

Differing from Netflix and other streaming platforms, however, the BBC offers more variety and genres for its viewers. Considering it’s an entire TV network, many feel the increase in price is unavoidable, and will still be paying for their yearly licence.

So how much exactly is the BBC adding to your bill? Starting April 1, 2021, the yearly subscription will go from £157.50 ($216.42) to £159 ($218.48). According to the Evening Standard, subscribers signing up for the network starting April 1 will pay the new fee, and existing customers who make monthly or weekly payments will continue to pay the current rate until their licence expires. Those who pay yearly, of course, already dished out their £157.50 for the year.

It’s never fun to hear that a subscription you’re paying for is increasing, but it seems like a regular occurrence at this point. BBC fans will have to decide at what point the yearly price ends up too hefty for them to afford–and we can only hope that next year doesn’t follow suit with another increase.