FIFTEEN households in Leamington still choose to watch television in black and white.
Nearly 50 years after former BBC Two controller David Attenborough raced to broadcast colour TV in the UK ahead of German television, more than 9,000 black and white licences are still in force across the UK.
But the number of black and white licences issued nationwide 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 50,000.
Mark Whitehouse, spokesperson for TV Licensing in the West Midlands, said: “It’s astounding that more than 800 households in total across the West Midlands still watch on a black and white telly, especially now that over half of homes access TV content over the internet, on smart TVs3. 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.”
The cost of a black and white TV licence is £49. A colour licence costs £145.50.
