THE BBC cannot say how much it has paid the operator in fees to broadcast from the, currently offline, Bilsdale Mast, after issuing thousands of refunds.

The broadcaster was unable to confirm how much money it had paid to Arqiva to broadcast from the TV mast but did confirm it does have contracts with the infrastructure company.

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After an FOI request was submitted by The Northern Echo the broadcasting company issued a reply stating that the contracts between the BBC and Arqiva “do not break down the pricing for services in a station-by-station manner.”

The Northern Echo has submitted a further FOI request looking to obtain the amount of money paid to Arqiva within the contracts mentioned by the broadcasting company.

Conservative MP for Redcar, Jacob Young, said that as the BBC is publicly funded it was “only right and proper that we know where our money is being spent.”

He said: “The BBC is funded by the public and it only seems right and proper that we know where our money is being spent.

"I also reiterate my position, that BBC licensing should be issuing full refunds to all people affected, for the length of time they were affected.

"It is simply not acceptable that an organisation, the size of the BBC, cannot recognise the impact of being without a TV license can have on people.

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"When considering that some BBC presenters are paid in excess of one million pounds, it is staggering that BBC Licensing will not refund people who aren't able to watch TV."

The BBC stressed that the broadcasting company “continues to assist customers in claiming refunds.”

A spokesperson for the BBC said: “We continue to assist customers to claim refunds or licence extensions, and around 9,000 households have already done so.

“If a household has been unable to receive TV coverage for a month or more, and are also unable to view BBC programming through BBC iPlayer, and satellite and cable platforms, they will be able to claim a refund or be offered a free extension to their TV Licence, depending on their TV Licensing payment plan.

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“The small number who remain without services will need to contact TV Licensing to claim a refund or licence extension for the third month.”

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