Pensioners in Britain who have watched television programs such as "Blue Planet" and "Doctor Who" for free will have to start paying after the publicly funded BBC said it would scrap free licenses for people over 75 years old.

The BBC, which is funded by a tax on all television-watching households, said around 3.7 million pensioners who previously received a free TV license will have to pay when its new rules come into force in June 2020.

However. any household that receives a Pension Credit, a form of welfare to top up income for the poorest, will still be eligible for free access. The current annual license costs £154.50 ($195.81) for a color TV.