The BBC has announced that Capita has been formally appointed to deliver field and call centre operations for TV Licensing for the BBC. An official release states that the contract was signed on 8 February. 

Capita is scheduled to take over the operation from Consignia in July 2002. 

Speaking on this, head of revenue management Zarin Patel said: "We look forward to working in partnership with Capita to deliver the most effective TV Licensing system. The focus will be on examining opportunities to cut collection costs and increase licence fee revenue. Over the next few months the Capita team will get up to speed with the complexities of the TV Licensing operation. In the meantime its business as usual for TV Licensing.

Capita will draw on its proven strengths and experience of transitioning and transforming complex, large scale administration and customer service activities to ensure a smooth transfer and a successful route forward for delivering an effective service into the future. The AMV consortium is scheduled to begin TV Licensing marketing and communications activity in April 2002. Consignia (formerly the Post Office) will continue to deliver the contract until Capita takes over in July. 

The release informs that the Capita Group is a leading provider of integrated professional support service solutions. Capita currently delivers a unique customer contact service operation for the BBC. In 1998 Capita was awarded a 5-year contract to set up and administer the BBC Information Service.