This is exactly what they're trying to do in Ireland. There was recently a scandal about a presenter on the state broadcaster's channel being paid an absurd amount, with a followup narrative about how maybe it's time to scrap the concept of the TV license. This was pushed in headline news on all TV and radio, for weeks.

If they are pushing the topic, they are comfortable with it. They would not be comfortable with it if they did not stand to profit from the secret alternative they have lined up. If dropping the TV license really hurt them, they would memoryhole all discussion of it, like they do for anything else uncomfortable.