TV licence


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The funding issue, as with the debate about what content they produce and who it's for, is a product of too much meddling and outright attacks on it by people and groups with an agenda. If the need for a state broadcaster was accepted, and it was protected from attacks by groups who do not have the best interests of the country at heart, all the problems people might have with its output and arrangements could be solved.

I'm not sure there is a need for that anymore. Arts council could fund film and tv content for a bit of British independent programming and the BBC news gets a chunk from the State with no strings attached. Then no longer need to tax the poor to the tune of £150 a year.
 
Yet Blue Planet II (a nature documentary) had the highest viewing figures of any TV show broadcast in the UK last year, Strictly (not something I'm a fan of) trounces ITV's reality talent shows. They're still (along with channel 4) the best source of TV news and current affairs. They've lost out on sport and their mainstream sitcoms are, by and large, poor (although they still make some cracking comedy, shown on BBC4, the online service that was BBC3 etc.), they make dramas which are mostly of a reasonably high quality etc.

I'd agree with you about the radio BTW - can't remember the last time I listened to music radio other than in someone else's car.
Hardly justifying it's £3,7 billion a year is it?
 
You just gave two scenarios where the law said you need a licence then ended with "I DON'T NEED ONE".

Are you Donald Trump?
Where does the law say i need one? The bbc are not the law you know.
The bbc say i need one, but they would wouldnt they.
Caravan....cant get ANY bbc channels.....no license required.
Home....no aerial or signal input attached to tv, im not attemping to get a tv signal.

If tv licensing came to the door i would quite happily let them in to have a look. My point was that the bbc say i need a license for both of the scenarios given, when really, i dont.
 
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Don't think I have used it for months but I am still forced to pay for it.
You're one of those very rare animals, like people who say they never get sick and haven't had a day off work in 40 years, as 95% of the population use it every week.
 
You're one of those very rare animals, like people who say they never get sick and haven't had a day off work in 40 years, as 95% of the population use it every week.

Most people these days drive, I reckon we should make everyone pay road tax - even if they only "drive" by riding on a bus, getting a lift off someone, or crossing the road.
 
I'm not sure there is a need for that anymore. Arts council could fund film and tv content for a bit of British independent programming and the BBC news gets a chunk from the State with no strings attached. Then no longer need to tax the poor to the tune of £150 a year.
The BBC provides something for everyone. If it didn't provide popular programming, then there would be a massive backlash by licence payers who felt they were getting very little for their money.

It's presence and quality raises standards across the industry. How many BBC "stars" have been poached by ITV over the years? Of the iconic British programmes that have been lauded over the past 50 odd years, 90% originate from the BBC.
 
Most people these days drive, I reckon we should make everyone pay road tax - even if they only "drive" by riding on a bus, getting a lift off someone, or crossing the road.
Why do car owners have to contribute their share of taxes to paying for public transport if they never use it? It's theft, innit, like paying for the BBC and only watching Sky? They should get a tax reduction, shouldn't they?

Even better, end all subsidies for public transport and get more people into cars on the road. The market will provide the solution.
 
The BBC provides something for everyone. If it didn't provide popular programming, then there would be a massive backlash by licence payers who felt they were getting very little for their money.

It's presence and quality raises standards across the industry. How many BBC "stars" have been poached by ITV over the years? Of the iconic British programmes that have been lauded over the past 50 odd years, 90% originate from the BBC.

My point is that the licence fee is no longer necessary. Obviously if people are charged the fee to access live tv then they need to be catered for.

I agree that the BBC was a great (and to a lesser extent still is) a great institution, I am questioning whether it is relevant in 2018 or equitable to charge everyone for the privilege.
 
My point is that the licence fee is no longer necessary. Obviously if people are charged the fee to access live tv then they need to be catered for.

I agree that the BBC was a great (and to a lesser extent still is) a great institution, I am questioning whether it is relevant in 2018 or equitable to charge everyone for the privilege.
The alternative though is a model like in the states. The BBC generally ensures impartiality (I know some will moan like fuck about loony left and right whingers etc) when producing programs.
 
My point is that the licence fee is no longer necessary. Obviously if people are charged the fee to access live tv then they need to be catered for.

I agree that the BBC was a great (and to a lesser extent still is) a great institution, I am questioning whether it is relevant in 2018 or equitable to charge everyone for the privilege.
It's necessary to provide a comprehensive service(not just TV, of course) where everyone has things they can enjoy, and can moan about the "rubbish" they don't watch.

If you want to know what we'd get without the licence fee, then look at the diminution in quality at ITV since the 80s, when Thatcher ripped up all the regulatory standards and set it free.
 
The bbc are not the law you know.
The bbc say i need one, but they would wouldnt they.
Caravan....cant get ANY bbc channels.....no license required.
Home....no aerial or signal input attached to tv, im not attemping to get a tv signal.

If tv licensing came to the door i would quite happily let them in to have a look. My point was that the bbc say i need a license for both of the scenarios given, when really, i dont.
Communications Act marra.

If you can watch or record live broadcasts you need a licence.
 
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