BBC and the licence fee

[silverthorn2151]

Been reviewing what we have been watching over the festive break and seen trailers for the next few weeks season they have put together.

Compared to some of the stuff in life that I am forced to pay for I reckon the BBC is bloody good value.

I listen to BBC radio almost exclusivly, watch BBC channels mostly, although I watch a lot of Sky stuff that the family hate, like discovery etc. No ITV though.

On the basis that I pay Sky £60 odd a month I reckon it's imnpossible to complain about the BBC.

Put it up I say and give us even more.

[Eric Mc]

You are Mark Thompson - aren't you?

[Halb]

Awaits the onslaught.

[randlemarcus]

Fair comment. I can't object to the premise that were the BBC a pay option, I probably would. Still doesn't mean I like it being a tax, and the "objective" news provider being horribly commited to MMGW and social equality.

[CDP]

I have no problems with the cost, it's the compulsion I resent.

Having said that, we are in a democracy and I'm probably in the minority. My biggest concern is that we don't stifle the creation of alternative models in this country.

[sharpfocus]

Obvious troll is obvious.

[CDP]

sharpfocus said:

Obvious troll is obvious.

Do you mean me? It's my opinion and I reckon I'm outnumbered and I'll accept it. For what I get out of it the value is excellent and I'd happily pay double if it were a subscription service.

It's just services like Spotify suggest there may be other methods of conducting a media business. I've got friends who simply wouldn't pay for any other services on the basis they're already paying a license fee.

With IPTV and AppleTV it's quite feasible to pay for programmes as you watch them and with the BBC's massive advantage it's quite possible we'll not see UK based services. When the BBC inevitably becomes a privatised subscription system it's rivals will all be foreign based.

There are upsides as YouView (formerly Canvas) demonstrate but on the whole I think they occupy too big a slice of the UK market for it to be entirely healthy. Although I'm not keen on a lot of the programming at least ITV has managed to recover for now.

[sharpfocus]

CDP said:

sharpfocus said:

Obvious troll is obvious.

Do you mean me?

No.

I meant the OP, apologies for the confusion, it wasn't explicit.

[mybrainhurts]

Scrap the fee and let the BBC stand on its own feet.

It's bloated and we should not be paying for its gravy train excesses.

[CDP]

sharpfocus said:

CDP said:

sharpfocus said:

Obvious troll is obvious.

Do you mean me?

No.

I meant the OP, apologies for the confusion, it wasn't explicit.

My comments could be trolling to some people

It's funny really. There's an argument that the BBC should provide "quality" programming and in the most part they do but can you really justify the subsidy of minority interests by the masses? I know there's the argument of inform, educate and entertain but the BBC uses a flat "poll" tax which mostly satisfies the traditional "middle class".

[silverthorn2151]

What on earth makes you think I'm trolling?

I understand the points about compulsion and I am inclined to agree to a certain extent. I'm no BBC apologist in any way shape or form by the way. I'm not sure about the pay per view thing. Seems over complicating it to be honest.

The point of my post was simply to express a view that compared to many things in this world, you get quite a lot for your money.

That expression was triggered by the trailers I watched for the new season.

Sherlock
Dr Who
Larkrise to Candleford
etc etc

[thinfourth2]

According to the BBC haters that it should be privatised and this will give us higher quality programs due to commercial pressures etc.

Have you watched ITV recently?

Its utter fking gash

Because that is what people want they want moron vision, they want X-factor they want total brain dead st and ITV provides this.


So if you have more then half a brain bin your TV license or realise the Beeb has some gems hidden away in the dross.

[silverthorn2151]

Every time ITV passes accross my eyes, by mistake I hasten to add, I can feel a bit of my brain dying!

I am ashamed to admit though that I do like Harry Hills TV Burp!

There is some dross on BBC you're right, but you are also right that there are a lot of gems!

[Tsippy]

mybrainhurts said:

Scrap the fee and let the BBC stand on its own feet.

It's bloated and we should not be paying for its gravy train excesses.

[Nom de ploom]

mybrainhurts said:

Scrap the fee and let the BBC stand on its own feet.

It's bloated and we should not be paying for its gravy train excesses.

X 100

I'm sorry but a compulsory licence fee in this day and age (when even the bbc is showing more non TV based material i.e. iplayer) is becoming increasingly unjustifiable imho.

allow advertising between programmes (not during) and scrap the fee - from many angles it is a tax which cannot be justified in an arena with so much choice (Quality is another matter and in many cases BBC sets the standard - politcal & economic programme, natural world etc). but not in others - eg sport.

I know SKY isn't free, but I won't go to gaol if I don't subscribe to sky....

can;t support licence fee sorry

[Eric Mc]

It's worth it for the quality and breadth.

I would hate to be condemned to Sky and ITV.

[Halb]

Eric Mc said:

It's worth it for the quality and breadth.

I would hate to be condemned to Sky and ITV.

I concur!

[thinfourth2]

Nom de ploom said:

mybrainhurts said:

Scrap the fee and let the BBC stand on its own feet.

It's bloated and we should not be paying for its gravy train excesses.

X 100

I'm sorry but a compulsory licence fee in this day and age (when even the bbc is showing more non TV based material i.e. iplayer) is becoming increasingly unjustifiable imho.

allow advertising between programmes (not during) and scrap the fee - from many angles it is a tax which cannot be justified in an arena with so much choice (Quality is another matter and in many cases BBC sets the standard - politcal & economic programme, natural world etc). but not in others - eg sport.

I know SKY isn't free, but I won't go to gaol if I don't subscribe to sky....

can;t support licence fee sorry

????

So the BBC is quality but you would rather it vanished and we had 5000 channels of st.

[StevieBee]

Worth remembering that the license fee covers not just telly but radio as well. Also covers a lot of educational services that supports schools, etc.

The way it's funded allows for the development of entertainment and cultural 'stuff' to level and depth that would be impossible with a purely commercial operation.

[silverthorn2151]

Nom de ploom said:

I know SKY isn't free, but I won't go to gaol if I don't subscribe to sky....

can;t support licence fee sorry

I don't think they lock you up if you don't pay your licence fee either.

It's £12 a month. It's bugger all in the scheme of things when a pint is now over £3, petrol £5.60 (or something) a gallon and my road tax for the 3 cars I run equates to

I have had an argument with some friends of ours for a few years who violently object to the licence fee. It always inflames opinion in the anti brigade, but I genuinely don't understand why.

Call it a tax, call it what you like. Does it matter?