Should the BBC be privatised?
Discussion
Guybrush said:
If it were privatised, then there should be the option of not having access to the BBC if desired, otherwise it would effectively be a privatised monopoly (just like the water companies) and that wouldn't be good.
Which, in effect, ITV has almost become.Don't forget that when ITV was set up in the 1950s, it was made up of dozens of regional networks who were franchised. It only finally became a de facto single entity in 2003.
If the BBC channels were encrypted so that you could buy a TV and the BBC subscription charge / license fee were then optional how many would still pay for it?
Yes, some of the programmes made for the BBC are quite good, yes if they were on commercial channels with adverts they'd be less good but at the end of the day it's television, it's really not that important and certainly not worth paying for by a subscription.
Yes, some of the programmes made for the BBC are quite good, yes if they were on commercial channels with adverts they'd be less good but at the end of the day it's television, it's really not that important and certainly not worth paying for by a subscription.
qube_TA said:
If the BBC channels were encrypted so that you could buy a TV and the BBC subscription charge / license fee were then optional how many would still pay for it?
Far fewer than the BBC would like to think. But having a pet TV station is simply too tempting for the politicians to give up.DangerousMike said:
itv, sky and channel 4 are universally s
t
the BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some st).
I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
Want any of your other consumer choices subsidized?tthe BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some s
t).I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
If you like the BBC fair enough, but why should people who disagree be forced to pay for it?
I quite like CH4 TBH, I like their news programme and some of their documentaries are quite good too. Had some great comedies & entertainment programmes over the years too, also they're responsible for Film4 which is awesome.
ITV is pointless.
Sky just isn't worth the money.
CH5 is good for imported tosh like CSI which is rubbish but can be fairly entertaining.
ITV is pointless.
Sky just isn't worth the money.
CH5 is good for imported tosh like CSI which is rubbish but can be fairly entertaining.
Fittster said:
DangerousMike said:
itv, sky and channel 4 are universally st
the BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some st).
I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
Want any of your other consumer choices subsidized?tthe BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some s
t).I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
If you like the BBC fair enough, but why should people who disagree be forced to pay for it?
qube_TA said:
I quite like CH4 TBH, I like their news programme and some of their documentaries are quite good too. Had some great comedies & entertainment programmes over the years too, also they're responsible for Film4 which is awesome.
ITV is pointless.
Sky just isn't worth the money.
CH5 is good for imported tosh like CSI which is rubbish but can be fairly entertaining.
I am similar.ITV is pointless.
Sky just isn't worth the money.
CH5 is good for imported tosh like CSI which is rubbish but can be fairly entertaining.
Both of which are supplemented by the licence fee, so I am happy to pay the fee.
DangerousMike said:
Fittster said:
DangerousMike said:
itv, sky and channel 4 are universally st
the BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some st).
I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
Want any of your other consumer choices subsidized?tthe BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some s
t).I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
If you like the BBC fair enough, but why should people who disagree be forced to pay for it?
Fittster said:
DangerousMike said:
Fittster said:
DangerousMike said:
itv, sky and channel 4 are universally st
the BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some st).
I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
Want any of your other consumer choices subsidized?tthe BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some s
t).I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
If you like the BBC fair enough, but why should people who disagree be forced to pay for it?
If you are saying this I am wondering what you do actually use the TV to watch.
elster said:
Fittster said:
DangerousMike said:
Fittster said:
DangerousMike said:
itv, sky and channel 4 are universally st
the BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some st).
I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
Want any of your other consumer choices subsidized?tthe BBC has a host of excellent programs (both on TV and radio). (as well some as some s
t).I'll stick with the licence fee, thanks.
If you like the BBC fair enough, but why should people who disagree be forced to pay for it?
If you are saying this I am wondering what you do actually use the TV to watch.
Even if you buy a TV just to watch DVDs or play on your Playstation you STILL have to pay the licence fee - thats where the extortion comes in.
Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
mondeoman said:
Even if you buy a TV just to watch DVDs or play on your Playstation you STILL have to pay the licence fee - thats where the extortion comes in.
Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
No you don't.Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
The TV Licence is solely to watch broadcast television in the live environment.
Fundamentally there is a limited amount of money in the marketplace. Currently you have the licence fee, advertising and subscription revenues providing the bulk alongside oversees licensing and rights sales.
If you removed the licence fee, the BBC would have to find new sources of revenue and therefore compete with commercial operators for a slice of revenue. There's no guarantee that P&G and Lever will increase their advertising budget just because they can now buy centre breaks in Eastenders. Instead, the broadcaster's share would be spread much thinner.
The BBC does need to be rationalised and the extent of its services considered. Radio One and BBC Three are always considered prime for privatisation as they'd be a commercially viable proposition for spot advertising. Their public service value is also questionable with plenty of others able to offer the same.
For the rest of the BBC a subscription model might be more appropriate, or even a micro-transaction model. Personally, I'd be happy to subscribe to the Today programme and Top Gear.
If you removed the licence fee, the BBC would have to find new sources of revenue and therefore compete with commercial operators for a slice of revenue. There's no guarantee that P&G and Lever will increase their advertising budget just because they can now buy centre breaks in Eastenders. Instead, the broadcaster's share would be spread much thinner.
The BBC does need to be rationalised and the extent of its services considered. Radio One and BBC Three are always considered prime for privatisation as they'd be a commercially viable proposition for spot advertising. Their public service value is also questionable with plenty of others able to offer the same.
For the rest of the BBC a subscription model might be more appropriate, or even a micro-transaction model. Personally, I'd be happy to subscribe to the Today programme and Top Gear.
DonkeyApple said:
mondeoman said:
Even if you buy a TV just to watch DVDs or play on your Playstation you STILL have to pay the licence fee - thats where the extortion comes in.
Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
No you don't.Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
The TV Licence is solely to watch broadcast television in the live environment.
to be perfectly honest the licence fee is a tax on stupid people.
If you enjoy regularly and exclusively the programming of ITV and channels 4 and 5, then you must be slightly intellectually incapacitated. You still have to pay the licence fee despite not watching the BBC channels.
If you watch the BBC then you are perfectly happy to pay the licence fee. BBC2 and 4 in particular show excellent programmes, and there are some great programmes on radio 1 and radio 4. The BBC wesbite is excellent. (in fact so good that commercial rivals want it closed down because it makes their websites look crap and steals their business).
There is nothing on the commercial channels with the same depth as what you will find on the BBC.
If you enjoy regularly and exclusively the programming of ITV and channels 4 and 5, then you must be slightly intellectually incapacitated. You still have to pay the licence fee despite not watching the BBC channels.
If you watch the BBC then you are perfectly happy to pay the licence fee. BBC2 and 4 in particular show excellent programmes, and there are some great programmes on radio 1 and radio 4. The BBC wesbite is excellent. (in fact so good that commercial rivals want it closed down because it makes their websites look crap and steals their business).
There is nothing on the commercial channels with the same depth as what you will find on the BBC.
qube_TA said:
DonkeyApple said:
mondeoman said:
Even if you buy a TV just to watch DVDs or play on your Playstation you STILL have to pay the licence fee - thats where the extortion comes in.
Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
No you don't.Hollywood produce them, I watch them - the BBC does nothing to enhance that experience, so why should I pay for them if I don't want to watch (or listen to) their biased drivel?
The TV Licence is solely to watch broadcast television in the live environment.
You can go and put a million TVs in a millions homes and not need a single TV licence if you are not watching UK broadcast TV.
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