Should the BBC be privatised?

[Ewan S]

colonel c said:

Jasandjules said:

Eric Mc said:

Yes - I absolutely love ITV a nd Channel 4and the way they handle evertything - especially their sports coverage. The ITV years of F1 coverage were the best ever. The constant ad breaks during the race added so much to each race weekend. I really miss this aspect of F1 coverage and find the constant unbroken coverage as seen on BBC terribly frustrating. There is nothing better than coming back after an ad break to find that you've missed the only overtaking manoeuver of the race or the only goal of the game.

Pah, during the race yesterday I was keen for the loo, but no advert on BBC1 so instead I had to run off at a point I thought would be safe. Of course, that was the point at which Webber decided to give Heikki a No Win no Fee personal injury claim............. At least if there was an advert I could have blamed ITV..

That is easily solved by investing in a SKY+ box (or an equivalent type of machine). A device for which my bladder and I are eternally grateful.

Exactly, privatise it, scrap the license fee, purchase a Humax PVR or similar for around £150, record all your programs and start watching them 20 minutes later than they started and you should be able to get through by fast forwarding over the adverts.

The best bit is you probably have to pay for the humax once, rather than once a year and get threatening letters if you don't pay.

[Major T]

TuxRacer said:

Nah. Just cut the licence fee and lose a good chunk of it.

This.

[Lefty 200 Drams]

I hoestly can't remember the last time I watched something on the BBC or listened to something on their radio stations that I enjoyed.

But, that's just my personal opinion and I live with it because I don't really watch much television anyway. What really riles me is that their news coverage is plain crap. It's appallingly biased to the left.

Something that is public funded should be completely neutral and the BBC plainly is not.

I get my news from Reuters/AP and various newspaper websites (FT/Times/Telegraph and even the Guardian).

The whole phone-voting scandal thing should have been the nail in the coffin. It certainly would have been if it were a private company...

[DWP]

I never watch the BBC or use any of it's radio stations or even think about the BBC honest. I also always wash my hands after I've been to the loo honest. I also have a much better use for the 40p a day it costs.

[DWP]

I never watch the BBC or use any of it's radio stations or even think about the BBC honest. I also always wash my hands after I've been to the loo honest. I also have a much better use for the 40p a day it costs.

[grumbledoak]

Conian said:

Sell the BBC, abolish the licence.

We should do to it what was done to BT, and for exactly the same reasons.

Edited by grumbledoak on Monday 28th June 14:29

[jmorgan]

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

[tinman0]

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

Trouble is that most of the popular tv shows are now made in the US, so your argument doesn't really stack up.

The BBC has one jewel left in Top Gear, and that's more about JC and Andy Wilman than the BBC itself.

The days of the BBC's quality programming are long since over. If the BBC was so successful, then why do we have Sky?

[Eric Mc]

Conian said:

The TV licence is a crime, can you imagine that system being allowed in any other industry?
You have to pay the BBC even if you never watch their channel or listen to their crappy obscure radio stations which have an audience of 3.

Should we pay Ford a 'Car Licence Fee' even if you drive a BMW?
Should vegetarians pay a 'bacon licence' when ordering lettuce... well yes they should, that was a bad example maybe.

Sell the BBC, abolish the licence.

I think you'll find that the UK is not the only country in the world that requires a TV licence to be paid by the viewer.
The Irish Republic does for a start - and they STILL have ads on the national licence funded channel.

[jmorgan]

tinman0 said:

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

Trouble is that most of the popular tv shows are now made in the US, so your argument doesn't really stack up.

The BBC has one jewel left in Top Gear, and that's more about JC and Andy Wilman than the BBC itself.

The days of the BBC's quality programming are long since over. If the BBC was so successful, then why do we have Sky?

Subjective then? BBC nature programs have been stunning, Blue Planet in the vein of that sheriff off US car crash TV? No thanks. The recent programs from Proff Brian Cox maybe? They were superb. And I reserve the right to think 24, Lost, Hero's et al are pants.

And I do not have a dish. How much is Sky now, anyway?

[F i F]

Eric Mc said:

elster said:

Eric Mc said:

Yes - I absolutely love ITV and Channel 4and the way they handle everything - especially their sports coverage. The ITV years of F1 coverage were the best ever. The constant ad breaks during the race added so much to each race weekend. I really miss this aspect of F1 coverage and find the constant unbroken coverage as seen on BBC terribly frustrating. There is nothing better than coming back after an ad break to find that you've missed the only overtaking manoeuvre of the race or the only goal of the game.

And while you're at it it, abolish all the radio coverage and website material they carry as that is just so much junk. I mean, who wants to be intellectually stimulated or educated or challenged by the media. Give me "You've Been Framed", "Britain's Got Talent" or "Big Brother" any day.

Yes - commercial is best. Shut down the BBC straight away.

I could see your anger at the OP through this post.

That was a reasoned response. You should see me when I'm angry.

True but considering that terrestrial TV broadcasting is viewable through so many methods nowadays then the TV licence fee is an outmoded method of funding the BBC.

If you need to question whether a public broadcasting service should have adequate funding just watch some of those PBS fund raising things that have been known in the US where the folks are basically on the TV pleading for their jobs. That's not good to say the least.

So there is no question that the BBC need funding from taxation, however they do need a good kick up the arse in so many ways.

They have ceased to be onbjective on so many things.

Just look at them since the election, they've almost failed to recognise that we have had a change in Govt. Yes a media which challenges the current administration is a good thing, however it seems that the BBC only does this properly when we have a Conservative government. How was it somebody put it the other day? Ah yes it was this, "when we have a Labour Government they become a Govt mouthpiece and I keep waiting for the announcement that tractor production has gone up. "

So BBC bend over, prepare for a boot up th'arse then.


Edited to sort quote formatting, sorry Eric.

Edited by F i F on Monday 28th June 16:11

[Parrot of Doom]

turbobloke said:

Parrot of Doom said:

Fittster said:

A system funded by a tax you must pay if even you don't use the service is fundamentally wrong.

Get rid of the license now, make the BBC a subscription service.

What, like the NHS?

We went through this before

This analogy and all the rest just don't work.

If you elect to use the NHS you aren't forced to go private.

If you elect to use standard motorways you aren't forced to pay for Toll routes you don't use.

With the BBC and the TV licence there is a compulsion for those not wishing to watch or listen to the beeb (compulsion in effect, in all practical terms) to pay for that second service you do not want and would be happy never to use arising as a result of electing to receive another commercial service - and that is wrong.

But you can't opt out of the NHS, even if you do go private. And to get to toll routes, you have to use public roads. Don't want to pay for the roads? You can't then use the tolls.

There are a few things on my council tax bill that I don't use. I'm still required to pay for them, however. At least with the BBC, one can opt out of paying altogether.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Monday 28th June 15:14

[grumbledoak]

Parrot of Doom said:

At least with the BBC, one can opt out of paying altogether.

Disingenuous. You get quite a bit of hassle. More hassle than e.g. the Sky junkmail.

[Lefty 200 Drams]

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

No, the point is that if they actually do produce quality programming then it should be able to able to stand by itself and succeed without enforced public funding.

And I perosnally am not aware of any real quality programming from the BBC. I certainly don't enjoy TG any more.

[Eric Mc]

Lefty 200 Drams said:

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

No, the point is that if they actually do produce quality programming then it should be able to able to stand by itself and succeed without enforced public funding.

And I perosnally am not aware of any real quality programming from the BBC. I certainly don't enjoy TG any more.

There's more to the BBC than TG.

[Balmoral Green]

Nothing wrong with the BBC, if you take News coverage out of the equation.

[Lefty 200 Drams]

Eric Mc said:

Lefty 200 Drams said:

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

No, the point is that if they actually do produce quality programming then it should be able to able to stand by itself and succeed without enforced public funding.

And I perosnally am not aware of any real quality programming from the BBC. I certainly don't enjoy TG any more.

There's more to the BBC than TG.

I don't dispute that. But nobody has so far given any examples of the top-quality programming that comes from the BBC for me to disagree with.

[jmorgan]

Lefty 200 Drams said:

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

No, the point is that if they actually do produce quality programming then it should be able to able to stand by itself and succeed without enforced public funding.

And I perosnally am not aware of any real quality programming from the BBC. I certainly don't enjoy TG any more.

I am aware of more than top gear. Already mentioned a few. Brian Cox is rumored to be doing a bigger show, I am looking forward to it. There is quite a long thread on Dr Who and there are a good few more. Did you see that program on building a sub last night? Whilst not superlative, it certainly was worth a watch.

I wonder if people would manages with a system where they opt out but every influence and advance and BBC input is wiped off your viewing, I wonder how much that would take out? No really, I do not know.

To get this it needs money in or its years of big brother so I think we need a public broadcaster to continue to make the good programs and let the brain stodge waft around else where.

[Fittster]

Eric Mc said:

Lefty 200 Drams said:

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

No, the point is that if they actually do produce quality programming then it should be able to able to stand by itself and succeed without enforced public funding.

And I perosnally am not aware of any real quality programming from the BBC. I certainly don't enjoy TG any more.

There's more to the BBC than TG.

Would you agree that a lot of the output on BBC 1 and Radio 1 could easily be replicated on a commercial station?

[Fittster]

jmorgan said:

Lefty 200 Drams said:

jmorgan said:

Privatise the beeb and quality programing vanishes from the UK, welcome to the US and car crash telly.

No, the point is that if they actually do produce quality programming then it should be able to able to stand by itself and succeed without enforced public funding.

And I perosnally am not aware of any real quality programming from the BBC. I certainly don't enjoy TG any more.

I am aware of more than top gear. Already mentioned a few. Brian Cox is rumored to be doing a bigger show, I am looking forward to it. There is quite a long thread on Dr Who and there are a good few more. Did you see that program on building a sub last night? Whilst not superlative, it certainly was worth a watch.

I wonder if people would manages with a system where they opt out but every influence and advance and BBC input is wiped off your viewing, I wonder how much that would take out? No really, I do not know.

To get this it needs money in or its years of big brother so I think we need a public broadcaster to continue to make the good programs and let the brain stodge waft around else where.

In your opinion would Total Wipe and the Chris Moyles show be classed intellectually stimulating?