Should we pay BBC licence fee

Haven't had a licence for years, and no I don't watch live tv. BBC has been crap for years, is very politically biased and now very woke. They DO have ads, it's just that the ads are all for BBC programmes and services. Long overdue for a move to a monthly subscription model at least rather than the deliberately complicated and threatening licence fee.

The BBC is not unbiased. In many instances it reports equally but puts a more positive slant on one aspect compared to the other. In other instances, it gives the same weight to a factual stance as it does to an opinion not backed up by facts. It is incredibly biased in programmes such as Question Time where it gives extensive airtime to certain people. It does not accept criticism.

Look at Newsnight. A once decent programme now castrated beyond measure. In fact, I have no idea if it still exists.

BBC4, a decent channel in a world of dumbing down, was pretry much axed.

All the reasons people once thought it worth paying a license are diminishing. It's no different now to Sky or whatever, so people shouldn't be strong armed into supporting it.

Imagine trying to pitch Gardeners QT?

I pay for it as I use the services it offers.

I don't think I have a societal duty to pay for it - for me to believe that it would have to broaden the range of people it employs from all educational background, reduce nepotism and cut salaries.

I don't think my children would pay for it, but they don't watch it/listen to it etc.

Never had a TV licence in my life and no intention of getting one they came to my door in 2002 they took me to court etc now t came near me since and I do watch BBC and I am on BBC mailing list for programme etc so I my book no need for it if they not bothered me in over 20 years they not that concerned

Absolutely this.

You only have to look at what's happened in America to see this in action. 2 opposing sides and not a fact to be shared between them.

The BBC is brilliant. Not perfect, but excellent. The country would be a lot worse off without it.

Who should pay and how is another question. But I absolutely 100% think it should continue to be funded.

I think public service broadcasting is more important now than ever. Watching Trump try to destroy the US’s public service broadcaster (PBS) should serve as a chilling warning. It needs to be protected.

The BBC licence fee supports thousands of business involved in the creative arts, it’s the licence fee that ensures the survival of that industry .. which is why you’ll not hear many commercial stations asking for its abolition.
It’s also manages the play-out Networks, ensuring the correct protocols are in place that makes sure your steaming services work, and work together on various differing platforms... there is no money to be made in that work, hence why the BBC does it.
It also mangers the R&D groups around new technology, again making sure that broadcasters work together.
They also support The Open University and BBC Bitesized, making sure than people of all backgrounds can access educational resources.
The World Service is used to get news and information to people in countries where they can’t normally access the media.
They broadcast shows for people with disabilities, using sign language more than any other Broadcaster.
It’s hugely contributes to Music, supporting Orchestras, New Acts, Classical .. all genres.
BBC Factual, a place where Gardeners, Scientists, Astonomers etc could gather. Has anyone else tried to make Gardners World?
The also help to grown new ideas, that create whole new programming streams.
The Early Years content as well, helping to educate the next generation.

They do a lot more than Broadcast a breakfast show. The impact, support, and development of both Creative Arts, and Technology is enormous.

There is lots of content I don’t access, but I appreciate the part that it plays on the ongoing cultural development of the country.

You have a choice, pay the licence and watch the things it covers, or don't and don't.

we lived abroad for over a decade and were shocked when we came back to see the same old content on TV. It was living in a time warp. This after being exposed to all the excellent original content on Netflix. I haven’t paid the license fee in years. DH will occasionally watch a bit of sport on iPlayer but that’s it. Simply not worth paying to watch two or three times a year.

Not really. They moved non-critical things to Salford (e.g. CBBC, Breakfast TV, etc.) but, culturally, the BBC remains a London-based organisation which reflects the values and power of London/SE.

When the BBC did move there was a lot of squealing and moaning from quite a number of well-paid people who simply couldn't comprehend or accept that life exists beyond the M25.

If the BBC were a more respectable institution, I’d probably pay the fee next year. However they’re a disgrace - Huw Edwards, Phillip Schofield debacles, support for Hamas, no support for women. Etc.

I opted out a couple of years ago. I never watched live TV and have no interest in any of the BBC’s programmes. I filled in a form online and hey presto, no more fee.

The have an annual budget of £5.7 billion and 26% of their costs are spent on salaries. I just don’t believe the public should be forced to fund this. Subscription model just like everyone else.

I pay the licence fee as much for the radio as tv.
I enjoy the music festivals on bbc as I’m never going to go to Glastonbury or wherever. I prefer their sports coverage to ITV.
In the past I’ve used BBC Bitesize to help kids revise.
I’m happy to pay as I think when it inevitably changes to subscription only then the service will be slimmed down.

Our TV terrestrial channels stopped working a while ago. So we still get Netflix and others. Realised we didn’t really need to fix the source problem (guessing the aerial has broken in the windy weather, or similar). We have the bbc licence still but I expect won’t renew it, we don’t watch iPlayer.

Do you watch stuff that requires a licence? Then yes, pay the licence fee. If you don't, then don't. Simple!

I love the BBC. I do agree that output is dumbed down when compared to a few decades ago. When living abroad I loved the world service.

I don’t watch tv so I don’t pay. I wouldn’t be happy if they added into something like council tax either.

And nothing illustrated how out of touch the BBC is with modern Britain more than the wall to wall coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh’s and the Queens deaths. People simply don’t want or expect that any more. It was like
we were in the 1980s