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Original poster

Why the F should I tell BBC every year that I don’t watch TV ?

338 replies

LadyGillingham · 11/10/2025 07:49

Why can’t they upgrade their subscriptions/licencing model like Netflix etc ?

If you look at BBC corporation’s ownership, majority stakeholders are private Ltd companies and individuals. Why the f are they entitled to demand subscription fees from me for services I don’t use!

The language in the emails is quite strong, I’m sure a lot of senior citizens just pay to not get into trouble. That’s extortion!

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 11/10/2025 13:01

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:14

I remember the weird kids at school that didn’t have a tv right enough.

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What’s with this? Why so aerated about other people’s viewing.

Sesma · 11/10/2025 13:01

seaelephant · 11/10/2025 12:52

No one I know under 30 pays for it but our parents all do

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It's a long wait until all the over 30s die off, DS is just over 30 and I think gets one now, he didn't used to

SushiForMe · 11/10/2025 12:58

CalzoneOnLegs · 11/10/2025 11:51

@SushiForMe its not the same scenario though is it ? The BBC just need to put up a paywall, they don’t even ask for the licence number on the iPlayer, they basically refuse to invest anything in updating their model and stubbornly are wasting millions on their stupid enforcement strategy.

Well yes, exactly! Bullying people into paying is not an acceptable way to operate.

NewsdeskJC · 11/10/2025 12:57

Honestly I am at the end of my rope with them
Dmum is 86 and has diligently paid for probably more than 60 years apart from the few months between reaching 75 and the removal of the free licence for over 75s!
She has moved into a care home. Surely all i need to do is tell them, get a pro rata refund and that's the end of it.
No it isn't. Apparently I have to establish that the care home has some special type of licence and prove that she is contributing to that.
The fact that she has advanced dementia and is incapable of watching aTV is not enough.
So fuck them. They can keep the balance of the year. I have cancelled her direct debit. Best of British to them in finding her and pursuing her.

Thatmoves · 11/10/2025 12:55

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:14

I remember the weird kids at school that didn’t have a tv right enough.

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What a gem

Thatmoves · 11/10/2025 12:54

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:49

Narrow minded? The person that DOESNT write off a whole broadcast corporation is the narrow minded one?

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That isn’t what I’m talking about

it is your disbelief that anyone can go through life without the bbc in their life

seaelephant · 11/10/2025 12:52

Sesma · 11/10/2025 12:51

What age would that be

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No one I know under 30 pays for it but our parents all do

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:51

Unacceptableinthe80s · 11/10/2025 12:49

So people that don't watch TV are liars and weirdos? School bully were we because you sound like one.

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It certainly narrows a person’s knot of the outside world. Why do regimes like North Korea limit access to tv?

Sesma · 11/10/2025 12:51

seaelephant · 11/10/2025 12:50

No one under a certain age pays for it anymorem, they're going to need to rethink their model as all the old ladies who sit in watching countdown die off

What age would that be

seaelephant · 11/10/2025 12:50

No one under a certain age pays for it anymorem, they're going to need to rethink their model as all the old ladies who sit in watching countdown die off

beAsensible1 · 11/10/2025 12:50

Is someone holding a gun to your head to open the letters?

SushiForMe · 11/10/2025 12:49

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:11

They absolutely would if your were watching illegally. They clamped down on login sharing and would go further if people tried to get round the rules. Sky tv literally do it?

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The don’t write to every single address, annual threatening letters.

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:49

Thatmoves · 11/10/2025 12:48

Oh older

very much older

so there isn’t really an explanation aside from very narrow minded and suspicious 🤭

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Narrow minded? The person that DOESNT write off a whole broadcast corporation is the narrow minded one?

Unacceptableinthe80s · 11/10/2025 12:49

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:14

I remember the weird kids at school that didn’t have a tv right enough.

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So people that don't watch TV are liars and weirdos? School bully were we because you sound like one.

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:49

EasternStandard · 11/10/2025 12:44

I mean you’re a separate person who can watch those BBC dramas. Which one in particular are you thinking of? Can you name some.

Edited
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I may destroy you, line of duty, silent witness, happy valley?

Thatmoves · 11/10/2025 12:48

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:46

Sorry to have not proved whatever point you were wanting to make. Unclear if I was meant to be older or younger.

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Oh older

very much older

so there isn’t really an explanation aside from very narrow minded and suspicious 🤭

kirbykirby · 11/10/2025 12:47

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 11/10/2025 12:09

Now that we have the option to subscribe to other broadcasters' output, there may well be a case for reviewing how our national broadcaster is funded. I agree with @Rosesfornoses that the BBC produces some really valuable stuff which commercial profit-driven broadcasters wouldn't do. If the licence fee model isn't working there should be some alternative put in place to ensure that children do have higher quality programmes and all the educational resources the BBC produces. Same goes for much of the radio output, BBC4 and the archive material.

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The solution is to make it subscription based. The technology is out there to limit only those paying for a subscription from watching the BBC. That way you can exercise your democratic rights to pay for and watch the BBC and people who don't choose to watch it and have different tastes and personalities to you, will no longer be bothered by reams of letters or Capita salesmen and can spend their money on things that they want to. Isn't it great that we live in a society where people have the ability to choose what they want to spend their money on and the technology to enable that and are not forced to subsidise other peoples preferences.

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:46

Thatmoves · 11/10/2025 12:44

That is a surprise

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Sorry to have not proved whatever point you were wanting to make. Unclear if I was meant to be older or younger.

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:45

CalzoneOnLegs · 11/10/2025 12:38

What does she do to justify her 445k salary ? Not that I really care because not a penny comes from my pocket

point being she was on 900k last year, so why the decrease ?

you definitely sound like a BBC employee

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Also - and I really can’t believe you’re that thick, but I’ll bite - she got paid for part of the year because she left part way through. You think they shouldn’t have paid her for when she worked?

Thatmoves · 11/10/2025 12:44

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:42

46

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That is a surprise

EasternStandard · 11/10/2025 12:44

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:39

These are no better than other dramas on bbc, itv etc. I watch them too but why shut off one channel of well made and interesting shows?!

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I mean you’re a separate person who can watch those BBC dramas. Which one in particular are you thinking of? Can you name some.

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:43

CalzoneOnLegs · 11/10/2025 12:42

Because it saves £170, some people are struggling financially (not BBC employees though)

ETA or partners in law firms

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I’m sure there’s BBC employees earning just as little as the next person? You think they’re all paid the same as Claudia Winkleman or whoever?!

Luxio · 11/10/2025 12:43

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:39

These are no better than other dramas on bbc, itv etc. I watch them too but why shut off one channel of well made and interesting shows?!

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For most people it will be because all these costs add up? Surely that's the obvious answer. Yes some will just not want to support the BBC in the same way some wouldn't pay for prime because they don't want to put money into Bezos' back pocket. If some people would rather spend their money in netflix, prime, Disney or another service why should they then also pay for the BBC?

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:42

Thatmoves · 11/10/2025 12:39

I’m intrigued how old you are @SALaw as I think it probably partly explains your belief on this thread

46

CalzoneOnLegs · 11/10/2025 12:42

SALaw · 11/10/2025 12:39

These are no better than other dramas on bbc, itv etc. I watch them too but why shut off one channel of well made and interesting shows?!

Show quote history

Because it saves £170, some people are struggling financially (not BBC employees though)

ETA or partners in law firms

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