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Original poster

How long until the License Fee is dropped?

188 replies

mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/03/2026 22:07

I reckon by the end of this year, it will begin being phased out.

I am sad about it.

OP posts:
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9
Wolmando · 30/03/2026 23:13

BIossomtoes · 30/03/2026 23:11

I think that’s highly unlikely given the degree of exposure it gives Reform.

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Reform want rid of the licence

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 23:12

Catza · 30/03/2026 23:11

I'm not suggesting there aren't public service broadcasters or that they aren't funded from a state budget. However, I can assure you that my European family never once received a threatening letter to their home address or have a man with a lanyard show up on their doorstep demanding to check whether they are watching live television and they have never been threatened with legal action or taken to court. How much money is BBC wasting on this malarkey? £166 million a year according to some sources.

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Which is why a huge amount of discussion about the new charter is about reforming the funding model.

BIossomtoes · 30/03/2026 23:11

Wolmando · 30/03/2026 23:10

I bet everyone on this thread that wants to keep it leans left

I think that’s highly unlikely given the degree of exposure it gives Reform.

BeardofHagrid · 30/03/2026 23:11

It’s a dangerous cult and should have been reined in long ago.

Catza · 30/03/2026 23:11

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 23:03

Virtually every European country has a public service broadcaster funded through some kind of variation of license fee or direct taxation.

www.ebu.ch/about/members

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I'm not suggesting there aren't public service broadcasters or that they aren't funded from a state budget. However, I can assure you that my European family never once received a threatening letter to their home address or have a man with a lanyard show up on their doorstep demanding to check whether they are watching live television and they have never been threatened with legal action or taken to court. How much money is BBC wasting on this malarkey? £166 million a year according to some sources.

PottingBench · 30/03/2026 23:10

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:03

BBC News has a transgender section, a Pride section and a drag queen section.

And each one has literally several hundred stories in it.

I think you're now starting to understand the issue..

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How many sections does it have in total and how many stories under those sections? You're only picking the bits that reinforce your prejudices/agenda.

Do you ever broaden your vision?

Wolmando · 30/03/2026 23:10

I bet everyone on this thread that wants to keep it leans left

PottingBench · 30/03/2026 23:08

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:02

Why do you think polls show the licence fee is overwhelmingly unpopular and of the minority who want to keep it, they are almost entirely left wing?

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This report seems to disagree with you.
https://home.38degrees.org.uk/2026/03/25/new-report-a-bbc-fit-for-the-future/

New report: a BBC fit for the future - 38 Degrees

The report brings together the thoughts of 78,672 of us who shared their views via 38 Degrees on the BBC’s recent charter consultation.

https://home.38degrees.org.uk/2026/03/25/new-report-a-bbc-fit-for-the-future/

randomchap · 30/03/2026 23:08

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:03

BBC News has a transgender section, a Pride section and a drag queen section.

And each one has literally several hundred stories in it.

I think you're now starting to understand the issue..

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What is your issue with Pride exactly?

Homophobia can fuck right off

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 23:07

Silverbellsandtacoshells · 30/03/2026 23:03

Early days yet....Rome wasn't built in a day.....

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Far too late to the party, charter negotiations have been going on for a year already and the link I posted above says the Culture secretary has already all but confirmed the new charter won’t even be tied to a ten year renewal.

Bit too little too late tbh, and the defund campaign overall has been going for ages so you’d think if it was going to gain more traction it would’ve done by now.

BIossomtoes · 30/03/2026 23:05

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:05

Online. YouGov is a pollster

Link?

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:05

Online. YouGov is a pollster

BIossomtoes · 30/03/2026 23:04

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:02

Why do you think polls show the licence fee is overwhelmingly unpopular and of the minority who want to keep it, they are almost entirely left wing?

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Where are these polls?

Silverbellsandtacoshells · 30/03/2026 23:03

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 23:00

I mean it clearly needs some help, the most emails any one MP has received is 12, hardly gaining a huge amount of traction there.

650 MPs and 800 emails sent, so less than two per MP on average, I don’t think that’s going to create much of a stir to be honest.

Early days yet....Rome wasn't built in a day.....

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:03

randomchap · 30/03/2026 23:01

I think you need a new radio.

Or help

Show quote history

BBC News has a transgender section, a Pride section and a drag queen section.

And each one has literally several hundred stories in it.

I think you're now starting to understand the issue..

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 23:03

Catza · 30/03/2026 22:59

And yet other countries somehow manage without a license fee..

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Virtually every European country has a public service broadcaster funded through some kind of variation of license fee or direct taxation.

www.ebu.ch/about/members

PottingBench · 30/03/2026 23:02

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 22:56

Every time I put Radio 4 I get a lecture about misogyny from a cross-dressing man.

If that's your thang then go you.

I haven't paid the licence fee for several years and it's the best decision I ever made. Also funded a few lovely holidays

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"Every time I put Radio 4 I get a lecture about misogyny from a cross-dressing man. "

What even on The Shipping Forecast, Prayer for Today, The Kitchen Cabinet and Bells on Sunday?

If Radio Four is anything it's varied. Here's the schedule to show the range of subjects. https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl7j

BBC Radio 4 FM - Schedules

This is the daily broadcast schedule for BBC Radio 4 FM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl7j

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:02

BIossomtoes · 30/03/2026 23:00

And yet those of us who lean left think it’s incredibly right wing - which objectively means it’s probably straight down the middle. As it’s meant to be.

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Why do you think polls show the licence fee is overwhelmingly unpopular and of the minority who want to keep it, they are almost entirely left wing?

randomchap · 30/03/2026 23:01

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:01

Every. Single. Time.

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I think you need a new radio.

Or help

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:01

randomchap · 30/03/2026 22:58

On all the programming? Every single time? Are you sure you're not listening to a recording?

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Every. Single. Time.

BIossomtoes · 30/03/2026 23:00

Silverbellsandtacoshells · 30/03/2026 22:42

I don't agree.

We aren't supposed to get adverts on the Beeb, but every time I look it's showing adverts for what's on.

It's so Left Wing and woke it's nearly coming back on itself.

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And yet those of us who lean left think it’s incredibly right wing - which objectively means it’s probably straight down the middle. As it’s meant to be.

ProudAmberTurtle · 30/03/2026 23:00

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 22:54

There isn’t enough advertising revenue in TV to make this sustainable, other channels would likely close and the industry would lose a lot of jobs, the government wouldn’t let this happen, it’d be too damaging to an industry that’s already struggling.

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YouTube made $60 billion last year.

ITV makes about £2 billion a year.

Most people don't realise the BBC already does advertising - the U channels are all BBC channels and make hundreds of millions a year.

Believe me - there's more than enough to be made from subscriptions and advertising. The BBC just have to do the one thing they're not good at anymore - make programmes people want to watch.

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 23:00

I mean it clearly needs some help, the most emails any one MP has received is 12, hardly gaining a huge amount of traction there.

650 MPs and 800 emails sent, so less than two per MP on average, I don’t think that’s going to create much of a stir to be honest.

Catza · 30/03/2026 22:59

Changingplace · 30/03/2026 22:54

There isn’t enough advertising revenue in TV to make this sustainable, other channels would likely close and the industry would lose a lot of jobs, the government wouldn’t let this happen, it’d be too damaging to an industry that’s already struggling.

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And yet other countries somehow manage without a license fee..