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Original poster

Is it time to defund the BBC ?

256 replies

Nomorefees · 13/03/2023 13:13

Just that - is it time to defund the BBC (Biased Broadcasting Corporation) and make it subscription only?

Discuss

OP posts:
QuertyGirl · 13/03/2023 14:01

DandelionPockets · 13/03/2023 13:55

No, I think the current model works well.

That's the problem.

It works and those in competition with it don't like it.

user1471518104 · 13/03/2023 14:02

HermioneWeasley · 13/03/2023 13:54

@Blossomtoes its not as simple as that - if you want to watch other live Tv (or really have a tv set at all) you have to have a licence.

That's complete crap.

Blossomtoes · 13/03/2023 14:05

user1471518104 · 13/03/2023 14:02

That's complete crap.

Show quote history

It certainly is complete crap.

HermioneWeasley · 13/03/2023 14:07

@user1471518104 how is it crap? It’s a licence for watching any live tv on any device. And having a TV, even if you claim not to watch live TV on it, puts you at extreme suspicion.

TwoMonthsOff · 13/03/2023 14:08

HermioneWeasley · 13/03/2023 13:54

@Blossomtoes its not as simple as that - if you want to watch other live Tv (or really have a tv set at all) you have to have a licence.

Live tv was specified and owning a TV set does not mean you need a licence.
licence required for iPlayer and LIVE tv if you don’t watch either you do not need a licence.

Blossomtoes · 13/03/2023 14:08

HermioneWeasley · 13/03/2023 14:07

@user1471518104 how is it crap? It’s a licence for watching any live tv on any device. And having a TV, even if you claim not to watch live TV on it, puts you at extreme suspicion.

How come people manage it then?

PhillySub · 13/03/2023 14:10

The BBC has defended their actions by trying to maintain their unbias. If a certain sports presenter wants to make a political broadcast against government policy then he can pay for the privilege outside of his work broadcasts.

ThereIbledit · 13/03/2023 14:11

@Blossomtoes

Those who choose not to subscribe to the BBC are sent ever increasingly threatening letters on the assumption that they are lying because the agency simply cannot anything other than you are lying if you don't need one. I'm not sure if it still happens but licence fee enforcers used to turn up and demand to be let in to see proof that you don't have a TV - they had no legal right to entry, but could be very unpleasant and threatening. Certainly they still demand that you tell them every 5 years that you still don't need to buy a licence, or they will keep sending you letters threatening criminal prosecution. It may be technically true that nobody is forcing you to have a TV license but their behaviour is draconian.

OP: I've contributed but please don't start threads with "discuss" again, it's insulting and treats people like they are here to serve you. We're not.

Artisticpaint · 13/03/2023 14:12

It needs properly funding, why can’t they set it up so you can only access any provision by inputting your licence fee code.

ChilliBandit · 13/03/2023 14:12

PureBlackVoid · 13/03/2023 13:21

‘Discuss’

Urgh

Instant urgh from me too. It’s rude.

Blossomtoes · 13/03/2023 14:13

You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever watch on demand programmes on any TV service apart from BBC iPlayer.

You don’t need a TV Licence to watch videos or clips on demand on YouTube. But you do need a TV Licence if you watch TV programmes live on YouTube. An example of this would be watching Sky News live. But it isn’t just live news or sport which needs a licence – it’s any programme which is part of a TV channel, broadcast or transmitted for everyone to watch at the same time.

There you go. Quite possibly it might cause some difficulty or inconvenience if you don’t have a licence but it’s not mandatory as shown above.

QuertyGirl · 13/03/2023 14:14

Being "unbiased" does not mean presenting a completely neutral stance at all times and all matters, because in short, that's completely fucking impossible.

The idea, is to present a range of views.

Linekar tweets against gov policy and Lord Sugar (of the Apprentice) tweets to vote Boris.

Remember any scandal about the latter? No? Funny that.

caringcarer · 13/03/2023 14:14

I have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sky Movies and Sport, BT Sport, Disney+ to watch. I hate being forced to pay BBC, which I never watch and I really dislike professional lefty Linekar and think he is paid a rediculous amount to talk over the football match. The fact last week without any pundits talking all over the match it gained a half million viewers should send the message to BBC it seems viewers like MotD better when they can watch it in peace.

ThereIbledit · 13/03/2023 14:14

@PhillySub

He did so on a platform that is totally independent of the BBC. As far as I know he did it in his own time.

Nobody's job should be under threat if they speak out against the government in their own free time, but especially not when they were speaking against a policy that the government themselves admit is "probably illegal and in breach of human rights laws."

GandhiDeclaredWarOnYou · 13/03/2023 14:15

No and no.

And the license fee should be increased in line with inflation.

And the current chair should be sacked.

frozendaisy · 13/03/2023 14:21

No
Like BBC TV, radio and website
You get a lot for the fee.

MarshaBradyo · 13/03/2023 14:22

Tbh I don’t think it would survive with subscription service as a lot of content is quite mediocre and I don’t think enough would join

I pay although I don’t use it much, but I do rely on their radio stations a fair bit so would prefer it to stay

ChestnutGrove · 13/03/2023 14:26

somanybooks · 13/03/2023 13:25

No, in the same way it's not time to get rid of the NHS. Both need to be managed properly and have limited government interference (and the NHS needs funding properly).

Agree with this

Crabo · 13/03/2023 14:27

Whether or not it is time to defund the BBC it is definitely time to defund overpaid wafflers like Gary Lineker & co who earn vast sums for little or nothing. Complete waste of time! My guys actually enjoyed the football better without his inane chat

Timingiseverythingcoll · 13/03/2023 14:34

No -definitely not we love the (telly!) dramas, wildlife shows, kids progs, comedy, Strictly, Who do you think you are?, music documentaries, and most of all the RADIO! BBC Sounds is excellent, worth every penny. Love the iplayer. Why on earth would we want to change those things?

I do wish they weren’t run by a Tory however …

Timingiseverythingcoll · 13/03/2023 14:36

PhillySub · 13/03/2023 14:10

The BBC has defended their actions by trying to maintain their unbias. If a certain sports presenter wants to make a political broadcast against government policy then he can pay for the privilege outside of his work broadcasts.

How come there are different types for Andrew Neil than there are for Linekar?

should Neil also be removed?

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 13/03/2023 14:38

Neux.

Sugarfree23 · 13/03/2023 14:41

It needs to be managed properly.

It's not that long ago that the BBC got the job of ensuring that there were 3 months of education available to all children at all levels across the UK.

WTF would we have done without it?
Our school was making good use of it along with other video lessons of their own.

MarshaBradyo · 13/03/2023 14:51

I think if Radio 6 music was lost the music scene in U.K. would be impacted negatively. It helps grow so many new bands.

Kpo58 · 13/03/2023 14:54

If you fully want to destroy the UK culture and history and just have channels that import programs from other countries, then go ahead with getting rid of the BBC and the TV licence.

ITV and Channel 4 also receive some of the license fee, otherwise they just wouldn't make regional programs.