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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:
JoonT · 13/03/2023 15:11

I’m sick of the BBC. It’s now a woke-left propaganda unit that promotes everything but British history and identity. The other night, for example, we had a documentary on the Mexican painter Frieda Kahlo. Now, I’ve got nothing against Kahlo; I’m sure she’s an interesting artist. If we had a documentary on her as well as lots of documentaries on the Pre-Raphaelites and Nash and Aubrey Beardsley and Stanley Spencer, and countless other British painters, I wouldn’t mind. But I can just hear the conversation at the BBC “right, time we had a documentary on a painter...ok, make a list of every painter who isn’t a white European male and we’ll go from there.”

The biggest disappointment is Radio 4. I remember tuning in once to a programme on Jane Austen. Great, I thought, the BBC is finally doing what it’s supposed to do - promoting high culture and discussing writers from the British canon. How naive! Within twenty seconds of tuning in, they got on about a minor character in one of her novels who owns a sugar plantation. They then spent the rest of the programme talking about the horrors of slavery! It has become almost laughable.

I’m also sick of the way left-wing comedians like Mark Steel and Alexi Sayle and Jeremy Hardy (when he was alive) hijack BBC shows and use them to promote hard left views.

Lots of British people of Asian or African heritage are actually proud of writers of like Jane Austen. They think of themselves as British and want to hear about writers and artists from their country. I know this because I’ve sat in coffee shops and books groups with them.

GreenWhiteViolet · 13/03/2023 15:14

Yes.

It's ridiculous that someone who never watches the BBC but wants to watch Channel 4 live should have to pay the fee.

The 'value for money' argument - if you enjoy BBC shows and watch often then I can absolutely see why you might think it's good value. For someone who isn't interested in it at all but wants to watch other channels, it really isn't.

Look at it this way. If I'm a big sports fan, I might think Sky Sports is great value. That doesn't mean that everyone, including my sport-hating neighbours, should be obliged to pay for it if they want to watch other channels.

Time to make it a subscription service. If it's really as good and as popular as its supporters think, it'll thrive. If not, it clearly doesn't have the necessary support to justify its existence.

Eranzer · 13/03/2023 15:16

Well shit, I completely agree 🤷🏻‍♀️

DomesticShortHair · 13/03/2023 15:33

Blossomtoes · 13/03/2023 13:51

Except nobody’s forcing you to pay anything. Don’t watch and don’t pay. Easy.

Except I am. A TV licence is paid if you wish to watch or record live tv programmes, irrespective of whether they are broadcast by the BBC or not. It is the equivalent of having to have a dog licence if I want a cat.

Pandor · 13/03/2023 15:34

Hell no.

Blossomtoes · 13/03/2023 15:36

DomesticShortHair · 13/03/2023 15:33

Except I am. A TV licence is paid if you wish to watch or record live tv programmes, irrespective of whether they are broadcast by the BBC or not. It is the equivalent of having to have a dog licence if I want a cat.

So don’t watch or record live TV programmes. It’s hardly onerous when so much is streamed.

Ttwinkletoes · 13/03/2023 15:39

No, Radio4, Radio3, the World Service - great stuff -we need to keep them

DomesticShortHair · 13/03/2023 15:48

Blossomtoes · 13/03/2023 15:36

So don’t watch or record live TV programmes. It’s hardly onerous when so much is streamed.

The two are connected, but shouldn’t be. I can’t see why someone watching ITV has to pay the BBC or be prosecuted. You obviously have no problem with that. How about you pay my car insurance then, if you’re so happy for people to pay for things that they don’t use?

gogohmm · 13/03/2023 15:50

No it's time the government stopped appointing the chairman!!!

Afonavon · 13/03/2023 15:52

Nomorefees · 13/03/2023 13:13

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

Discuss

No, we need to keep it licence funded. However it needs to bow less to the tories.

I love the BBC!

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 13/03/2023 15:53

No, not at all, but I think it is time to get rid of political appointments at the top of the BBC.

Gleeisweird · 13/03/2023 15:58

I would like to see it go down the subscription road. I don't think it should cover all live TV only the BBC.

ArcticSkewer · 13/03/2023 16:01

They were disgraceful during the covid lockdown. From then on they lost what remained of my support.
Let those who enjoy national propaganda pay for it.

Tinkerbyebye · 13/03/2023 16:44

Yes. They can become a commercial channel like the rest, and would be in for a real shock

ThereIbledit · 13/03/2023 17:38

Oh @JoonT . Have you considered that they select documentary subjects based on what will be popular with audiences and based on viewing figures?

As for your comment on British Asians, that's just funny. Funnily enough British Asians do think of themselves as British, yes.

ThereIbledit · 13/03/2023 17:39

But you (@JoonT ) must at least be delighted that Gary Lineker was reprimanded for his lefty tweeting.

Blossomtoes · 13/03/2023 17:41

DomesticShortHair · 13/03/2023 15:48

The two are connected, but shouldn’t be. I can’t see why someone watching ITV has to pay the BBC or be prosecuted. You obviously have no problem with that. How about you pay my car insurance then, if you’re so happy for people to pay for things that they don’t use?

But. You. Don’t. Have. To. Pay. It. If. You. Don’t. Watch. Live. TV.

HandlebarLadyTash · 13/03/2023 17:48

No, it's not expensive for what it is. I think the iplayer & radio along with terrestrial are great. I hate adverts.

Kpo58 · 13/03/2023 17:49

Gleeisweird · 13/03/2023 15:58

I would like to see it go down the subscription road. I don't think it should cover all live TV only the BBC.

If the TV License wasn't there, then ITV and Channel 4 would loose funding for regional programs and all you will probably get is cheap American shite on TV. Is that really what you want?

TooBigForMyBoots · 13/03/2023 17:53

They think of themselves as British.
That's because they are British.Hmm

champagnedates · 13/03/2023 17:55

I did a dissertation for my media law module on my law degree on this very topic (some 23 years ago Blush).

Won't bore you with the ins and outs but my conclusion then was "no". Obviously subscription tv didn't exist back in 2000, but I still agree with 20 year old me.

Cascais · 13/03/2023 17:56

No

Gleeisweird · 13/03/2023 18:00

Kpo58 · 13/03/2023 17:49

If the TV License wasn't there, then ITV and Channel 4 would loose funding for regional programs and all you will probably get is cheap American shite on TV. Is that really what you want?

I don't think it's fair or sensible in this day and age for it to cover all live TV, including those that don't get funding.
As most of c4s funding comes from advertising hopefully they could make up losses between that and their on demand stuff.
There's lot of amazing American TV shows, I don't find it all cheap shite at all.
Different strokes.

beguilingeyes · 13/03/2023 18:01

Happy Valley
Detectorists...name me another channel that would make Detectorists.
Doctor Who
All that radio
No adverts
Not in a million years

lieselotte · 13/03/2023 18:02

Is that you, Nadine Dorries?

No.

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