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Original poster

I am a fan of the BBC....But let,s talk License Fee

115 replies

GabbyLoggon · 09/08/2010 11:16

The TV license fee is getting close to £3 a week. That is a lot of money for poor people. And rich and poor alike have to pay it; or be hauled up in court.

There must be a better, fairwer way to fund the BBC. Got any ideas?

OP posts:
ISNT · 09/08/2010 16:10

why didn't my bloody strike-outs work?

thumbwitch · 09/08/2010 16:12

ISNT - I agree with you. (and we can't do bulk strike outs yet - TECH! - you still have to do every word individually)

BeenBeta · 09/08/2010 16:18

Cut it back to its true public service broadcast roots of BBC1 and BBC2 and 4 radio channels. Then fund it with tax payer money to produce only programes that commercial TV cannot or will not do.

We do not need Soaps, game shows, chat shows, talent shows, or Celebrity Come Dancing/Ice Skating/Cycling/Cooking/Painting/House Buying on the BBC.

laweaselmys · 09/08/2010 16:26

Love the BBC and am very happy to pay the license fee (despite being near constantly broke) shit like bargain hunt hardly costs them anything to make and keeps housebound OAPs happy - a lot of the money gets spent on new exciting behind the scenes stuff. Dr Who for example costs more than £1mil an episode to make, but makes much more than that in resale to other countries and does a lot to raise britain's profile in other countries. We might not like to hear it but UK is not top dog in politics or world consciousness, so everything that keeps our profile up and tourists/ business coming in is fantastic.

Big picture scale the BBC is a major part of that. Even if you don't watch BBC channels doesn't mean you are not benefiting from it's existence, it's services, jobs, or programmes it makes that you don't happen to watch.

NetworkGuy · 09/08/2010 16:28

Well said ISNT - but do you think with a cut in 'cheap and nasty' they should also consider broadcasting for fewer hours - they seem to repeat many programmes a lot of times at present.

I'd like them to reduce their spending on 'big names' - I'd like them to cut the licence by at least 25% - down to say £100 - which would make it more affordable and if it meant a lot of middle management needed to get the sack, perhaps that's a price that needs to be paid given the rest of the country has been belt tightening, while the BBC has been trying nice new gadgets, flying lots of people around the world for sports / music / etc events.

I saw a suggestion they were testing iPads the other day. If they get new iPads for all their journalists you can bet that many managers will also want one, and not the 'cheap' (600 pound) end but the top of the range (900) with mobile phone microSIM inside, even if they don't spend lots of time working on the train...

Original poster
GabbyLoggon · 09/08/2010 16:29

Droves
the ONE SHOW is a bit too lightweight for me. But it does attract an audience of 6 TO 7 Million. (massive by todays standards)

OP posts:
fedupofnamechanging · 09/08/2010 16:32

Thanks NetworkGuy. Have been considering changing broadband to BT, but am tied in with current provider until October. Will definitely be reconsidering TV provider to see if it does work out cheaper and better to get everything from BT. I took out Sky years ago before they introduced the different packages, so do get a lot of channels for around £22 per month plus the cost of the Sky sports (sadly though, most of them repeat programmes on a loop and are rubbish).

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/08/2010 16:33

I hardly watch the telly, but gladly pay the licence fee to enjoy advertising free radio.

WHAT would radio stations be like without the BBC. Seriously. I can't imagine there is anything like Radio 4 in teh commercial world.

NetworkGuy · 09/08/2010 16:35

"A TV is not an essential item. If you don't want to pay the license fee don't have a TV"

Unfortunately, having a TV to watch other channels and NOT have a licence fee is not an option for us. Rather unfair, no?

So how about an argument which says

"The BBC is not an essential service. If you don't want to watch BBC, don't get a TV Licence."

I am not suggesting people go against making payment if they are at risk of being put in prison, which is the harsher side of this "issue".

EnglandAllenPoe · 09/08/2010 17:13

Radio 4 - on alll day.

Sherlock = fantastic!

MumInBeds · 09/08/2010 17:48

Okay, if we make it subscription do we ramp up the fee or drop the quality/quantity to balance out those who opt out?

How should the admin costs of blocking it to non-subscribers be charged?

Who will pay for the R&D arm of the BBC?
Shall we scrap the move to digital?

I do think the licence fee should be reduced and I do think it should be like council tax whereby it is a 25% discount for households of one adult but I still think a licence fee is the only way to get good quality programming.

Maybe there is room to reduce the fee by charging for additional services such as red button and iplayer and perhaps access to some parts of the website.

Heracles · 09/08/2010 18:13

£3 a week? That's, what, one drink in a pub? A bargain, even if some of it does go to BBC3, the worst channel in the country.

ISNT · 09/08/2010 18:34

Does anyone else think that the consequences of non-payment are rather harsh?

Why don't they just confiscate the telly? rather than the children IYSWIM

QueuePosition3 · 09/08/2010 18:35

oyu often get people who dont pay yet pay to sky

funny that

ISNT · 09/08/2010 18:36

Do you have the stats for that?

QueuePosition3 · 09/08/2010 18:37

who me?
no just experience.
it comes into my job a bit.

QueuePosition3 · 09/08/2010 18:38

i dont think it is a lot when you think of price per hour watched

a packet of fags is what? £5

its nothing.
people who dont want to pay dont. simples

ISNT · 09/08/2010 18:39

Oh I think you may be a magistrate?

Do you know if the 15% of women in prison are there for non payment of licence fee thing is true? I always find that really shocking.

QueuePosition3 · 09/08/2010 18:40

i cant imagine how people are done TIME and time again AND DONT LEArn from it though similarly. or pay for sky and broadband etc
i do agree it shouldnt be in the criminal courts at all - an issue a lot of sentencers feel strongly about.

tethersend · 09/08/2010 18:42

But people who don't want to pay shouldn't be criminalised by not paying. They should just not be able to watch BBC.

QueuePosition3 · 09/08/2010 18:42

are you SURE people are in prison for it? im not.

tethersend · 09/08/2010 18:42

x post Queue.

tethersend · 09/08/2010 18:43

People are in prison for non payment of the initial fine. Which they can't afford to pay.

QueuePosition3 · 09/08/2010 18:46

im ( limited ) experience of enforcement court they have to prove wilfull avoidance and is at the end of a VERY VERY long road

we need a lawyer.

ISNT · 09/08/2010 18:47

Tethers I have heard this so much and I'm not doubting you but at the same time it's just so jaw-dropping. Especially with all teh children having to go into care because of it. it seems ludicrously draconian.

maybe will have a quick google.