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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish the BBC had adverts

126 replies

JazzAnnNonMouse · 17/08/2011 14:33

so that we wouldn't have to pay a TV licence?

I normally channel flick through adverts anyway and they don't bother me that much (wee break, cuppa etc). The BBC advertises its own programmes now for quite a long time in-between programmes anyway.

I just think £145.50 for the few channels that the BBC provides is an awful lot!
AIBU?

OP posts:
worraliberty · 17/08/2011 14:35

YANBU

Every other TV channel does. I'd much prefer them to paying out for a licence.

tethersend · 17/08/2011 14:35

YANBU.

I deeply resent not having the option to not pay the license fee and not receive BBC channels. And the fact that people are prosecuted for not paying it and can end up in prison makes me sick.

boudiccasSideKick · 17/08/2011 14:37

I'm the other way on it. Hate bloody adverts every 15 mins!!!! grrrrrrrr

FreudianSlipper · 17/08/2011 14:37

no not at all

do you pay for sky/virgin. i am often shocked people moan about the bbc but happily pay £30 or more per month for the crap sky/virgin show

the bbc produce some excellent programmes, provide excellent news coverage and radio its by far the best tv service in the world (apart from eastenders)

Andrewofgg · 17/08/2011 14:39

YABU. Any newspaper or channel has in the end only as much freedom as the advertisers will allow it. The licence fee is the least worst alternative.

You are paying for the other channels in any event - the costs of advertising is reflected in the cost of the product.

And nobody goes to prison for not paying a fine unless they had the means to pay and chose not to.

cumbria81 · 17/08/2011 14:39

I don't have a telly because I don't think the licence fee is worth it. I was round at my parents' last night and sat through some supreme shite about baking cupcakes, for an hour, on BBC2. Complete drivel. (Still sat through it though).

woollyideas · 17/08/2011 14:39

YABU. The best thing about the BBC is the absence of adverts. (And they have the best documentaries.)

cumbria81 · 17/08/2011 14:39

sorry, YANBU

robotlollypopman · 17/08/2011 14:40

Freudian - Sky is worth its subscription fee for Sky Atlantic alone. How can shows such as Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones be described as crap? Not to mention their sports coverage which makes the BBC's look amateur.

Prolesworth · 17/08/2011 14:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

evenlessnarkypuffin · 17/08/2011 14:41

YABU

Worth every penny.

EdithWeston · 17/08/2011 14:41

Even though the quality of individual programmes varies, it's bliss to have advertisement free children's channels.

chill1243 · 17/08/2011 14:42

The BBC will eventually take ads; but difficult to say when

TmacBird · 17/08/2011 14:42

In Ireland we pay ?150 for a TV License AND have ads on our national TV & Radio! Now that's irritating!

charitygirl · 17/08/2011 14:43

Ugh - YABU, if only for the children's channels. But I suppose if people like ITV and Sky they'd think like you.

JulesJules · 17/08/2011 14:43

YABU.

Original poster
JazzAnnNonMouse · 17/08/2011 14:44

I'm not debating the fact that the BBC makes good television BUT that doesn't mean I want to have to legally pay a fee to watch or not watch it!
I could not watch BBC for the whole year and still have to pay for it/receive criminal record for not.

I actually do have sky but I don't mind paying for that because it also is my broadband and phone for cheaper than my phone and broadband used to be! I can also choose to stop this at any time and am not obliged/have never been threatened to sign up and pay!

OP posts:
Ifancyashandy · 17/08/2011 14:45

YABU. Try and take a look at US, Italian, Spanish, French or Scandinavian TV. They are driven by the advertisers and produce pure shite (apart from the US HBO channel).

The license fee allows for a channel that can produce what it - and the audiences - want. Unlike commercial channels, it is not driven my
Market forces. And believe me when I say those working inside the Beeb take the viewers opinions very seriously indeed.

I happily pay my fee because it funds some of the best, independent TV I'm the world. And I thought 'Bake Off' was fab!

AuntieMonica · 17/08/2011 14:45

YABU, commercial TV is about to be banned chez Monica - the over priced shite being peddled in the next 4 mths in the name of 'christmas gifts' is enough to warrant me chucking the thing in the bin

BaronessBomburst · 17/08/2011 14:46

I think the cost of a TV licence is a joke! BBC channels come as standard here in the Netherlands as well as Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Turkish, and Belgian channels. That's all on cable for about 120 pounds year.

vividgingerchilli · 17/08/2011 14:47

It woudn't bother me, we record anything we want to watch and then watch it later and skip the ad breaks.

Original poster
JazzAnnNonMouse · 17/08/2011 14:47

it's not to do with whether I like BBC programmes or not though... I do!
I just don't want to be legally obliged to pay for them if I have a TV/Computer whether I watch them or not!

OP posts:
Itsjustafleshwound · 17/08/2011 14:48

YABU - the licence fee covers a bit more than a 'few channels' and anything that can produced without advertising £££ is good.

I love the BBC - I think it really does a good job and is held accountable

southeastastra · 17/08/2011 14:49

well as they're cutting down on bbcfour am definitey with the op!

Ifancyashandy · 17/08/2011 14:50

But you do watch them so why wouldn't you pay? Genuinely Confused as to your point.

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