to think the tv licence should be made subscription only, especially in light off all the scandals at the BBC?

[ophelia275]

I know there are a lot of people who think the tv tax licence is good value for money but I think people should have a choice and I really think it is time it should be a subscription service and those that want to watch BBC/other channels funded by the licence, can choose to subscribe to it, rather than everyone being forced to pay £145 a year. I don't watch much BBC etc and would be happy to forgo it altogether.

There is definitely the technology for BBC/other channels to be scrambled so that those that are not paying the tax subscription cannot receive endless repeats of Only Fools and Horses its programs. I feel this particularly strongly now with all the corruption ("celebrities" being paid in such a way to avoid tax) and complicity in sexual abuse (Jimmy Saville). I don't want to be forced to pay towards these kind of things. If the BBC is so great then it will naturally attract lots of subscribers and stand up on its own two feet. If not, oh well, such is life.

[CakeBump]

ihear you have misunderstood.

It includes laptops etc IF YOU CAN WATCH LIVE TV ON THEM.

To watch live TV to need to buy a device for your laptop which "converts" it. If you have a regular computer with no device attached you DO NOT need a licence.

Believe me, I haven't had a tv for 5 years, but have a laptop on which I watch iplayer and DVDs. I do not need a licence. I do not watch live TV and am not able to on my laptop. This has been confirmed by the TV Licensing Authority who are bastards

[HecateLarpo]

It's only telly. It can't be compared to the police and the NHS It's Beastenders, bargain hunt and waybaloo, not life saving medical care and law enforcement.

It's tv. There's no reason on earth why it must be protected and paid for by everyone who dares to have a television set. It can carry on perfectly well being subscribed to by people who actually want to watch it. And who knows, it might be better for it if it knew it had to deliver good stuff or people wouldn't pay for it.

[confusedpixie]

Cakebump "To watch live TV to need to buy a device for your laptop which "converts" it."

I think that most laptops/PCs these days you are able to watch live TV without a special device, I know that I can stream it perfectly fine from my laptop and have never bought any device nor did it come advertised with such a device pre-installed.

[confusedpixie]

In fact if you go to BBC iPlayer - Watch Live, on my Laptop it reminds me that I need a TV License to watch it and gives me the option to 'Watch now' or 'I don't have a TV License'

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/tv/bbc_one_london/watchlive

[SwedishEdith]

I'd pay double for the BBC if I could get discounts for all the shit that gets advertised on Sky. I never, ever listen to commercial radio (can't understand how anyone can put up with it) rarely watch ITV (can only think of Corrie) and would never have Sky. Channel 4 is decent so the BBC can take over that and then I'd be happy

[adeucalione]

I love the BBC - if it relied on advertising revenue alone it would only be able to air the sort of vapid nonsense that the commercial channels currently churn out.

Great TV, great radio (world service!) and we also use things like BBC Bitesize a lot.

Without the license fee do you think they would bother to produce things like the shipping service, Asian network etc? Stuff with value that are unlikely to pull in big audiences?

[goldenstarpine]

why should people who dont agree with the bbc have to contribute towards it.

The bbc have brainwashed people into thinking their service is as important as the taxes we pay for health and education,that is the veiw point of other posters.

even scarier is that the public can be prosecuted for having a tv with no licence what kind of draconian rule is that.

the bbc is full of corruption, this year alone there have been accusations of sexism, ageism,tax avoidence of it so called stars and now child sex abuse,its making the murdoch empire seem like angels.

sorry i no longer want a part of this and should not be theatened with prosecution because i would like to watch other channels that are not the bbc

[CakeBump]

I apologise, iplayer has changed then since I last watched it!!

[adeucalione]

But aren't you proud of the quality of British television, goldenstarpine?

Wherever I travel I am amazed at the utter crap that other nationalities have to endure, and always appreciate the BBC when I come home.

Yes the BBC does make brilliant TV, but it also pushes up the quality of the commercial channels as they try to compete, and provide the vast majority of the public service type broadcasts.

It was brilliant watching the Olympics on the BBC, and frustrating watching the Paraolympics on Channel 5.

[JazzAnnNonMouse]

Yanbu

[JazzAnnNonMouse]

Swedish - the BBC help fund channel 4

[ivykaty44]

How would you deal with all the online content and radio stations?

A tv licence is exactly that -a licence for live tv and not a licence for radio or internet.

The bbc doesn't have to upload programs to the iplayer if they choose not to and they can't ask you to have a licence to watch the stuff as it is not live tv.

[adeucalione]

Outragedatthepriceoffreddos - the BBC run Children in Need because it is their very own charity, originating with them

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

Yes, thats why I don't like it adeucalione.

I agree that I always really appreciate the BBC after being abroad.

[Toombs]

You don't need a licence to own a TV, you don't need a licence to watch TV. You only need a licence if you watch live TV, you can watch catch up TV, Apple TV, DVD's and videos or use one as a computer monitor completely legally without a TV licence.

[FourEyesGold]

YABU. I'm another big fan of the BBC - not just the telly, but many of the radio stations and all of the online stuff, including Bitesize. I get a bit pissed off with people who get rid of their telly to avoid paying the licence fee then use the iplayer and the websites. If you value the BBC, pay for it. Commercial telly is almost always inferior (although I am watching X Factor now... ), and commercial radio is just utter, utter pap.

[BertieBotts]

You don't need a special device to pick up live TV online now, however I think you still need a licence to use such a device. You also need one if you use the online services which let you watch as it's being broadcast even if you don't own a TV.

I have a TV but only watch iplayer, DVDs etc. TV licence know about this and are quite happy for you to put it as an option when you send them the form saying you don't need a licence.

[DelhiCalling]

Yanbu.BBC is a disgrace.

[Toombs]

BertieBotts, You do not have to inform TVL of anything, in fact you should never engage with them at all. It is never to your advantage.

[BertieBotts]

Meh, it's stopped them bothering me.

[Toombs]

It won't, they'll be back.

[WishICouldBeLikeDavidWicks]

I flipping love the BBC. I listen to the radio all day ( different shows on different stations), my children watch Cbeebies and then I watch some BBC 2/4 in the evenings.

I do find it odd that we have a tv tax so to speak but I think an independent media, not directly owned by the government or a sponsor means we get quality and impartiality and no damn adverts.

I can't believe people pay another £40+ a month on top for SKY etc. i'd want to be watching telly 10 hours a day to get my money's worth.

[Myliferocks]

I would gall carry on paying for a tv license if it means the BBC does not have adverts on it.
We have Sky as well and he adverts on there drive me mad.
When I used to watch Star Trek on BBC2 it would last 45 minutes. The same programme on Sky would take 60 minutes to watch with all the advert breaks in it.

[BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead]

Just another reminder that you only need a licence if you are watching LIVE tv.

So to the poster who pays just for doctor who, cancel your licence and watch it an hour later on iplayer! :)

And dont forget, tvl officials are not crb checked, and you do not have to let them in your home without a warrant (this is confirmed on their website btw)

[Toombs]

Don't ever let one in,

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033075/Rapist-TV-Licence-inspector-fantasy-frustrated-housewife-throw-him.html