the BBC isn't it time we just got shot of it?

[southeastastra]

it's very middle class blue peter biased in my view

not to mention the cover ups of late

i know that the majority wouldn't agree but a subscription service for radio 4 etc would ensure that's continuity

[Flatbread]

Pluto, the thing is I can boycott all these other organisations, withhold my money by not watching their programmes. But I am compelled to pay for BBC.

I think even people who like BBC programmes should be in favour of removing the compulsory license. If they provide half-way decent programmes, people will pay for it voluntarily.

The way it is set-up now, there is every incentive for executives to bloat their own ranks and take as much as they can, because there are no consequences for their actions, they have a captive market.

[RyleDup]

I like the BBC.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Do they still do those daft live wildlife programmes with Bill Oddie whittering on about cute birdies in their nests and red squirrels?

you mean spring/autumnWatch? Bill oddie hasn't been on it for years (I think because of illness) but its a seasonal treat, one of DDs absolute favourites (for a few years the only things she bothered watching at all was those, Dr Who and - oddly - an occasional Top Gear.

The fee is worth it just for all the Attenborough stuff, Dr Who and Radio 4.
And the news reporting is very good.


Having lived in the US made me realise what a treasure the BBC is.

[joanbyers]

The notion that we need a telly tax to protect us from the horrors of commercial TV looks increasingly outdated in the internet era.

[Flatbread]

Grimm, NPR is pretty good in the US. And no compulsory license.

[piprabbit]

Please don't leave me to the tender mercies of the smug gits on ITV.

[Spons]

YABU.
NO.

[CaliforniaLeaving]

DioneTheDiabolist
I never appreciated the BBC until I lived outside the UK.

It is brilliant. I never want it to go. YABVU
I completely agree, I love BBC shows, they keep me going.
It would be a complete over reaction to get rid just because of JS, I always thought he was a creep when I used to see him on Top of the pops when I was a kid.

[gettingeasier]

YABVU

[Hyperballad]

I wouldn't want to lose the bbc, I watch quite a lot:

Dragons den
Master chef
Egg heads
Brazil (Palin)
The Indian Ocean (totally loving this!)
The Apprentice
Don't tell the Bride

Listen to:
Radio 4
Radio 1
Radio 1 extra.

That said, I think the breakfast news programme is terrible and news in general, it is fantastically biased and unprofessional. I can't stand how 'relaxed' the presenters have become, I think I'm watching 'not the 9 o'clock news' then it dawns on me I'm watching the real thing!

[LtEveDallas]

I don't watch that much TV, but when I do it's not BBC that I watch. I really resent paying a licence for something I don't use. I think it should be an opt in service - and I can't believe that the technology isn't there to produce TVs or Sat Receivers that have BBC blocked.

I have lived overseas a lot, but even then didn't miss BBC or use World Service. Even the Olympics didn't bother me - we were on holiday for most of it, but caught the bits we wanted on Eurosport.

Right now I have no choice but to pay my licence, but in a couple of years I won't - I'll be taking my chances then.

I think it's really wrong that the BBC can charge us for something we don't want or use, and even worse that you can be fined or jailed for not doing so.

[Stonefield]

YABU
Of course the Beeb aren't perfect but it would be a sorry state of affairs without them. I would rather they binned ITV and Channel 5.
And as many posters have already said, most of TV abroad is appalling in comparison.

[disparatefishwife]

I love radio 4, radios 6 & 2 and classic. Also enjoy bbc4 Friday night music specials but I think after everything murky that's happened lately our fee should be seriously reviewed. I think I'd rather have advertising than line their pockets any further.

[echt]

BBC is well worth it. Try living abroad and you'll see how valuable it is.

[disparatefishwife]

Also cheebies is pretty good although not sure about treefu and Mike knight, more suited to channel 5 imo.

[LtEveDallas]

Add message | Report | Message poster echt Fri 23-Nov-12 05:59:51
BBC is well worth it. Try living abroad and you'll see how valuable it is

I have. I didn't miss it, didn't watch it. Didn't notice a change when I came back to UK.

I think it depends on how much TV you watch. If you are like me and watch a max of 2-3 hours a day, then it's easy to do without it. If you watch more, then you may be more dependant on it.

I'd rather pay on subscription, or have adverts.

[LucieMay]

Not scrapped but the licence fee should be scrapped and replaced with voluntary subscription or adverts. I would probably still pay for it but I resent being forced to.

[volley]

What annoys me is, we pay the license fee so all these programs can be made, then alot of them are released on DVD and sold again. My question is where is the profit sharing?! We helped pay for them, shouldn't we get a share of the profits ;)
And don't even get me started on the amount of repeats that are on EVERYDAY!!
We do love cbeebies though, would have cracked long ago without it :)
What always seems crazy to me is that it still costs £73 to have a license if you're registered blind!

[Badvocsanta]

Compared to other countries the bbc is the diamond standard of braodcasring but you dint realise that until you have to watch what other people in other countries watch!
German TV....shudder!

[mummybare]

YABU

[Cozy9]

The licence fee seems to have increased at the same time that the quality of programming has decreased.

[WidowWadman]

hiddenhome "Do they still do those daft live wildlife programmes with Bill Oddie whittering on about cute birdies in their nests and red squirrels? "

There's no Bill Oddie anymore, but Springwatch and Autumnwatch are fantastic!
I hardly watch any channels apart from the Beeb.

[JakeBullet]

I don't watch live TV anymore...for no other reason than no time. I do love BBC iPlayer though and thinkk the quality of BBC programmes far superior to most other stuff.

BBC News in the morning versus GMTV....I rest my case. Far better reporting and less shallow nonsense. Worth the licence fee on its own....and yet apparently as I don't watch live TV I don't need to pay it.

[marshmallowpies]

What I'm watching on the BBC recently:
HIGNFY
Thick of It
The Killing
GBBO
Masterchef
QI
Only Connect
Mastermind
University Challenge
David Attenborough
An Island Parish
Lots of 6 Music

I stopped listening to Today a few years back (sick of Thought for the Day more than anything) and I do think the news programming has got a bit stale & needs a bit of a shake-up. Newsnight is very far from the show it was 10 years back when I watched it religiously.

I hate TV with adverts (only things I'm making a point of watching on C4/E4 at the moment are Fresh Meat & Big Bang Theory) so I couldn't live without the BBC. I think the licence fee is worth every penny.

[merrymouse]

This year, I am happy to pay the license fee for (among other things) Alphablocks, Radio 4, 5 and 2, all the information on their website, Horrible Histories, random documentaries on BBC2 and BBC4, at the moment 'Hunted' and the Olympics coverage.

I think all media organisations are going to have to review how they fund their services over the next few years, whether websites, newspapers or TV. However, at the moment, for me, the license fee is a bargain.