Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want cuts to the BBC?

272 replies

Mintyy · 16/07/2015 19:56

Can anyone explain to me how cutting the BBC massively will actually improve my life?

I hardly watch tv. I do listen to a lot of radio. But I fervently hope the BBC isn't going to change too much.

It is something that the rest of the world envies us for and I fear it may be one of those things we don't miss until it has gone.

OP posts:
worldgonecrazy · 17/07/2015 09:01

It's great saying "I watch catch up on iplayer". It was the BBC who created iplayer in the first place (and also funded the roll out of broadband across the country).

DadfromUncle · 17/07/2015 09:02

I suspect the reason the BBC hasn't plugged the "loophole" is that it raises an uncomfortable question for them about a subscription model - if one has to pay the licence fee in order to see any BBC content (not unreasonable) - why can't one opt-out and watch live content excluding the BBC by subscribing to other services?

I think the BBC may have been hoping to oblige us to pay the licence fee to watch any online content - but that ship sailed a while ago and they can't seriously expect us to pay a licence fee to watch cat videos on Youtube.

The BBC is acting like the music industry when mp3s and streaming first started - instead of embracing new technology and recognising that they could derive income from charging using new models, they are desperately trying to cling to what they've had for the last 75 years.

DadfromUncle · 17/07/2015 09:06

worldgonecrazy BBC created a thing that they have rebranded iPlayer - in the early days they licensed technology from a US software company to deliver it, but they weren't really the innovators in the way you suggest.

Youtube and similar streaming services were well ahead.

The technology used to deliver ITV, C4, Netflix, Amazon streaming services etc has nothing to do with the BBC and would have existed with or without iPlayer.

iPlayer is just BBC's "me too" version of something lots of broadcasters do.

MarchLikeAnAnt · 17/07/2015 09:23

I stopped watching the the BBC and cancelled my licence after they axed Atlantis Sad and threatened to axe The musketeers Angry.

sooperdooper · 17/07/2015 09:25

suspect the reason the BBC hasn't plugged the "loophole" is that it raises an uncomfortable question for them about a subscription model

No, the reason it hadn't been addressed until now is because the royal charter wasn't up for renewal until now and all major decisions around the BBCs future and funding model are made around the renewal of the charter, not just whenever they feel like it

DadfromUncle · 17/07/2015 09:37

sooperdooper Well that's a crazy anachronistic way to run a media organisation in this day and age - but in any case I refute the claim that they couldn't have acted before now.

Requiring users to enter their licence number to watch iPlayer content wouldn't have resulted in the end of life as we know it - they are playing politics (small p) - they can, do and have restricted iPlayer in other ways - such as not allowing overseas viewing - which they could arguably have made money from.

sooperdooper · 17/07/2015 09:43

Maybe they could've done, but that's the reason they didn't - I'm not saying it's right or wrong but it's just what's happened

DadfromUncle · 17/07/2015 09:51

That's the reason they choose to cite, not necessarily the actual reason.

PoppyFleur · 17/07/2015 10:32

The BBC represents impartiality and some media outlets (yes you Daily Fail) would rather not have to contend with it.

The licence fee offers exceptional value for money and as a poster earlier on this thread said, it raises the standard of programming in this country. In fact the BBC is held as a beacon of exemplary broadcasting across the world.

ITV and Channel 5 are utter drivel, spare us from a world where Simon Cowell types are dictating programming scheduling.

SarfEasticatedMumma · 17/07/2015 10:43

I would pay the license fee for the excellent children's programmed, bbc4 and Radio 4.

IssyStark · 17/07/2015 11:20

Dad The BBC couldn't do anything to raise revenue from the iPlayer - it is outwith their control. Who pays the licence fee and for what is governed by law, it isn't at the behest of the BBC, likewise it isn't up to the BBC what the level of the licence fee is.

DadfromUncle · 17/07/2015 11:25

IssyStark I think they could if they wanted - BBC enterprises has been quite successful. It's a convenient get out to say it's the charter and so on, but what does anyone think would happen if they started asking for a licence number when you logged on to iPlayer?

sooperdooper · 17/07/2015 13:24

Dad it's not a convenient get out, it's a royal charter, written in law, if the BBC started altering the licence fee if their own accord they'd be in breach of their agreement with the government

DadfromUncle · 17/07/2015 13:28

sooperdooper How would blocking me (a non-payer) from iplayer constitute "altering the licence fee"? exactly?

Also, loads of stuff happens that isn't strictly to the letter of the law - as long as no-one gets hurt or moans, there's no harm.

People wouldn't die - it's an excuse.

Twugaroon · 17/07/2015 13:33

Hugely valuable to have politically objective TV and radio. Not profit-making by some far right wing billionaire as is the case with certain newspapers and TV channels, which their owners use to manipulate the masses for their own profit.
And the World Service, already cut back by this government, is a huge asset to the UK abroad.
The conservatives want everything to work in their favour - perceive the BBC as being left wing and so want to cause it as much damage as they can get away with.
As with everything else, it will cost more for less when profit making organisations take over the work.

Capricorn76 · 17/07/2015 13:39

Yay! lets get rid if the BBC at £120 a year with no adverts on its vast array of TV and radio channels catering to all interests and pay £70 a month to be advertised to on Sky and watch 1 year old films, Premiership football and US programmes which used to be on the BBC free to air. Hopefully they'll also introduce Fox News UK! Yay!!

GraysAnalogy · 17/07/2015 13:44

I can't remember the last time I watched a BBC channel or listened to one. None of my friends do either, I wonder if it's more of a social thing than we realise.

MitzyLeFrouf · 17/07/2015 13:46

Not profit-making by some far right wing billionaire as is the case with certain newspapers and TV channels, which their owners use to manipulate the masses for their own profit.

Amen.

Scholes34 · 17/07/2015 13:59

There are a lot more TV channels available now than when I was growing up, but the quality of programmes is very poor. The way we access and watch programmes has changed. My DC don't tend to watch live TV, but I really enjoy it when we find a programme on live TV that we all want to watch and discuss together.

Channel 4 was reminding us last night that it is a public service broadcaster and a lot of Channel 4's programmes are excellent. I'm happy to pay the licence fee for Radio 4, 6Music, the BBC News and to watch Channel 4 live.

The only real downside with the BBC is when you settle down to watch a programme and realise you've misjudged going to the loo or getting a drink and there's no commercial break to help you out.

SomethingFunny · 17/07/2015 14:03

I find it incredibly odd that people know exactly what tv channels, radio shows and websites ALL their friends ever use... Confused

Not something I discuss in such details with all my friends, we have better things to talk about.

GraysAnalogy · 17/07/2015 14:06

Oh sorry something you must have such riveting chats with your friends, us on the other hand are just normal people who can go from talking about all sorts of exotic topics and then go back to the most inane such as TV channels.

If you discuss politics, the BBC will have come up anyway.

MitzyLeFrouf · 17/07/2015 14:08

How many friends are we talking about when you claim none of your friends ever watch the BBC?

GraysAnalogy · 17/07/2015 14:16

This was a debate on one of our Facebook statuses, about 15 of us (give or take) said we didn't even watch or listen to anything from the BBC.

I don't know why people find it so hard to understand that people don't watch BBC channels.

We live in the age of Netflix, Now TV, online streaming to TV... I think the only thing the BBC has produced in the last few years that I have any interest in is Sherlock.

Like I said it might be a social or generational thing. I'm in my 20's as are my friends and we prefer streaming more than anything.

sooperdooper · 17/07/2015 14:16

Dad the charter covers not just how the BBC is paid for, with the licence fee, but what it should provide the audience in terms of content, and how it's governed as a whole, including the BBC Trust.

The idea of iplayer as a subscription service is something that simply wasn't an issue during the last charter so isn't covered currently. It's not as simple as 'they could do it' - yes I'm sure they could but they'd need permission from the government to do it because it'd be a change to their current agreement

WorktoLive · 17/07/2015 14:19

Sorry haven't RTFT but the TV licence is probably outdated and I think people should have to pay a TV licence if they want to watch the iplayer, whether live or delayed.

But I do wonder if it would be cheaper to fund the BBC out of general taxation, as long as the BBC gets the amount of money it needs and remains independent - just simpler to do rather than have what 96% of people/households buying licences?

Because out of those who don't have one, perhaps most of them will be using the radio and/or iplayer anyway, so the minority who genuinely do not watch/listen to the BBC will be very small.

Would also benefit very poor households, to which the TV Licence is currently unaffordable.

I'm another one who would pay the licence fee for radio 4 alone - it seems an anomoly that you don't need the licence to listen to the radio. I listen to a wide variety of R4 podcasts when I am in my car.