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Original poster

To think the BBC license fee should be scrapped

310 replies

Flashbangandgone · 30/08/2015 22:24

Don't get me wrong, I love the BBC, and would pay a subscription if required, but I can't see any justification in continuing with a licence fee in the age of satellite and youtube. It's a stealth tax that needs to go.

It would be a bit like British Gas charging everyone a flat fee for using gas irrespective of how much gas they used or whether they used oil, coal or electric to hear their homes. It's bat-shit crazy anachronism and must surely go.

At the very least it could be pared down drastically from its current excesses.

OP posts:
sliceofsoup · 30/08/2015 22:27

I agree completely.

It still has a lot of support though, so I don't see any changes coming soon.

Charlesroi · 30/08/2015 22:29

YANBU. It is ridiculous that I need a licence to watch any telly in this day and age. Let those that want the BBC pay directly for it and leave the rest of us alone to watch other channels..

hibbleddible · 30/08/2015 22:30

I agree too.

I think the way they try to enforce the license fee is symptomatic of that.

They rely on intimidation and subterfuge.

Ironfistfunkymum · 30/08/2015 22:30

Yabu.

I enjoy not having a TV and watching iPlayer for free.

It will just come out of general taxation and people would care less about their wastage.

YokoUhOh · 30/08/2015 22:30

I get more than my money's worth from the BBC: R4, CBeebies, All the online content, revision aids for my students, not to mention innovative and groundbreaking television.

I pay the licence fee gladly; in fact, I'd probably pay significantly more.

It's important to remember that the people calling for the licence fee to be scrapped have myriad vested interests: Murdoch being the main culprit.

lostincumbria · 30/08/2015 22:31

How do you subscribe to a radio station?

lightgreenglass · 30/08/2015 22:33

I love the BBC and would pay more for it. I don't think it should be scrapped and it's fantastic value for money unlike the other trash that's on TV.

Original poster
Flashbangandgone · 30/08/2015 22:33

I enjoy not having a TV and watching iPlayer for free. ???

So I'm being unreasonable as it stops you scrounging by watching iplayer but not having a TV!?! Forgive me for not being swayed by your selfishness...

OP posts:
Osolea · 30/08/2015 22:34

I agree with you, the whole system of it is bollocks.

I like the BBC, but I'd rather have a choice of paying for all of their services or not being able to access any of them. Surely they could invent a thing like a sky box that allows you access to the website, I player, live telly, radio, only if you pay for it.

Original poster
Flashbangandgone · 30/08/2015 22:36

I get more than my money's worth from the BBC: R4, CBeebies, All the online content, revision aids for my students, not to mention innovative and groundbreaking television.

Me too... I love all the BBC offers! I would be happy to pay for it! I just don't think a flat charge that everyone with a TV has to pay irrespective of how much or if they use BBC is fair.

OP posts:
Original poster
Flashbangandgone · 30/08/2015 22:38

I love the BBC and would pay more for it. I don't think it should be scrapped and it's fantastic value for money unlike the other trash that's on TV.

Great! Then why not pay for it like we pay for everything else, and not expect those who don't love the BBC as much as we do pay too?

OP posts:
lalalonglegs · 30/08/2015 22:38

Another person who is delighted to pay her license fee and thinks it is phenomenal value. A subscription-type payment will compromise the BBC's remit. I can't believe anyone would begrudge it a penny.

overthemill · 30/08/2015 22:39

I don't agree with central funding being scrapped for the BBC. It is a public service broadcaster and it isn't funded by advertising ( thank god). I don't mind paying the licence fee and there are have been times when very very broke but still paid it. It is a kind of tax but I don't mind paying taxes. I do think that it could be higher - linked to tax levels perhaps? I refuse to fund Murdoch. The quality of broadcasting from the BBC across all its services is amazing. And the World Service alone is worth the fee. I rarely watch 'live' TV and honestly don't remember when I last did but dont resent paying.

YokoUhOh · 30/08/2015 22:40

There are issues with a subscription service, though. Their income streams wouldn't be guaranteed so they'd probably have to cut huge numbers of staff, thus trimming back all the extras they currently offer. Also, they'd probably have to introduce advertising, which would threaten their impartiality.

overthemill · 30/08/2015 22:41

But it's a bit like paying a fact fee for prescriptions. You pay the money even though the drugs might be 'worth' 32p or £32. It's a contribution and doesn't reflect the cost of provision.

Charlesroi · 30/08/2015 22:42

Nobody is suggesting that the BBC should be scrapped, just that you should only have to pay for it if you watch it. Under the current system you can't watch any live tv unless you have a licence.

Iamnotloobrushphobic · 30/08/2015 22:45

I'm in the camp of: those who want it should pay for it and people who don't want bbc channels shouldn't have to pay. In what other capacity are we forced to pay for a service which we don't want and don't use in order to access other similar services?
I would be happy with just the commercial channels and channels which I can pay a subscription fee to access. The bbc only ever has shite on anyway.

YokoUhOh · 30/08/2015 22:46

Quite a few posters confusing 'the BBC' with 'BBC Television' Hmm

Lurkedforever1 · 30/08/2015 22:50

Yanbu. Either it can be funded by advertising or like sky etc those who want it can pay.

Osolea · 30/08/2015 22:51

We should have choice in this day and age though, and as much as I like the BBC, I don't believe their news reporting is as impartial as it should be, and if they found that certain extra services weren't being subscribed to then so be it. Those things can't have been that important.

I think it's the principle of the thing that's all wrong. If I want to watch itv or C4 as it's broadcast then I have to pay the BBC, for a service I might not want. That's all kinds of wrong IMO, regardless of whether the BBC is any good or not.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 30/08/2015 22:51

If the BBC becomes another commercial channel it will change to pursue the audience, revenue and big names. It hasn't become a respected institution by being at the mercy of the market.
Yes it is an anachronistic body but the breadth of programming and minority programming are something you'd struggle to protect.

Charlesroi · 30/08/2015 22:51

The licence fee only applies to television.

Maudofallhopefulness · 30/08/2015 22:52

I happily pay and would pay more. I think the BBC are great value and great quality.

Iamnotloobrushphobic · 30/08/2015 22:52

But isn't it the television bit that we pay to access yoko. Do people need to pay for a tv license for anything except television?

I also don't really care about income streams being unstable if they moved to a subscription service either as all of the other tv channel providers seem to cope using commercial income or subscription income streams. It's called business.

Osolea · 30/08/2015 22:55

It's only great value if you use any of their services. If you don't, and you choose to only watch other channels, then it's terrible value.

In no other area of life are we charged a licence fee for something we don't want and could easily choose to never use.

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