To pay for a tv licence

[airbnbshowsnoresults]

Not really but goddamn it's gone up by £3 this year , feel like I'm the only person who even pays.

I already pay for Amazon Prime and Netflix, I’ll be damned if I’m paying again for a handful of channels which I don’t watch anyway. I’m sure lots of people love the bbc programmes but whenever I’m at my parents and using their TV I’m always amazed at the fact there’s fuck all on despite there being 500 freeview channels.

I don’t mind paying for Netflix and amazon because I use them often.

I'm perfectly happy to pay for a licence, I think it's incredibly good value for money, and in fact infinitely better value than Sky. The Freeview Channels with their endless advert breaks drive me mad, and the range of programmes that I actually like that is available on Sky, Netflix or Prime is actually not that good. Because they have to keep advertisers happy and sell lots of subscriptions, far too much of their output is dumbed down.

You only have to look at the dreadful dross that is Australian TV to see the consequences of getting rid of the BBC.

But would those programmes be on Netflix and amazon if the BBC hadn't made them?

The BBC get to make some programmes and buy programmes that channels funded by adverts may not touch as they're always chasing the highest viewing figures. Cardinal is a great programme. I don't think it would do well on ITV

And now the BBC have announced a series where Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull of University Challenge game tour Britain looking at famous inventions. Another £10 on my list. Not to everyone’s taste I’m sure but that is the point of the BBC, everything doesn’t have to be populist.

University challenge fame, not game

I find it really weird that people are happy to pay £50+ a month for Sky / Virgin, £9.99 a month for Netflix / Amazon / NowTV etc etc but resent the license fee

That’s fairly simplistic. The only stuff I watch is on Sky, therefore I get the channels that provides it.

I haven’t had a licence for 3 years now, I just do the online declaration when asked and that’s that for another 2 years. We genuinely watch no love tv though, I watch itv catch up and all4 catch up, have Netflix and amazon prime and now tv. We pay for those 3 services as we use them every day and there is always something to watch, I can’t remember the last bbc show I watched. I don’t see why I should pay for a licence when I genuinely don’t use one. I think subscription service would be the way to go for the BBC

I love the fact that the BBC still broadcast lots of things that are watched by people who can't get out of their homes anymore. My neighbours are able to pick up Welsh language programmes made by the BBC (we are not in Wales, but it is their home language). they can listen to the morning service on the radio, and s=watch Songs of Praise. They can watch programmes like Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow. I fera none of these would be shown by the commercial channels as they are not dramatic dumbed down enough for them.

Then I love all the BBC4 music programmes, as well as a healthy dose of Top of the Pops Two. I like the comedy quizzes - Mock the Week, HIGNFY, Qi etc. I personally don't like Mastermind or University Challenge, but I think they would be missed by many.
I tend to watch most of my TV on catch up, so am able to miss most of the adverts, but when there is a 'national event' on - from Royal wedding to state Funeral, from World Cup match to the Olympics, the BBC just cover them all so much better than ITV do, IMO.

They will chase you for it, I moved house and forgot to change the address over, though I was still paying direct debit for my old address. Within 2 weeks I got a letter off them saying they were aware I didn't have a tv licence and needed to buy one.

I hate paying for it, it is now a communications licence in Ireland so you can't say I don't have a tv, it is required for a tablet, pc and mobile phone. I refused to get one last year. I received a summons for court and had to back date the payment in order for them to drop it. 11693 people were brought to court in 2017, I'd say lots back paid like me to avoid going too so the number would have been higher.

I thought I was well in not having a tv but no it's a communications licence now.

You need one to watch all freeview channels not just bbc. I dont have one watch all the channels i want still. I have Better things to spend money on.

At least the BBC have interesting programmes and do not show adverts every few minutes, like RTE do, taking cash from everywhere and the worst programmes, I never watch it. I would be happier to pay for BBC tv.

*I haven’t had a licence for 3 years now, I just do the online declaration when asked and that’s that for another 2 years. We genuinely watch no love tv though, I watch itv catch up and all4 catch up, have Netflix and amazon prime and now tv.
Now TV doesn't absolve you from having a licence. if you watch any live TV on any channel, or BBC iPlayer programmes, you need a TV licence.

I pay. I use the service (especially Radio 4) so am happy to pay for it.

Although I never watch live TV. But I do use iPlayer.

Unlike (what appears to be) most mumsnetters we do watch BBC TV and am happy to pay for the privilege. I feel it is excellent value for money for our viewing habits as we don’t have Sky or Netflix, and find plenty to watch that we enjoy. I don’t understand why so many are sniffy about BBC/other Freeview output.

Between us as, a family, we particularly enjoy comedy, crime dramas, period dramas, cookery shows, wildlife programmes, rugby, documentaries, music programmes – all of which are plentiful on the main Freeview channels. I also listen to the radio a lot. Where I live BBC local radio is far better than the commercial stations for news/weather/travel news.

We aren’t snooty or superior enough to not watch TV either.

I don’t see why it can’t be set up for people to opt in, by making BBC TV unavailable to people who don’t want to watch it.

“I hate the BBC and their sodding licence.”

Why SophieSellerman?

There is a lot of misinformation on here. You need a TV licence if you watch live TV on any channel and/or iPlayer. Information here

I hate paying for it, not enough decent programs, biased news reports and way too many repeats

Don't pay over the phone by automated message which asks for your card number. For once you give them the card number they can take any sum, it just goes from your account in a sec, and that's how in my case they took a yearly subscription (145 at the time) in one fucking go, when all I wanted is to set a dd.

Just go online to set a dd. You'll most likely pay for a year in 6 months time - THEN CANCEL. Because they will roll on taking for the next 12 months taking the money now. Cheeky fucking twats.

gladallover we only have the kids and movie package on now tv so only watch things already on there, nothing live I am aware of that part

I pay my TV licence. I only have freeview and nothing else, so it's fine for me.

I pay for my licence but really dislike dealing with the people who collect the money for it. They can be incredibly aggressive and if you’re even slightly behind with renewing they treat you like a criminal.

I do, however, enjoy the BBC so don’t begrudge needing a licence.

I just do mine by direct debit. No aggression there.

I pay for a TV licence. I don't have Sky, Virgin, Netflix or any similar services, so it's my only entertainment cost. I watch occasional TV and sometimes listen to Radio 4. I also use the BBC News website, though its quality seems to have been on the slide lately.

I pay and think its a bargain however, sympathy to those who cant afford it, if its a choice between school shoes or bbc licence its no contest. I remember being in that position and criminalising single parents for no licence is disgraceful.

Racecar accents and dialects are vital to a country's/regions culture and history - they absolutely should be recognised and celebrated. Especially by a publicly funded broadcaster. They're not unique to the uk either.

Namechange - If you use iplayer you still have to have a licence. I consider it cf territory if you benefit from those of us who do pay without paying yourself.

"You dont know what you've got till its gone. We'll be very sorry if we ever lose the BBC." Totally agree. I also think the high standards of BBC drama and documentaries slightly helps in keeping those on other channels not become totally dumbed down (channel 5 notwithstanding).