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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the BBC will change or go under?

282 replies

Snowballs4ever · 16/12/2018 17:16

I don't know many people who watch the BBC, most people I know don't have a license and just have netflix, Amazon, now tv etc

I know it has some popular programmes, but I can't see how it will survive longer term when netflix etc are cheaper and imo have much better programmes. Am I in a bubble or aibu to think it will have to have to have adverts/change longer term?

OP posts:
KissingInTheRain · 16/12/2018 18:00

I find it very difficult to believe that people who have TV sets watch no live telly ever. They have no aerial or dish or cable connection? They never watch live through the online players?

For any of this you need a licence.

I find the BBC frustratingly smug at times (“Auntie” FFS) but the licence fee is v good value for a news organisation that big and that good. Nearly all online news comes from the BBC and the big agencies - Reuters etc. Not paying a licence fee or a cover price would sink news gathering.

AGHHHH · 16/12/2018 18:03

You still need a tv licence to have a television.

No you don't. You need one if you watch TV. Not for DVDs or Netflix.

AGHHHH · 16/12/2018 18:05

I find it very difficult to believe that people who have TV sets watch no live telly ever

Well believe it Confused

I use mine for PlayStation, Netflix and DVDs. And even that's rare. I don't watch much of anything other than YouTube.

picklemebaubles · 16/12/2018 18:05

I'd happily pay my license fee to keep the bbc going. I don't watch tv really, and wouldn't have one if I lived alone. The radio is great and I'd want the programmes to still be made even if I don't watch them. Things like CBBC and Cbeebies, newsround, david Attenborough, spring watch... I can't imagine anyone else making them.

It was important to me my DC didn't watch adverts.

KissingInTheRain · 16/12/2018 18:08

AGHHHH

You have no aerial or other connection? You never watch live on line?

OK, but I think you’re a very rare case. How do you watch major live events? Or maybe you don’t Confused

Snowballs4ever · 16/12/2018 18:09

Netflix doesn't have adverts but is nearly half the price of BBC...surely they can't make people who use none of the BBC channels have a license? It should be a choice, like netflix, now tv etc. Choose to subscribe or not.

OP posts:
Jojoanna · 16/12/2018 18:10

I watch bbc and listen to bbc on the radio , it’s good value

megletthesecond · 16/12/2018 18:10

BBC is as cheap as chips IMO. BBC 1, 2 and 4. Radio 1 and 4. Cbbc, news and parliament.

Snowballs4ever · 16/12/2018 18:11

ARGH most people I know are the same - I have no idea what is on 'live' tv. If I was interested in news I'd look at a newspaper app on my phone, never tv

OP posts:
KissingInTheRain · 16/12/2018 18:12

Netflix has relatively little it makes itself. You’re basically paying for old programmes made by others.

Aragog · 16/12/2018 18:13

I watch bbc tv. We probably watch it more than any other channel. me more so as dd and do use the other sky and Netflix more than I do. We all use iPlayer at times.

When dd was small she watched CBeebies more than any other children's channel. All the young child I know do so too. They also use the CBeebies app and website.

I listen to a bbc radio station every day, as does do.

We both use the bbc news website too, as well as the bbc news app and the bbc weather app.

I don't begrudge the TV license though as I do use their service. I pay way more to sky that's for sure. I much prefer tv shows where you don't have adverts running through them. Niels have so many adverts it's ridiculous and makes watching anything taking almost double the time it should. We end up having to record things just so we can skip.

I only know 1 or 2 people who don't have a tv licence though.

fridgepants · 16/12/2018 18:16

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Aragog · 16/12/2018 18:17

Sherlock. Luther. Line of duty. Bodyguard

These are all on Netflix

At the moment they are. However, if the bbc went, they possibly wouldn't be would they? They're usually not on Netflix until a later date either.

LoniceraJaponica · 16/12/2018 18:20

It never fails to amaze me that posters who don't pay for a TV licence or watch any BBC output at all come across as morally superior on mumsnet Hmm

I watch a lot of BBC output. Crime drama (the best crime dramas are on BBC4), period drama, cookery shows, music, documentaries, sport (for OH).

Admittedly most of what I watch is recorded or on catch up, but for me the TV licence is very good value for money (we don't have Sky or Netflix, and don't feel the need for it)

ihatethecold · 16/12/2018 18:20

The bbc have linked up withNetflix so it can show some Netflix originals on its channels.
For example. the sinner is currently being shown on BBC 4. Netflix owns the program.
It’s cheaper to do this than create their own box sets sometimes.

Thespace · 16/12/2018 18:21

I know a lot of young people who never watch mainstream tv. My teenage dc have not watched tv for years (just YouTube and Netflix on their tablets) and my niece and her uni friends only have TVs for gaming.

Times have changed and I used to watch tv with my family but that never happens in my house any more. Even over Christmas I’ll be watching the odd thing on my own.

Cubrrt · 16/12/2018 18:22

I find it very difficult to believe that people who have TV sets watch no live telly ever. They have no aerial or dish or cable connection? They never watch live through the online players?
It's been at least 5 years since I've watched any live tv at home.

AGHHHH · 16/12/2018 18:22

@Kissing In The Rain correct, I don't have an aerial or watch ANY live TV. Even as a child I had little interest in watching it. Plus I'm moving extremely regularly for various reasons. Perhaps if I own my own home one day and have a stable place to live I'd consider it...

As it stands, I don't.

I get news updates on to my phone and read about any semi-newsworthy events. I don't particularly care to watch it as well.

Though I saw the referendum results because I was staying over a relatives that day.

LoniceraJaponica · 16/12/2018 18:23

We still watch some shows together as a family - Dr Who is one that I can think of off the top of my head. We also watch Mock the Week and QI when they are on.

Cubrrt · 16/12/2018 18:24

@fridgepants

Don't quote, report.

Cubrrt · 16/12/2018 18:27

I do use the bbc website for news and would happily pay a subscription, but no interest in watching live TV. Have both Netflix and Prime.

KissingInTheRain · 16/12/2018 18:27

If Netflix was so successful that it crashed the broadcasters - who make most of the stuff they show - it would have to produce massive amounts of programming...and you’d pay through the nose for it. TV drama costs £1m+ per hour to make.

Arf at all the people who say they only watch DVDs. They must be v bored or spend hundreds every year buying new movies.

95% of households in the UK require a licence. Those who say on here they don’t are (if truthful) in a tiny minority.

KissingInTheRain · 16/12/2018 18:32

AGHHH

Your news-by-phone will be a pay service in a few years, as will websites.

The news organisations are all suffering badly from free distribution.

AGHHHH · 16/12/2018 18:32

Arf at all the people who say they only watch DVDs. They must be v bored or spend hundreds every year buying new movies.

Or perhaps they do other things with their time than sit watching DVDs? Hmm How strange to claim that people must be bored because they don't watch TV...