To think the BBC will change or go under?

[Snowballs4ever]

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?

@Upanddownandroundagain

That's not quite right... A licence is required for receiving live TV broadcasts and using BBC iPlayer, but not for watching BBC programming through other services like Netflix or indeed BBC DVDs.

How many films are shown on live TV outside sky?

Thousands every year, across all the channels.

Easily my favourite - yes, that’s subjective - is Film4.

They can all be recorded on hard-disk without any effort and watched at leisure.

Does iPlayer even have box sets? It's ages since unused it but if you wanted to watch older episodes/series that aren't on catch up anymore, could you?

Nvm just checked and it seems to have them but not that many. There are BBC programs that I can watch on Netflix but not on iPlayer. I wonder if it's a rights thing.

Thousands every year, across all the channels.
And just shy of 10,000 on Netflix alone and probably several thousand on Prime, which you can watch at your convenience without waiting for them to come on so you can record them.

Plus, if you want to watch something specific that's not on either, it's almost certainly available to rent for a few quid off Youtube or PlayStation Network (or wherever else). I probably only rent movies a couple of times per year though, because I'm usually covered by Netflix or Amazon.

I’ve never watched Netflix in my life because I don’t have hours to burn watching series upon series of crap on my TV.

There are BBC programs that I can watch on Netflix but not on iPlayer. I wonder if it's a rights thing.

Yes, and a business model thing. That’s partly how the BBC funds itself - by Netflix (and others) paying it for old shows it won’t be broadcasting over the period.

I’ve never watched Netflix in my life because I don’t have hours to burn watching series upon series of crap on my TV.
What do you watch on your tv?

Yeah I don't get how live TV is a better medium for film watching than steaming, online renting/buying, sky, physical media or even the cinema (if you can afford it). You can only really watch things as they're shown and it tends tonne older stuff. NOW TV has loads of fairly recent stuff although it is a bit pricey.

I’ve never watched Netflix in my life because I don’t have hours to burn watching series upon series of crap on my TV.

Harsh, but largely fair.

Yeah I don't get how live TV is a better medium for film watching than steaming, online renting/buying, sky, physical media or even the cinema

It isn’t, but all these cost a lot more.

You've never watched Netflix in your life and yet you somehow know it's all crap?!

BTW it's not just endless series, it has a lot of films... old, new, and original Netflix productions.

Than £150 a year?

To those asking what I watch: the news, Newsnight, University Challenge, The Antiques Roadshow, Only Connect and the occasional history programme on BBC Four.

It isn’t, but all these cost a lot more
No they don't. Netflix is cheaper than the licensing fee. The real cost of Prime depends on how much you use Amazon for other shopping, but is basically free for my purposes. I spend about £10 on online renting per year (which I'd still have to spend if I used live tv).

At one time I had all those services plus live tv. I cut out live tv because I didn't use it because there was so little I wanted to watch (and heaps of trash).

Try living in the US, or any other country and see the shit that passes for television and radio in those countries. BBC television and radio is the best in the world and worth every penny.

I watch the BBC all the time! We have Netflix but I can never find anything I like on it.

Of course it’s more expensive to rent or buy movies or see them up the cinema.

Netflix has relatively few movies. It’s crap for movies.

And you’re talking about occasional films. TV puts out hundreds of thousands of hours of (varied) programmes and films every year.

If people are happy with Netflix alone, good for them. But they’re a tiny number.

Try living in the US, or any other country and see the shit that passes for television and radio in those countries. BBC television and radio is the best in the world and worth every penny.

Oh yes. European broadcasting

If people are happy with Netflix alone, good for them. But they’re a tiny number.
Again, based on US data, 15% of households are streaming only and don't watch any live tv. Younger people are more likely to stream than watch live tv, so I can only see that percentage growing.

ANd just to add that the percentage of streaming-only households has tripled in the last five years (again, US figures).

US TV isn’t comparable.

BBC television is the best in the world
If you like cooking, dancing, antique shows, the same few quiz shows and lowest-common-denominator comedy.

The BBC makes good documentaries (not my viewing of choice) and current affair shows. I'm happier reading, rather than watching, current affairs stuff.

KissingInTheRain
3.5 billion have opted out of the licence fee in favour of streaming in the last few years...

Actuallly, here's some UK stats (albeit 2 years out of date). About 15% of homes planning to go without live tv.

www.nielsen.com/uk/en/insights/news/2016/nearly-70-percent-of-brits-pay-a-subscription-to-watch-TV-or-video-on-demand.html

It is only half of the global average, based on UK tv being better than in many other countries, but demand for live tv is still significantly shrinking.