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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's a terrible idea to scrap the BBC licence fee?

602 replies

dellacucina · 16/02/2020 11:04

Inspired by this article: www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1242927/BBC-News-Boris-Johnson-license-fee-subscription-British-Broadcasting-Corporation/amp

I'm recently naturalised and I think that the BBC is part of what makes Britain special. It makes me very sad indeed to imagine it being cut down.

OP posts:
AppleBlossomTimeNow · 16/02/2020 11:08

Completely agree. Also happening with the NHS. Slowly selling off & privatising state owned & valued institutions. Undermining the principles that keep us healthy, informed & engaged. I wonder why...

Lostkeyagain · 16/02/2020 11:09

I agree.

exLtEveDallas · 16/02/2020 11:14

I’ll be happy if it happens. I don’t partake in BBC programmes and radio so I’ll be very happy to stop paying for it. A subscription model is the fairest way to do it, and will mean that lovers of the beeb will still be able to watch, hopefully without adverts.

WilheldivaHater · 16/02/2020 11:15

I personally hate having to pay the lisence fee for a channel that I can safely say I haven't watched in at least 15 years.

Being on a low income its an unnecessary expense that I could do without.

Thelnebriati · 16/02/2020 11:15

While I agree at the same time many just cant afford it.
Women who cant afford the fine for not having a licence are sent to prison. It costs more to keep them in prison for a week that to buy the license, and for many you can add the disruption and expense of putting their children into care.

HermioneWeasley · 16/02/2020 11:17

I used to passionately defend the BBC, but Now I think a subscription model is the right way to go. I think the bias in their reporting on various issues is appalling and in paying for things like “drag race” they are clear they are chasing popularity/viewers anyway.

Original poster
dellacucina · 16/02/2020 11:18

My understanding is that if you don't watch it, you don't have to pay it anyway. Is that incorrect? Do you have to pay it merely because you have a television?

I fully agree about the NHS. An American style system is really not the way to go. (Speaking as an American)

OP posts:
TwitcherOfCurtains · 16/02/2020 11:18

YABU. It should be a subscription service.

Original poster
dellacucina · 16/02/2020 11:19

@Thelnebriati do people actually get sent to prison for this?

I assume the idea is deterrent effect.

OP posts:
FluffyAragog · 16/02/2020 11:19

I'd be quite happy for the fee to be scrapped. As said above, a subscription fee or even advertisements would be better. I rarely watch or listen to any BBC programmes so I'm not sure why I'm forced to pay £150 a year for it.

womaninatightspot · 16/02/2020 11:19

With respect I think you're wrong. Whilst I am a fan of the bbc, pay my licence fee, watch stuff on iplayer it's a fairly big payment annually. I think when you have millions of people and their families living in poverty it's unreasonable. I think something like 30% of all prosecutions against women in this country are for non- payment of fines for not having a tv licence. I believe it has a disproportionate effect on the poorest in our communities. I think now it's digital it should be run as a subscription service and paid for by those who want it. I'd probably still pay for it tbh.

Original poster
dellacucina · 16/02/2020 11:20

To those who just say it should be a subscription service, can you please explain why this is better?

OP posts:
Theonewiththecandles · 16/02/2020 11:20

You pay it if you watch any television at all, even if you never watch bbc. I'd be quite happy if it went it always seemed bizarre to me to pay it just to keep bbc ad free

CakeandCustard28 · 16/02/2020 11:21

It’s outdated. Why should people go to prison over watching the BBC? They could of had adverts years ago and put a stop to it. The have BBC in America and they don’t pay for a TV licence... so why should we?

TwitcherOfCurtains · 16/02/2020 11:21

To those who just say it should be a subscription service, can you please explain why this is better?

Became we don't want to pay for a service we don't use.

sashh · 16/02/2020 11:21

It should have been done years ago, I have resented paying for a TV channel that has historically sexist and racist.

I particularly dislike when they put something on two channels or scrap something so they can show a tennis match or football (men's football that is, they wouldn't do it for women's).

BecauseReasons · 16/02/2020 11:21

My understanding is that if you don't watch it, you don't have to pay it anyway. Is that incorrect?

You have to have it if you watch any live TV or stream iPlayer, regardless of whether you watch the BBC or not. Although if you have a TV for any purpose they use threatening and aggressive tactics to try to buily you into paying and you constantly have to confirm you're not watching TV. It's bloody irritating. I also was told by one shop I needed to prove I have a TV licence in order to buy a TV.

It's ridiculous and I 100% support the idea of scrapping it. It is not comparable to the NHS.

FluffyAragog · 16/02/2020 11:21

My understanding is that if you don't watch it, you don't have to pay it anyway. Is that incorrect? Do you have to pay it merely because you have a television?

If you have a TV capable of receiving live signals (so with an aerial or set top box etc) then yes you need a TV licence whether you watch the BBC or not.

exLtEveDallas · 16/02/2020 11:22

My understanding is that if you don't watch it, you don't have to pay it anyway. Is that incorrect? Do you have to pay it merely because you have a television?

Yep, incorrect. You have to pay the licence fee to watch any ‘live’ TV. But in essence you are paying for the BBC because the other channels have revenue from advertising and/or satellite viewing (like Sky)

x2boys · 16/02/2020 11:23

Not everyone agrees that the BBC is brilliant though ,I never watch it never listen to.radio either plus these days with Netflix ,now T V etc fewer and fewer people watch any live TV ,the BBC are not doing themselves any favours refusing to move with the times IMO.

Whowantstogotothepark · 16/02/2020 11:24

Do you have to pay it merely because you have a television?

Yes, and I believe if you have a radio or a computer, even with no tv, because they have digital output. It is basically a media tax - as far as I see it (please correct me if I am wrong).

But the BBC does/did play a value role in a democracy. Especially in the UK where 80% of the press is right-wing and mostly foreign owned.

Original poster
dellacucina · 16/02/2020 11:24

@CakeandCustard28 the BBC is only shown on public television in the US. I would guess they trade content for this, though I haven't researched the issue.

I think independent journalism is very important, so I would be opposed to increasing commercial funding (are there any commercials on BBC now? I think no?). I also think it's great to have spaces where you can access content and not have to be exposed to commercial messages.

OP posts:
FluffyAragog · 16/02/2020 11:24

To those who just say it should be a subscription service, can you please explain why this is better?

For me it's because I don't have a choice with the TV licence. If I want to watch the BBC then I would subscribe to it and pay the fee. Much like I want to watch sky sports so I pay for the subscription. I'm not fussed about sky cinema so I don't pay for that. In the digital age we're in I think it's ridiculous that you can be threatened with prosecution for not paying for a service you don't use.

megletthesecond · 16/02/2020 11:25

Yanbu.
I don't think I watch anything except BBC. Cbbc, radio 1 and 4, bbc news and bbc2 nd 4 fill my time. It's bloody good value.

jackparlabane · 16/02/2020 11:25

If the alternative to the licence fee were to fund it out of general taxation, I'd support it. With a commitment that something similar to the current budget would be provided for the next 5 years.

Moving to subscription only - no. Having such excellent programmes and info available to all is one of the best things about living in the UK. I'd happily subscribe, but I want my kids' classmates to be able to watch those programmes too.