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

[dellacucina]

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.

@SkelingtonArgument

www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/24/in-court-non-payment-tv-licence-television-desperate-cases

....the week after the culture secretary, Sajid Javid, confirmed a review of the law that makes non-payment of your television licence a criminal offence (unlike, say, payment of your electricity bill), magistrates courts are still ploughing through large numbers of prosecutions, at a rate of about 3,500 a week. Javid said almost 200,000 people were prosecuted in 2012-13 for failing to buy a TV licence, which costs £145.50 a year. “More than 50 were sent to prison. When over 10% of magistrates court cases concern this one offence, you have to ask whether the current system is really working,” he said.

You can’t have a subscription service until you can turn off the signal for those who don’t pay.

It’s a bit like the post office. Royal Mail struggles because unlike all its commercial competitors, it is bound by the universal service obligation to deliver to all parts of the country for the same fixed price, irrespective of where they live.

Similarly, the BBC is obliged to broadcast to everyone in return for the licence fee. As a state broadcaster, the BBC is not allowed to turn off the universal signal even if you don’t pay. That’s why the licence fee is criminalised.

If you are saying you no longer want a state broadcaster, that’s a bit Trumpian imho, but then we live in trumpian times. Post-Brexit, under the Cummings government, moving against the BBC is probably to be expected. But I think it’s important to ask why this particular government is so keen to harness public opinion against the bbc.

Those saying they don’t pay it because they watch amazon/now tv or similar may well get the fine. I have low income and loathe paying the ridiculous fee I don’t watch bbc and have in the past had one of their goons turn up to a property I lived in asking why there was no licence and telling me that simply having a tv could make them fine you (this was about 3years ago)

"If you are saying you no longer want a state broadcaster, that’s a bit Trumpian imho"

I think it would be Trumpian to have a state broadcaster!

The only time in my life that I missed the BBC was when I lived overseas. (No VPN and iplayer at the time)
The BBC have missed a trick not allowing people overseas to pay for access to iplayer. I think there'd be a good market there as some people would rather pay a reasonable amount than download/stream illegally.

It’s a stealth tax. Why the should I have to bankroll the BBC.

Why should a person in a one bedroom flat, living alone have to pay the same as say a family of six?

I actually think it’s disgusting that in 2020 I’m forced to pay it.

The BBC has its head so far up its own arse. If it feels it’s as good as it thinks, make it a subscription service and we’ll say how they get on...:

I stopped paying tv licence a few years ago when I moved into a rental post divorce. Acquired a tv after a couple of months but realised I'd happily survived on Netflix and hadn't even pined for live TV so thought I'd try a year without it and decide in the future if I wanted to pay again. Oh.my.god the threatening and bullying letters I've had in the post since! Initially I informed them, but for some reason they didn't seem to get the memo and sent continuous big red letter in the mail. Rang up and they backed off for a while, but after a while they started up again. It makes NO sense to me...I wouldn't need to ring up Tesco or M&S to tell them I don't shop there?! Why should I year after year have to keep telling them I don't watch TV?! So I now refuse to keep making the ridiculous declaration and bin the letters without thought. No one's ever turned up, and if they did they'd get short shrift from me. I'd ask why don't they use their magic detector vans (what a joke!) to catch me out? They'd be hanging around for a long time! I'd now never go back to BBC. They've lost my respect completely.

The Tories love scrapping anything that benefits the public as a whole and doesn’t lead directly to profits for people like them. I actually find the BBC poor value for money. But that’s not why the Tories hate it, they hate the fact that they can’t intimidate it (that much) and that they can’t make it spew forth their words and worldview (that much). So, reluctantly, I have to support it. First they came for surestart, then they came for properly funded schools, then they came for libraries, then they came for public transport, disability allowance, then our EU rights to live, work and retire abroad and breeze through immigration, then the BBC. It just goes on and on. In 50 years we will just be a small and weak version of the US.

This.

@IJustCantDeal

Pretty sure the goons were lying and it only applies if you stream live TV.

Having no TV licence is not a recordable offence, and therefore it will not go on anyone’s criminal record.

You cannot be sent to prison for having no TV licence.

Both of those statements are untrue @SkelingtonArgument.

From Citizens advice:

"It’s a criminal offence to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer unless you have a valid TV licence. Without one you risk prosecution and can be issued a fine of up to £1,000, plus court costs."

"Failing to pay at this stage could result in court action using the evidence collected by the enquiry officer. The court can issue a fine of up to £1,000 which will show up if your criminal record is checked. Your TV licence must still be paid in addition to the fine."

"No, you can’t go to prison for not having a TV licence. The court can only give you a fine for this. But if you don’t pay, the court can take further action to collect the fine, including sending you to prison as a last resort."

Spreading untruths isn't helpful to anyone.

AllCrimps I'm surprised they've never turned up. I had a visit within 2 weeks of moving to a new rental and had no TV.

I've lost the plot re urban myths etc but someone here told me they are tracking signals via drone now?!

@notgenerationalpha Hate Netflix for my DC. The shows are awful and no where near the educational value of Cbeebies

I used to work for TV Licensing. These days part of my job involves advising people about unpaid court fines for non-payment of TV licence, among other things. Almost all the people I come across being prosecuted are women. They are usually single parents on low incomes/benefit-only only incomes. Quite a number have disabilities, notably MH problems.

Anyone who can afford a licence and chances their arm by not buying one will be let off, provided they buy a licence straight away (they are allowed to go on direct debit and pay monthly or quarterly, despite previous evasion). If you can't afford a licence you will end up being prosecuted.

I think evasion should be decriminalised straight away, and in due course the licence fee should be scrapped and the BBC go to a subscription model, where those who want it can pay for it. The current system is outdated and discriminatory. The BBC is plainly terrified of the government and their GE coverage was biased and shit. Personally, I would pay a subscription for Radio 3 and let the rest go, and I think we should have that choice.

oh that's another thing

Cbeebies etc

subscription service better - people who want certain things on TV can pay for them.

I don't believe any of you who say you never consume any bbc content. Honestly can any of you say you never watch BBC tv, drama, sport, Cbbc, CBeebies, weather, go online to news, recipes/food, bbc teach, bite size, radio 12345 or 6... that would be baffling if you honestly never do any of that.

I’d be sad if radio 6 or 4 changed. I listen to those two stations all the time at home.

If they are tracking signals via drone @AutumnRose why do they still feel
el the need to.then up.( Uninvited ) to people's homes to " check " wether they need a license ?As they should already know ? I suspect it's just as much made up bullshit as the good old " detector vans"

I don’t think I watch any BBC TV though. Still, radio is very important to me.

I don't WiilyWonka baffling as it might be to you not everyone thinks the BBC is the best thing since sliced bread ,people have different tastes .

You can get a radio only license I thought?

I sometimes listen to bbc radio 2. So I don’t think I’m getting value for money at £150 per year.

You don't need a licence for radio, NemophilistRebel, only for live TV and use of the iPlayer.

Actually I am watching something on iPlayer atm. I’m ok with the fee as it is, just to have the few things I use.

EntropyRising

*How the fuck can the bbc control who’s in the audience!?!? I mean if that’s your example of biased then you’re batshit&

QT pick the audience after looking at their background, a Maidstone audience would be different demographic from a southampton audience

bellacaledonia.org.uk/2016/12/05/bbc-question-time-fake-audiences/

I don't believe any of you who say you never consume any bbc content.

Bbc sell stuff to Netflix, so I have watched call the midwife and peaky blinders. Would I pay £150+ to watch two series, no. If they weren’t on Netflix then I wouldn’t bither