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.

Agreed

Agreed

Disagreed. The value and respect lies in the foreign broadcasting which should be part of foreign aid budget.

Reality TV costs peanuts.

It is only a bargain if you actually want it.

Who needs swimming pools or libraries?

People pay for entry to swimming pools and libraries are taken from taxes.

Would you pay for my internet?

It's got too big. The number of local radio stations is silly. The BBC website should stick to news, politics and sport and ditch the "why I waited until I was 41 to lose my virginity" "the skate boarding incident that changed my life" (both front page BBC website headings at the moment. I love radios 2, 3 and 4 and BBC 2 and 4 and the news aspect of the BBC website apart from its liberal lefty bias. They can get rid of the rest of it. BBC world service was good when I was in India 25 years ago, but I'm not sure it's needed in the internet age.

I think the BBC is absolutely comparable to education and healthcare - , but if you like, how about municipal services? Who needs swimming pools or libraries?

The BBC is an entertainment broadcaster - it's not remotely comparable to public facilities like pools and libraries!

Besides, people pay to get into swimming pools and leisure centres. You wouldn't be happy if you had to, say, pay for your neighbours gym membership or their DC's swimming lessons, would you? Libraries are funded by their local councils/taxes and often run activities like toddler classes or have cafes to help with the costs. They also charge for printing/photocopying.

You wouldn't pay my SKY subscription so why should I pay for you to access the BBC?

Do you even live in the UK if you compare BBC with swimming? It costs a lot to go to any of the pools here! And pay per entry too!

Library is to promote literacy. It’s not the same as having TV.

So pleased people are finally questioning institutions like the BBC and NHS.

'Finally'? These discussions have been going on for years; noone has come with anything new. It's resurfaced now as the
conservative press now have their bought and paid for Prime Minister installed in a government which doesn't see the point in public accountability (also a culture secretary who doesn't understand the difference between Netflix's business model and the BBC.)

It's very expensive, and I'm not sure it's worth it anymore with Netflix, amazon and so on.

TheValeyard,

Some have questioned them for years but they have been quickly put back in their box by propaganda (the bbc helping this) and misplaced loyalty.

I have been on here a while and it is only in the last couple of years (and especially last year) that when a sycophantic AIBU poster has fielded the equivalent of a tame question at PMQs (e.g ‘AIBU to be eternally grateful to the BBC/NHS’) that they have received an unexpectedly sharp rejoinder.

Times are a-changing.

Times are a-changing.

And not for the better.

but I PROMISE you that you do not want US style healthcare

There are dozens, if not hundreds of countries with healthcare systems between the UK and US versions. Why does everyone always claim that we'd end up with a US system, when there are so many other options. What's wrong with the French or German or Spanish or Australian system?

When I was stuck in traffic gridlock caused by floods in an unfamiliar area I tuned my car radio to the local station in the hope of some information/guidance (I was seriously considering checking into the nearest hotle I could find it was so bad). The BBC local station's programme was some bloke playing Elvis records.

Not a surprise if it was evening or a weekend as they are on a skeleton staff, often just playing pre-recorded programs.

When we suffered badly with Storm Desmond, there was bugger all on our local BBC radio station, but our local independent station was constantly broadcasting relevant information re power cuts, road closures, etc., and even won awards for its coverage. Some of the staff worked through the night using portable generators to keep it broadcasting and staff camped out in the building for the weekend.

I agree the BBC is a fantastic institution that gives us quality programmes and quality children’s tv. Have you ever watched American kids tv? Brain damage stuff.
I’m happy to pay for the BBC

Of course it should be scrapped. They hold us to ransom to pay it. We watch so little bbc programming compared to say Netflix yet we pay more per month for it. I would much prefer it to be a subscription service that we can choose or not to watch and pat for.

Why does everyone always claim that we'd end up with a US system, when there are so many other options

Maybe because health care is big, profitable business in the US and Trump actually made public comments about the US getting its hands on the NHS when he was talking trade deals?

Have you ever watched American kids tv? Brain damage stuff.
You didn't watch Sesame Street as a kid? Muppets? Fraggle Rock? Scooby Doo?

Sesame Street, Muppets, and Fragile Rock were all public television. Sesame Street has now been sold to a commercial interest, I believe

I agree the BBC is a fantastic institution that gives us quality programmes and quality children’s tv. Have you ever watched American kids tv? Brain damage stuff. I’m happy to pay for the BBC

Great. Then you can continue to pay for it, can't you?

Have you ever watched American kids tv? Brain damage stuff.

I do grow tired of this constant rotation of ignorant anti-American claptrap.

I worry about this country and where we are going. Getting rid of the BBC is yet another thing we will come to regret, too late though. A subscription model will not work, the Beeb would wither and die. We all pay for things that others use more than us: healthcare, education, that's life. To have a (mostly) independent broadcaster that is able to make less 'popular' programmes like Baddiel's Holocaust denial doc is important.

@EntropyRising have you ever actually been to America? It’s a shallow place, the quality of food for the average person is frankly terrifying as is the lack of social care. It makes want to head back to Europe asap

Why do we always compare ourselves to America. Jesus Christ it's tiring! There are other countries in the world. Canada doesn't have a licence fee and they have locally produced television and radio. The only two options in the world are not UK or US.

@EntropyRising have you ever actually been to America? It’s a shallow place, the quality of food for the average person is frankly terrifying as is the lack of social care. It makes want to head back to Europe asap

I suspect I know the US far better than you do.