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AIBU?

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Original poster

To turn the BBC into a subscription service would be unfair...

90 replies

greencrosscode · 20/04/2021 18:43

As has been proposed as it would give the BBC an unfair advantage over Netflix or similar companies..

As the BBC was designed to fit 20th century technology...

OP posts:
Whammyyammy · 20/04/2021 22:27

@greencrosscode

I imagine the cost of BBC4 and Radio 4 would be less than a £5 a year. It could just go out of our taxes.
Why should people that don't use bbc be taxed?
Whammyyammy · 20/04/2021 22:29

Not paid my tv license or watched the BBC for years.
Emailed them, had a few letters which I binned.
The BBC and its unfair license fee is so out if date, needs scrapping, shocked that people actually pay it still...mugs

melj1213 · 20/04/2021 22:31

I haven't had a tv license for years and tbh I don't generally miss it.

DD and I mostly watch things on YouTube, Netflix and Disney+, I have the BT Sport app free via my phone contract (and can access Sky Sports day passes if there is stuff on there I really want to watch) and if we were watching things from regular TV then it was usually on catch up because either we couldn't watch live for some reason or because we forget what night things are on so would miss them and watch them later.

The only thing I really miss is Strictly and I always used to miss the Saturday show anyway as I work so its our family tradition to go to my mums on a Sunday afternoon for a roast dinner - pre-pandemic the whole family would come round - and then we'd relax for the rest of the day and the end of Strictly is the cue for everyone who was still there to head home.

The only other thing I have missed was this year's 6 Nations rugby games (as they're always split between BBC and ITV) as usually we would go out to the pub to watch the games with friends, which obviously wasn't possible this year, but that's a one off.

wingsnthat · 20/04/2021 22:33

Their catalogue is awful though. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of great offerings, but they’re unavailable to watch on demand. I certainly wouldn’t pay for a subscription for BBC, whereas Netflix and Amazon have more value

Smokeahontas · 20/04/2021 22:34

I personally don’t understand why, if the license fee funds the BBC, why you can’t watch live TV on other channels like ITV / Amazon Prime etc.

HalzTangz · 20/04/2021 22:36

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Tbf to bbc they do make some great hits.

If they went subscription path without tv licence, I assume they would start churning our crapload of low quality stuff like Netflix started to do.
I wish netflix took some of the money from upping the fees and use them on proper dubbing🙄

Other than Line of Duty I can't think of any programmes that are hits and worth the licence fee
Nogardenersworld · 20/04/2021 22:37

@Whammyyammy I have yet to use the fire brigade, claim benefits, or any number of the other services and things my taxes pay for.
I’m not sure saying you don’t use it is a reason to say you shouldn’t be taxed for it.

wingsnthat · 20/04/2021 22:41

@HalzTangz I like their crime documentaries, but you’re right - they don’t have many hit shows

Whammyyammy · 20/04/2021 22:43

[quote Nogardenersworld]@Whammyyammy I have yet to use the fire brigade, claim benefits, or any number of the other services and things my taxes pay for.
I’m not sure saying you don’t use it is a reason to say you shouldn’t be taxed for it.[/quote]
I also don't have Sky TV, but I'm not taxed to pay for my neighbour's sky TV. Shall we tax people to pay for Netflix, Now TV or amazon prime?

Comparing an out of date TV channel to emergency services or life supporting benefits is the same.

I refuse to pay for a licence and have done for years, i don't use BBC, so why would I pay them money?

Whammyyammy · 20/04/2021 22:43

*isn't the same

SchrodingersImmigrant · 20/04/2021 22:44

Other than Line of Duty I can't think of any programmes that are hits and worth the licence fee

Luther, Peaky Blinders, Bodyguard, Dr Foster, Sherlock, killing eve, Dracula, Masterchef.

melj1213 · 21/04/2021 00:30

Luther, Peaky Blinders, Bodyguard, Dr Foster, Sherlock, killing eve, Dracula, Masterchef.

Peaky Blinders, Bodyguard, Sherlock, Masterchef, and Dracula are all on Netflix (I'm sure Luther, Dr Foster and Killing Eve will be on some streaming service sooner or later, if not already) so why would I pay the BBC when I pay my Netflix subscription and get those and thousands of other TV shows and movies for half the price of the licence fee?

GrumpyHoonMain · 21/04/2021 00:38

They already are a subscription service in the UK.

GrumpyHoonMain · 21/04/2021 00:39

@Smokeahontas

I personally don’t understand why, if the license fee funds the BBC, why you can’t watch live TV on other channels like ITV / Amazon Prime etc.
Something to do with the way it’s broadcast.
GrumpyHoonMain · 21/04/2021 00:41

@wingsnthat

Their catalogue is awful though. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of great offerings, but they’re unavailable to watch on demand. I certainly wouldn’t pay for a subscription for BBC, whereas Netflix and Amazon have more value
Netflix and Amazon Prime would lose a huge chunk of their shows if the BBC went on demand. Not just UK shows either. They produce a huge amount of International content.
SchrodingersImmigrant · 21/04/2021 00:49

@melj1213

Luther, Peaky Blinders, Bodyguard, Dr Foster, Sherlock, killing eve, Dracula, Masterchef.

Peaky Blinders, Bodyguard, Sherlock, Masterchef, and Dracula are all on Netflix (I'm sure Luther, Dr Foster and Killing Eve will be on some streaming service sooner or later, if not already) so why would I pay the BBC when I pay my Netflix subscription and get those and thousands of other TV shows and movies for half the price of the licence fee?

Because bbc made them.
SchrodingersImmigrant · 21/04/2021 00:49

I assume bbc would pull them kff. Like Disney etc

SchrodingersImmigrant · 21/04/2021 00:53

Let's not forget Blue planet and lots of other documentaries, old and new.

melj1213 · 21/04/2021 00:59

Because bbc made them.

Just because the BBC broadcast them doesn't mean they make them. Even the ones the BBC have a part in making are often produced by a third party rather than the BBC directly.

melj1213 · 21/04/2021 01:04

The BBC often doesn't have 100% control of the rights to shows so they cannot stop them being shown.

Peaky Blinders, for example, is distributed by the BBC in the UK but Endemol have International distribution rights and made a deal with Netflix to distribute it through the streaming platform. So the BBC cannot pull PB from Netflix as they don't own it nor did they produce it.

SunIsComing · 21/04/2021 07:29

BBC are shit. Simple.

throwaway201809 · 21/04/2021 07:38

We don't watch live TV, we don't use BBC iPlayer, we don't use any BBC services, so we don't pay a TV licence. We happily pay for Netflix, Now TV, Amazon and Hayu.

If the BBC was a subscription rather than dressing itself up as a "licence" (which often confuses older people into thinking you need a TV licence to have a TV), we'd consider it for some of the dramas. But they end up on Netflix most of the time anyway.

My grandparents are really concerned we don't have a TV licence. We fill out the form every 2 years to let the BBC know we still don't need one. What other private company do you have to opt out of their services or have someone turn up on your door asking questions

Carryonlikeaporkchop · 21/04/2021 09:58

The BBC have a great opportunity to bring in revenue from people living abroad who would like to use iPlayer without resorting to expensive/unreliable VPN services.

SixDegrees · 21/04/2021 10:00

But the BBC already is a subscription service in the U.K.? Isn’t that what the license fee is about?

Cheeseandlobster · 21/04/2021 10:04

What about all those over 75 on a low income in receipt of pension credits. They get their licence for free. I bet many of them wouldnt pay a subscription or couldnt afford to