AIBU to think those who complain about the licence fee and BBC

[Doyoumind]

Were likely watching the game on the BBC last night?

31 million watched, 4/5 of them on BBC as opposed to ITV, because they are simply better broadcasters.

No one likes paying what they see as a tax, or for things they don't benefit from. I object to even a halfpenny of the licence fee going to Mrs Brown's Boys, but recognise the good programmes the BBC do.

One or two good programmes (& that is there are these days) does not make up for having to pay a broadcasting tax (which is what it is) to see a shed load of rubbish and repeats. The BBC has too many channels and not enough content to fill them all.

I don’t think it’s that simple really.

I much preferred watching the match Live via iPlayer having had frustrations with the ITV app last week plus the nonsensical ad timings. I also don’t mind paying the fee as I compare it to Netflix etc and figure I’m still getting my money’s worth with enough enjoyable content vs cost.

However - that doesn’t detract from the very good points that are made around the ridiculousness of the “TV licence” being treated like a government mandated fee; with bullying tactics by “enforcers” and all the rest of it.

ITV player isn’t on PlayStation and a lot watch it through there (we do) so BBC was our only option. DH also prefers Linekar to Ian Wright so that too.

Watched it in ITV, can’t stand the BBC coverage

Are you sure it's not the lack of ad breaks or when the tv was turned up it happened to be BBC1? I don't recognize this alleged "better" broadcaster quality unless you mean the commentators are different.

No. No TV, no licence and no football watching here at all.

You seem to be missing the point that in order to watch any 'live' TV I have to have a TV licence.

I watched it on ITV, I enjoyed the commentary. I don't think they are worse than BBC and I think BBC should be an optional subscription and if people don't watch BBC, they shouldn't have to pay it.

If I could buy a TV that didn’t have any BBC channels on it, and therefore didn’t have to pay the licence fee, then I would happily watch the football on ITV. But if I have to pay £159 a year to watch live TV on an actual television then I’ll get my money’s worth from the BBC and watch the football ad-free.

I’m a big fan of the BBC by the way. It’s just that £159 a year is a huge amount of money for me. I’d much rather it changed to being funded by advertising or subscription options.

I don't complain about the licence fee because I don't own a TV or watch live broadcasts. Only thing I would complain about are these 'We are watching you' letters I get every 2 years or so from TV Licensing.

I definitely wasn't watching the match last night. I was listening to people in my street screaming their heads off and letting off bangers when Italy won.

No - didn't watch it. Pissed off that licence fee is funding the ludicrous salaries of footballers. HTH.

I didn't watch it, it annoys the fuck out of me the way football just takes over the tv.

I’d pay the licence fee for the radio alone. Nobody except the bbc is making radio comedy or drama.

People in the UK (England) are still being put into prison for not paying the TV licence fee. Even if they don't watch the BBC.

Mainly women.

And they are being locked up with male rapists who call themselves "women".

Have a word with yourself, eh.

We watched on ITV, we prefer their commentators.

I avoid BBC in any case because their woke bandwagon jumping just pisses me off. In general there is nothing I want to watch on the BBC, maybe a couple of programmes a year - I’d much rather pay per view.

The population of the UK is 66 million, so even 31 million, although a record-breaking figure, is less than half the population.

I haven't paid the license fee in 2 years. I'd been paying it since I moved out but realised I'd basically been watching YouTube and Netflix for ages anyways.
I'm not a football fan and I haven't watched any game. I also listen to CDs in the car.
We're all different.

@TiddyAndFletch

No - didn't watch it. Pissed off that licence fee is funding the ludicrous salaries of footballers. HTH.

Well, you'll be glad to know that while they do get paid a lot playing for their teams in the Premier League and other leagues (for matches the BBC can't afford to broadcast live) they haven't received any money for playing in the Euros.

You are correct OP. I complain about the licence fee and we watched the football.
I have a licence though.
I don’t see what your point is.

We don’t watch usually watch football. Or strictly, or cooking or gardening progs, other sport or talent shows or David Attenborough stuff.

My point is that people, in significant numbers, chose the BBC over ITV so there's some reason for that.

It wasn't about people who don't watch live TV or don't watch football.

Hate it, it’s still relatively a lot, fund with ads

People in the UK (England) are still being put into prison for not paying the TV licence fee. Even if they don't watch the BBC

Mainly women

This is a myth. Oft repeated, but it simply is not true.

You can not be 'put in prison' in the UK for not paying the TV licence fee, because it is not a criminal offence. Watching TV without a licence carries a maximum penalty of a £1000 fine, but this is very rarely the actual amount, it's usually far less. Non-payment of the fine IS a criminal offence, but even then, the people who end up in jail are people who are guilty of other criminal offences, and have a non-payment charge looming over them. The judge is asked to take this into consideration when jailing them, and they are considered to have served the punishment for it while already inside prison for other offences, giving rise to the illusion that loads of women are in prison 'because of not paying the licence fee'.

@Nsky

Hate it, it’s still relatively a lot, fund with ads

And who do you think - ultimately - pays for the ads? You, the consumer, do. The money to pay for the advertising is part of the cost to you of the goods and services that you buy. It isn't magicked out of thin air.