BBC Licence fee to be abolished in 2027

[knark]

Fucking Tories. Why do people vote for them? Why isn't there a viable opposition?

I would protest against this decision, but, oh, they've abolished that too.

@mustlovegin

I suspect many are fed up of being forced to subsidise leftwingism.

And it's not only TV. A percentage of the revenue of each product that we buy appears to be contributing to woke proselytism as most advertising seems to be co-opted too.

There's nothing wrong with some wishing to wake up to an ode to Marx & Engels every morning, but they should pay for the pleasure themselves.

The strange thing is I find the BBC to be too right wing and pro-establishment. Funny that!

Exactly. Everyone, from all sides of politics right to left always always accuses the BBC of political bias. I find that pretty convincing to show there isn’t overall bias.

None of these things has the ‘mass’ appeal of some of the stuff on subscription channels, but it’s incredibly culturally valuable. Do we just chuck it all out as too niche and commercially unviable, or restrict access to a few ‘arty intellectuals’ who have the financial means to pay for a specialist arts channel?

Well, yes. Why should the masses pay for things they never use / don't want / aren't appealed by because a small minority keep telling us it's culturally valuable?

If it's so culturally valuable then presumably millions will opt in and they'll be fine.

I have some niche interests too and I pay to subscribe to them. Wouldn't dream of demanding my neighbour has to fund it.

People seem to demand well what about the radio as if completely unaware that loads of people are subscribed to apple music / youtube / spotify etc and are perfectly happy with that for music and podcasts. I wouldn't listen to the radio if you payed me.

Does the rest of the world not have those things?

@IncompleteSenten Not in the same way, or to the same extent I would argue, no. Which other national broadcaster has the same degree of immediate recognition and cachet when a journalist announces their credentials in a foreign press conference? Which other radio channel has the historical influence and international reach of the World Service? How will live broadcasting of nationally significant, unifying events - state funerals, major sports events, astronauts like Tim Peake being launched into space - be accessible to all in a subscription only model? What will happen in future to all of the charity events, such as Comic Relief and Children in Need, that the BBC has traditionally championed? Or to its educational output, BBC Bitesize etc?

The BBC and its international reputation has historically enabled us to massively punch above our weight as a country. So many of its formats, from Strictly to The Office to The Blue Planet, have been sold to or copied by overseas broadcasters.

In a nation such as the U.K., which is already highly unequal and divided, and which lacks many of the other unifying factors (more equitable schooling; ethnic homogeneity) of other countries, I firmly believe that we would be even less united and culturally impoverished if the BBC disappeared in its current form. I imagine we’d end up more like the U.S., where a cultural elite pay over the odds to access quality arts and science programming on subscription, and where the BBC is ironically very popular among ‘those in the know’.

@knark

The BBC produces consistently high quality tv and radio broadcasting, despite having their funding cut and cut again. They have journalistic freedom, free from commercial demands or editorial ownership of a single man.

I'm sick of capitalism and commercialism and consumerism. This government relies on soundbites and division and has no shame in legislating against those who would hold it to account.

But they are hardly unbiased or impartial...

And the quality of programs on the bbc has been going down for years. Nowhere near the quality they used to be.

It's a good thing for so many people. I'm sure they will have a subscription model for those that don't wish to watch ads and those that pay won't have them.

Well, it's certainly non-commercial in the salaries it awards.

As for being independent, therein lies its problem. It is so anti tory and so woke that it is firmly aligned to the left, I would say far left but certainly trying so hard to be achingly trendy it even 'sacked' Dame Jenni Murray for daring to think that a man couldn't be a woman.

I think it is staffed by many no hopers who couldn't get a job in the commercial world who sneer their way through offering their hack opinions as news.

As for the technical people...do you think they have lighting people-their recent shit offerings appear to have been filmed in the dark. Sound people...again mumblings so that it is now a standing joke that people have to watch BBC dramas with the sub titles on.

It it was genuinely impartial-it wouldn't get on the tits of so many-the masses- as a BBC defender referred to the public earlier on in this thread.

Lets hope it does have to step hither into the commercial world. I'm sure with all their "talent" they'll do a sterling job.

Of course, they won't be able to run adverts threatening people with gaol if they choose not to subscribe. Those adverts could have taught Chairman Mao a thing or two!

I think a lot of people overestimate the global reach or relevance of the BBC overseas. It already is only accessible to those who can afford a TV license anyway, and British programmes such as brigerton, sex education etc have reached a bigger audience via netflix. Perhaps a few decades ago I would agree, but I think that's a very rose tinted view of it.

Well, yes. Why should the masses pay for things they never use / don't want / aren't appealed by because a small minority keep telling us it's culturally valuable?

But then, according to your argument here, nobody ever views or listens to any content that they don’t already know they like. How do people get to access unfamiliar art or culture or sport if it’s never just there in front of them, but behind a paywall to a subscription service? How do people get to randomly stumble across something that piques their interest, whatever that might be, if they’re just paying to view stuff they like already?

I don’t know how anyone can really know what appeals to them unless they get to experience it first. How do you know if you love Bach/Bowie/ballet if you’ve never been exposed to it?

•As for being independent, therein lies its problem. It is so anti tory and so woke that it is firmly aligned to the left, I would say far left but certainly trying so hard to be achingly trendy it even 'sacked' Dame Jenni Murray for daring to think that a man couldn't be a woman.
And yet about half of the complaints of bbc bias are that it’s too right wing.

There were a couple of studies done on it last decade; one concluded it had a left wing bias, one that it has a right wing bias.

Obviously it’s all but impossible to be bias free, but usually I interpret claims of BBC bias as ‘but they don’t promote my personal beliefs over every else’s, 24/7’.

@TempsPerdu

Well, yes. Why should the masses pay for things they never use / don't want / aren't appealed by because a small minority keep telling us it's culturally valuable?

But then, according to your argument here, nobody ever views or listens to any content that they don’t already know they like. How do people get to access unfamiliar art or culture or sport if it’s never just there in front of them, but behind a paywall to a subscription service? How do people get to randomly stumble across something that piques their interest, whatever that might be, if they’re just paying to view stuff they like already?

I don’t know how anyone can really know what appeals to them unless they get to experience it first. How do you know if you love Bach/Bowie/ballet if you’ve never been exposed to it?

I have been exposed to it ,it used to be great when there was nothing else on offer ,now not so much there is so much to choose from ,now I'd you like the BBC great ,but for those who prefer Netflix ,Amazon prime etc what's wrong with that , people are allowed to choose what they do and don't want to watch .

Radio 4 is worth the licence fee alone.

@Croissantly - bbc Studios sells bbc programming across the world.

Netflix notoriously hides its viewing figures to ensure no one ever quite knows how successful it’s programmes are.

You sound like you have an agenda, or a bias at least?

@NashvilleQueen

Radio 4 is worth the licence fee alone.

In your opinion ,o don't to any radio I have no desire to in this day and age .

[quote Nesbo]@Croissantly - bbc Studios sells bbc programming across the world.

Netflix notoriously hides its viewing figures to ensure no one ever quite knows how successful it’s programmes are.

You sound like you have an agenda, or a bias at least?[/quote]
I don't have an agenda, just not fussed on the BBC!

@IncompleteSenten

It's just tv (And radio) it's simply not that important. It's EastEnders, bargain hunt and match of the day, not housing the homeless and curing cancer.

There's a certain arrogance/sun never sets on the British empire mentality in all this envy of the world, better than everything and everyone attitude.

It's just telly. We would be absolutely fine if the BBC either went subscription only or started showing adverts.

It's also high end drama (Years and Years, It's A Sin, Year of Rockets), Attenborough documentaries, Shakespeare (Henry IV part 1 is on right now), fantastic tv for children, the Proms, Mary Beard, arts programmes (great documentary on Bridget Riley a few weeks ago) - all sorts of stuff that commercial channels won't touch.

It would be a great loss to our cultural life if it was to be reduced to just broadcasting what was commercial.

@BowerOfBramble

I think the BBC should do a one day blackout of all its content including the website, radio, CBeebies, world service, tv, stuff in schools etc, iplayer.

Obviously some wouldn’t care but a lot of people would sit up and notice. People rarely think about how much stuff they actually make.

I agree. I don’t agree with the licence fee but I think this would be a good idea for people who use it to notice how much they would miss it.

Closing down the BBC is another Nazi wet dream.

@NashvilleQueen

Radio 4 is worth the licence fee alone.

I agree. And Radio 3 is fantastic, too. They broadcast stuff that you'd never hear on Classic FM, it's a fantastic service.

@multicolouredmittens

People always say "Netflix/Amazon Prime are much better value" but this is because they're heavily, temporarily subsidised by investors and other companies, and they run at a loss! Their model is not sustainable, it can't last forever and the BBC wouldn't work if it tried the same thing. Inevitably the prices of Netflix and Amazon Prime will go up once they have a captive audience and have put most of their competition (which includes the BBC) out of business.

It's annoying how bad the BBC is at letting people know how much stuff other than Mrs Browns Boys etc the licence fee actually funds (probably because it's called a "TV Licence" which is such a misleading name). It also goes on orchestras, choirs, the Proms, educational content, CBeebies and CBBC, the news website, local radio, the World Service, radio documentaries, dramas and comedy. It goes on a lot of stuff that I'm glad we have, even though honestly I barely watch any BBC TV.

A portion of the licence fee also goes to Channel 4 and S4C, which also have a public service responsibility, as well as towards Freeview and Freesat maintenance, and emergency broadcast infrastructure.

If the BBC moved to a subscription-only model, it would only serve the people who subscribe. But as a national licence fee, it has a duty to (try to) serve everyone, which seems important.

Although personally I do think it should be absorbed into income tax (maybe Boris's wine fund could be redirected) and stop the awful threatening letters being sent out etc.

A portion of the licence fee also goes to Channel 4

This is really out of date info, Channel 4 don’t get license fee revenue:

How is Channel 4 funded?

Unlike the BBC, Channel 4 receives no public funding. It is funded entirely by its own commercial activities.

Most of our income comes from advertising revenue. You can find out more about advertising sales on Channel 4's dedicated advertising sales website.

@NashvilleQueen

Radio 4 is worth the licence fee alone.

Genuinely never listened to it.

The World Service certainly has global reach, Cameron shut down sections of it, only for it to be reinstated when they realised how much good it did.

When you consider that many people in this country don't pay anything for it (under 18s, over 75s) its a bargain at £13 per month per household.

The Govt is looking to get rid for the cash value and like CH4, to remove scrutiny, awful state of affairs for country that is supposed to value its democracy.

The BBC is amazing and I would miss it if it went. Radio 2 and 4. Strictly. Bite size. Documentaries.

The news/question time was rubbish during the referendum period with Farage on every 5 mins but that’s the only negative I can think of.

@phishy Neither did i but its amazing if you like politics, medicine, education, science, statistics & a host of other things too many to mention... i esp like the probing interviews - Hard Talk is brilliant.

How do people get to randomly stumble across something that piques their interest, whatever that might be, if they’re just paying to view stuff they like already?

Mumsnet? Facebook? Books? Tiktok? Friends? Youtube? Channel 4? Netflix? Amazon? The Internet?

Are you honestly trying to argue that the BBC is the only place people can randomly stumble across new interests? C'mon now. I haven't watched it in a decade (because I refuse to give them a penny) and have plenty of interests.

Honestly, I'm very worried about it. I feel 'safe' with bbc broadcasting.

I don't feel there's much of an agenda and it feels very UK focussed and high quality.

I find the Bitesize offering and the their radio stations invaluable (particularly through lockdown)

I can't bear thinking that it would turn into something along the lines of only itv and c4 and C5 as they are shite.