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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

TV license

326 replies

Sky1992 · 27/12/2022 00:57

So AIBU to stop my direct debit towards TV license since the kids only watch netflix, you tube or Disney and I only watch eastenders and most times I watch it at my parents?

Also is it worth cancelling it and only watching eastenders when I'm not at home or downloading it at my parents who do have TV license and watch it mine once its downloaded?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Caramelsmadfuzzytail · 27/12/2022 21:58

I haven't had a TV license for 7 years. I'd rather read a book. I get a reminder, through the post, that I need one or to go online and tell them I don't need one. I had a chap come round once, to make sure my ornamental TV wasn't used and that's it.

ivykaty44 · 27/12/2022 21:59

I just watch Netflix & catch up channel 4 & 5

Netflix has some bbc stuff but I rarely watch that either

I have a smart tv but it’s not logged into bbc or itv

Royalbloo · 27/12/2022 22:02

Ermmmmmm.....

TV license
Andante57 · 27/12/2022 22:03

without worrying about "TV license detector vans" driving past.

I remember those ads.
Did they actually exist and could they detect whether the residents of the streets they drove down had licences?
Imagine if there were advertisements of ‘council tax payment detector vans’ - there’d be uproar.

Royalbloo · 27/12/2022 22:03

Andante57 · 27/12/2022 22:03

without worrying about "TV license detector vans" driving past.

I remember those ads.
Did they actually exist and could they detect whether the residents of the streets they drove down had licences?
Imagine if there were advertisements of ‘council tax payment detector vans’ - there’d be uproar.

Definitely real vans, I've been in them.

carbonarya · 27/12/2022 22:37

Royalbloo · 27/12/2022 22:02

Ermmmmmm.....

And?

Andante57 · 27/12/2022 22:51

Definitely real vans, I've been in them.

royalbloo could they detect whether or not householders in the street had a licence?

WineDarkNo308 · 27/12/2022 22:56

BurscoughBooths · 27/12/2022 21:45

Judges and barristers don’t deal with TV licence offences.
The single justice procedure it used:
www.gov.uk/single-justice-procedure-notices

Show quote history

Magistrates and court clerk’s deal with the SJP notices in a closed court. If a defendant submits a plea of not guilty it would be adjourned for a trial in the presence of a magistrate, likewise a defendant can opt to attend to submit their plea if they don’t want it dealt with remotely.

Davros · 27/12/2022 23:06

I love the BBC, TV and radio, worth every Penny for Detectorists and Doctor Who alone (apart from Jodie Whittaker)

Florenz · 27/12/2022 23:10

The BBC goes on about producing the best TV in the world but I just don't see it. The best TV shows come from America, a lot of them feature many British actors, the BBC doesn't have the imagination or vision to produce something like Game of Thrones, Walking Dead or Breaking Bad. They'd rather produce something "worthy" instead.

I will give them credit for Peaky Blinders which is the only great British show I can remember in quite some time. But that's just one show.

Sirius3030 · 27/12/2022 23:12

It’s OK, I’ll pay for all you freeloaders. Anything else you want me to pay for?

RampantIvy · 27/12/2022 23:16

Florenz · 27/12/2022 21:43

It's a stupid law. Outdated and embarassing. No other country does it.

Yes, it is pretty obvious from the quality of their output. TV programming would be a lot poorer without some of the high quality programmes that the BBC produces.

That applies to various streaming services who often have a lot of BBC content. It would just be American imports, reality TV and soaps. Disclaimer: some American imports are excellent.

Florenz · 27/12/2022 23:18

If the BBC produced great shows all the time, people would be more than happy to pay for it, and they could open the service all over the road to take in subscriber revenue from all countries, not just the UK.

WineDarkNo308 · 27/12/2022 23:24

Florenz · 27/12/2022 23:10

The BBC goes on about producing the best TV in the world but I just don't see it. The best TV shows come from America, a lot of them feature many British actors, the BBC doesn't have the imagination or vision to produce something like Game of Thrones, Walking Dead or Breaking Bad. They'd rather produce something "worthy" instead.

I will give them credit for Peaky Blinders which is the only great British show I can remember in quite some time. But that's just one show.

I’ve listed quite a few shows earlier at 19:38 that lots of viewers enjoyed, there’s more than just peaky blinders.

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 23:29

@RampantIvy
there are many steaming channels with categories for everything and various interests
History, National Geographic Channel to name a couple off the top off my head it really is not all soaps and reality shows, but if that is what some people want to watch then great, they have that choice.
BBC is not the saviour of the nation with its ‘quality’ programming at all, and they are slowly losing their demographic as viewing habits have changed and they are well aware of this

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 23:30

Florenz · 27/12/2022 23:18

If the BBC produced great shows all the time, people would be more than happy to pay for it, and they could open the service all over the road to take in subscriber revenue from all countries, not just the UK.

They will never do that as their revenue would diminish to almost nothing

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 23:34

@Florenz
’almost nothing’ compared to 3.2 Billion that is

Yes 3.2 Billion and they claim to be strapped for cash !

TimeToFlyNow · 28/12/2022 01:03

Royalbloo · 27/12/2022 22:02

Ermmmmmm.....

I don't watch any of those, the TV licence guy who came round last week wasn't interested in me watching Disney + and Netflix on the fire stick

SkylightSkylight · 28/12/2022 01:05

hcnirg · 27/12/2022 12:07

Definitely cancel it. And ignore knocks on the door and letters when they try to threaten you

Even better, never watch the 'news' or their 'programs' again in anyones house

I can't believe people still support these peodophiles and allow themselves to be lied to and indoctrinated by the BBC

Yeah I can't stop playing football & baking cakes now!!

Florenz · 28/12/2022 01:13

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 23:30

They will never do that as their revenue would diminish to almost nothing

Show quote history

Not if they make "the best TV in the world". Netflix make about 25 billion a year. There's no reason the BBC could not equal this, or exceed it, if what they produce is of such high quality. People all over the world will be falling over themselves to subscribe.

SkylightSkylight · 28/12/2022 02:10

x2boys · 27/12/2022 14:43

That ,s from 1994 😂

Show quote history

@Florenz

clearly you gave an agenda.

Justellingthetruth · 28/12/2022 04:20

@MrsEdnaWelthorpe

That’s like saying if you can’t afford car insurance don’t buy it. No don’t have a car.

if you can’t afford tv license don’t have TV. Simple.

just because you worked for citizens advice doesn’t mean you get that whole spectrum too.

i think your views are terrible

user2754977 · 28/12/2022 06:24

Why can't most people on this thread spell licence correctly.

user2754977 · 28/12/2022 06:28

I pay for a licence, so our house is licensed

RampantIvy · 28/12/2022 08:02

I think I must like very different programmes to most of the posters on here. I don't feel that watching His Dark Materials, Call the Midwife, Line of Duty, Shetland, Saturday Kitchen, QI, The Detectorists, anything by David Attenborough or some of the excellent music programmes on BBC4 means that I condone paedophilia. That's just a silly analogy.

I don't watch anything political, and get most of my news online so I don't feel particularly indoctrinated by anything I see on the BBC other than being inspired to make a tasty cake or a delicious curry.