To say that the TV Licence should be abolished?

[Appalonia]

When I look at what I watch on TV these days on the BBC, it's really only Strictly, repeats of TOTP and Glastonbury . There's nothing else that interests me. I listen to Trevor Nelson on R2, but that's it. I watch Netflix, Amazon much more and some shows on ITV, C4 or Sky Arts. And a lot of interviews on YouTube and podcasts. I also object to how the BBC posits itself as the voice of truth and neutrality, but it really isn't these days, on so many issues.

Why are we forced to pay for a service that has had its day and is no longer fit for service?

Wow - cant beleive how out of step i am with the apparent concensus on here.

I know one of the challenges is Radio - theysimply cant move that to subscription so the alternative is commercials...and then only main stream music will be played...(note the increasing end of real "bands" in the charts over last decade)

I also cant beleive people saying they listen to the beeb radio and/or Iplayer but dont wanna pay....ergghhhh how do you think these are funded? Same for lots of beeb podcasts, right?

Personally i am happy to pay the License for David Attenborough alone, but also the likes of Inside #9, MOTD, Radio 4, Radio 5 sport. However dont think 2024 has been a great year for Beeb programe or Drama wise.

If its commercialised then its simply ALL about viewings - so no risk taking or marginal fringe e.g art programs. There would never be a Mighty Boosh or a whole plethora of cult comedy shows that originate on BBC 2...too risky.

Im not a massive TV watcher, but personally NEVER watch ITV (literally i dont think i ever see anything on it im interested in in years) and 90% of Netflix now seems to be real crime or dramas of the same. I did love "Kaos" on Netflix (Greek myths retold in an imaginative modern spin) but it was not renewed for 2nd series as programs like "Is it Cake?" cost pennies to make and return series after series. That kinds sums it up to me.

I don't think many people who are against the BBC license are particularly interested in listening to their radio stations, I know I'm not.
Used to have radio 5 live on all day until covid when the fearmongering, gaslighting, and total disregard for anything other than covid made me never listen to a moment of it again

if you like live sport (and associated punditary and insights) and dont want to pay Sky or TNT then Radio 5 is THE alternative. I also used to LOVE listening to the Radio 1 Essential Mix, for music (at that time - early 90s) you couldnt get any where other than pirate radio.

no, I'm not into sport. I used to enjoy the news and discussions on there but as I say, can't stand to listen to it anymore.
would like to know the figures since the whole covid debacle.
Anecdotally, I know a lot of people changed their mind about the bbc during that time

It's all subjective isn't it i never listen to the radio ,and think the BBC content is mostly a load of all tripe ,I do watch Netflix and prime
But I appreciate its not to everyone's taste
I just wish that those that think the BBC is worth the license could also understand that we don't all have the same interests and viewing habits

oooh - forgot about the BBC website as well - the 2nd or 3rd most popular site in UK depending on what you read....

I agree - its "horses for courses in terms of taste"...

BUT if you go down a totally commercial pathway (regardless if you like X and i prefer Y), then my rationale fear is you get a less adventurous, low cost to high viewing ratio driven TV model - that is all about ratings and doesnt allow for experimental, ground breaking or marginal interest TV programs. Or programs that are not a "hit" in the first audience watching review cycle (per Netflix "kaos" as a prime example?).

And if you travel or work abroad and watch local "free to air" TV ? Not good is it?

Oh - and did any one mention the World Service - incredibly important for some countries where access to (free) media is difficult.

Because you're lucky enough to live in a country with free media etc

Try living in somewhere like Russia and having Russian propaganda as the only source of news.

but we live in Britain and have British propaganda.
There are far too many alternative news services these days for the BBC to think it's anything special.

I didn’t say that - clearly it doesn’t. I quite clearly said that destabilising the ecosystem and removing a lot of the agreements that come alongside a PSB - eg regional spend, a given percentage commissioned from indies etc - will decimate the uk production industry, especially in the nations & regions. This destabilisation will not be good for the largely freelance workforce.

Completely agree and have made this point several times.

what I don’t understand is why people care so much about the licence fee?

it’s entirely voluntary and all you have to do is tell them you don’t need one and they leave you alone.

it’s like they don’t want anyone to have a PSB because they personally don’t see the value.

The point is, if you do watch it (which it sounds like you very much do even if you aren't enjoying it!) then you should pay for a licence.

Only those who don't watch it should opt out of paying.

I don't watch much tv, but I do listen to pretty much only bbc radio as adverts make my ears bleed. Love bbc sounds (I'll miss rhythm nation enormously) and bbc podcasts. They wouldn't exist without funding, so I'm happy to pay for a tv licence.
My kiddo only watches bbc CBeebies, it's got some pretty good programming for little ones (lots that are overstimulating shite, but still less than YouTube etc)

I do agree - which is why I defend a broadcast ecosystem that isn’t beholden to shareholders / profit and driven by audience figures above everything else.

Because as soon as we go fully commercial, everything will be for the youth. Love island, celebrity puff and true crime. Everything fronted by an influencer and chopped up with 7 ad breaks an hour like in America.

"it’s entirely voluntary and all you have to do is tell them you don’t need one and they leave you alone."

that's the trouble, they don't leave people alone. There are endless aggressive, threatening letters which scare the bejesus out of people so much that many pay for a license they don't need just to stop them.
Then there are the salespeople who come to your door and use the same scare tactics

well that's not remotely what you said but it's not important

I see ecosystem is the word of the day!

Yes it is. You even quoted it:

Destabilising the ecosystem further by removing the state funded broadcaster is likely to make things even worse.

’Even worse’ being the pertinent bit here.

Let’s leave it - you have very different views to me on virtually everything and I find your style of debate to be too abrasive to want to continue this.

didn't mean to come across as abrasive.
Enjoy the rest of your evening

it’s entirely voluntary and all you have to do is tell them you don’t need one and they leave you alone.

This is 100% false. This year alone I have received at least eight threatening letters.

You are not left alone. You are bullied, harassed, intimidated and threatened. There are websites/forums regarding this. I've linked one below to evidence:

TV LICENCE RESISTANCE - Index

it’s entirely voluntary and all you have to do is tell them you don’t need one and they leave you alone.

I'm sure many already said, but to clarify, many families watch live sports at some point in the year. They do have to keep renewing the licence fee even if they don't watch any other live tv or anything on the BBC channels. And that's on top of the subscription fee you already pay to the actual sports channel.
It is very difficult for the average family to just opt out and the fee is becoming unaffordable.

Am I reading this right - your point is that people who watch BBC have to pay for a licence and that it’s tricky for them to afford that and a sky sports package?

I mean, that doesn’t sound unreasonable to me so am i missing something?

Content costs money to get the rights to & produce - especially live shows - it’s only right that the consumer pays for it.

I never watch football or golf or any sports, really. The odd tennis match, maybe - but I see the value in making it available. I dare say the licence fee could be cheaper if they didn’t spend millions on acquiring the rights to sporting events.

So you’ve filled in the form and they still keep sending the letters? Sounds like there’s something very wrong with the implementation of the licence.

Of course, that’s a government thing, not a BBC thing.

So perhaps concentrating on the government might help stop this?

That's correct. I filled in the form over 2 years ago.

I do not watch ANY live TV, nor do I watch BBC iPlayer, yet I receive threatening letters on a regular basis. All are shredded and put in the recycling. I refuse to be bullied. However, there are countless people who bow to this pressure. All you have to do is look on the internet for evidence of this.

Ok, I believe you.

But that’s not the BBC’s fault. The government administers the licence fee and apportions part of it to the BBC.

That’s like blaming Save the Children because their chugger was overbearing.

Because Notmoog stated ''I'm hoping the whole paedo lovers institute comes crashing down soon'. There are 'paedo's in every institute so on that basis does Notmoog think other institutes should come crashing down?

But I've clearly been told I'm derailing the thread.