About the TV license potentially being extended to streaming services?

[Haruka]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/01/28/netflix-users-could-forced-pay-licence-fee/

I already pay enough for the services themselves. I don't watch live TV and especially not the BBC. I am fed up with this potentially becoming a lack of choice; it feels like extortion and yet another tax.

I know that in other countries any device capable of receiving live TV and/ or radio needs a licence (including car radios, laptops, iPads and smartphones), but in this day and age it's taking the piss potentially having to pay for a service I don't even use, just to get access to things that I do.

AIBU to take a very dim view of these proposals?

I'm surprised I haven't seen any other threads on this yet, but maybe I'm blinded by fury 😆

No, my point is that the BBC is the reason we still have local and regional programming that is made for a British audience, not a North American one.

It is an important reason that languages like Gaelic and Welsh survive.

It is why there are programmes for deaf and disabled people.

It is responsible for training a big proportion of the next generation of programme makers.

It is politically neutral, unlike every other news organisation.

It is not beholden to shareholders or advertisers so can be the home for niche or local stories that wouldn’t interest a foreign audience.

Its cost is reviewed by the government so no arbitrary and frequent rises like Netflix, or randomly inserting ads like Now TV.

But yes, part of my reason is that ad or subscription led tv has to appeal to the audience the advertisers want to - and women over 50 are not part of that demographic.

So whilst you may always want to watch the same shows you do now, most people’s
tastes change as they age, so removing the choice for them seems unfair because some people don’t want to pay for an optional licence.

@Mightymoog oh wow! 8 billion? Kindly tell us which ones you enjoy the most out of those 8 billion.

I would prefer to pay a subscription for the BBC and it not include the live stuff from other channels so as to have a proper choice like I do everything else, I would also prefer to have the option of a cheaper yearly subscription for it like Apple, ITVx and Prime have, Netflix don't offer this.

@x2boys just waiting for someone to tell me where I can pay and get a similar level of quality programmes, news and services. I don't care if you don't pay for it, but I do find it weird when people slag off the BBC but then subscribe to Netflix which is full of crap.

@woodenbatandball

You can't condemn the other poster for her opinions on the BBC and then get hurt when those of us who think it is worth the money make valid points.

I can get annoyed when I am told I'm getting increasingly stupid because I don't like the entertainment channel other people happen to like

And I've just told you there are many many papers available online.

As for programming, I enjoy watching docs. on netflix, films, watching vanlife people travelling Europe.

And don't try to tell me I can't decide the BBC is shit.

Would you watch MTV? I'm guessing not. You probably think it's shit. Guess what, the people who watch it like it!

I agree. Commercialism in the long run does not promote quality. Public service broadcasting has an important role in a society.

oh FFS you're getting ridiculous.
Do you acknowledge that basically all the world';s newspapers are online and accessible

"But yes, part of my reason is that ad or subscription led tv has to appeal to the audience the advertisers want to - and women over 50 are not part of that demographic"
I'm over 50 and the subs. i have very much appeal to my demographic.
Again, you're having a major problem figuring out that not everybody likes the same stuff you like.

Labour's stance on this though as always been clear, Tories did seem to be trying to get rid of it and it was in Reforms manifesto to get rid of it when it comes up in 2027, nothing will change until then anyway and the streamers are steadily raising their prices.

Your missing the point viewers like different things
You think the BBC is is quality ,that's great
But other people think it's rubbish
They doesn't mean either view point is wrong it just means people have different viewing habits and like different things
Resorting to insulting people because their viewing habits differ from yours makes you look like the ignorant one.

@Mightymoog the fact you called it a channel, shows you don't really know how much the BBC has to offer.

And yes, I used to watch MTV in the day. Surprisingly, I love a bit of dross and crap. But I also appreciate and genuinely enjoy proper investigative documentaries, reporting and a diverse range of programming.

I would really ask everyone to watch this (I think I referred to it as Two Sisters in my haste) but it was such a powerful documentary. I don't see any streaming services commissioning Tv like this

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0017x5x

I'm not sure in 2027 how long it will last for, whatever they do but it could be several years

@x2boys genuinely don't believe anyone who likes quality programming would say the BBC is crap as there is so much on offer. If you like crap TV then maybe it's thinner in the ground (apart from mrs Brown's Boys)

@RedRiverShore5 ohhhhh excited for a Reform government (not) see my point about the BBC and ignorance!

I find it chilling that instead of addressing the reasons people are no longer willing to pay the licence fee, Lisa Nandy wants to add it to our tax burden.
I've not really watched since Jimmy Saville, it's unforgivable.
When I do look at what's on it seems to have a 'queer agenda' flooded with Drag queens on every programme which I find offensive to women. I'm not paying to be insulted!

I stopped watching/paying my tv licence about 3 year’s ago. I informed them but they still send me letters (that go straight in the bin). I was infuriated with them recently as they sent me a letter in a window envelope with the words You must contact us by 31st Jan perfectly fitted in large letters in the window. The postman (who I know) handed it to me (as he was delivering a parcel too) and I feel it was placed there to cause embarrassment and look threatening. It looked like a debt letter. On the top right of the letter it stated that I have informed them that I no longer require a licence! So why the fuck don’t they just leave me alone! I hate the BBC so much, they are disgusting on a lot of levels.

Hurray @Toseland I think you're playing right into my stereotype of those that hate the BBC.

genuinely don't know why people think the BBC has quality programming but there we go., we have different taste,
If you don't like netflix no one is going to force you to pay for it.
If you don't like the BBc you could possibly be forced to pay for it.
Do you see the differece ?

Even when declarations have been completed (and acknowledgement received), the threatening letters do not stop.

Again your missing the point ,people are inviduals
And therefore what they think is a quality programme is going to be a subjective opnion
Not right or wrong just different.

It’s funny: everyone I know who says they don’t pay the licence fee and indignantly or piously declares they don’t watch BBC … somehow does watch BBC. And listen to the radio, etc.

@woodenbatandball

???
I think I missed where she's excited about the reform party?

@Mightymoog but where would Netflix get any of its quality programmes from if the BBC goes under?

Anyway it's been lovely chatting. @Mightymoog I will always champion the BBC and I promise you'd find some stuff you'd love on there BUT I don't want to fall out over it. Have a great day xxx

@x2boys but nobody who hates the BBC has mentioned one quality programme in this thread. Thanks for listening to me whine about why I love the BBC have a lovely day xxx

I don't.
nor does anyone I know who cancelled their licence.