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Original poster

TV License. Who pays it?

274 replies

Tulipsroses · 09/12/2023 10:07

Judging by the variety and quality of the streaming services I always ask my self where are the people that actually pay for TV license? I have never paid non of my friends pay. It is obvious that BBC have lost this game and is sticking to the licence fees as a lifebuoy.

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 09/12/2023 10:09

It's less than 5p a day at the increased rate next year (£169/365), or £3.25 a week. I think that's good value.

tomatoontoast · 09/12/2023 10:10

Me, nor any of my friends have paid it since we were at Uni 10 years ago. We all have our own houses now.

I do laugh at how seriously other people take it though. As far as I'm concerned it's a completely optional fee depending on how brave you are.

I also watch the BBC and use it in some capacity several times a week.

Iwant2beJessicaFletcher · 09/12/2023 10:17

I imagine most people in real life do pay it. I've always paid it, never crossed my mind not too. I watch the BBC, stream etc so why wouldn't I??

erinaceus · 09/12/2023 10:19

I pay it because I use iPlayer.

I think if you use BBC TV or iPlayer you ought to pay it. It seems odd to me not to.

HesAWankerOp · 09/12/2023 10:19

Me.

trader21c · 09/12/2023 10:20

Me

gotomomo · 09/12/2023 10:20

The nbc has far better output than the streaming services, won't be giving up mine!

ButterCupPie · 09/12/2023 10:21

We pay it. It's well worth it just for Radio 4.

mynameiscalypso · 09/12/2023 10:22

I do. I mainly watch BBC programmes and other 'live TV' like Channel 4. I have no issue with paying it. To be honest, I'd pay it for CBeebies alone.

EvilRingahBitch · 09/12/2023 10:22

About 24.4 million households pay the TV licence at the last count. Since the average household size is 2.4 people that makes roughly 58 million people covered by a licence. It's gradually decreasing but it's still the vast majority of the population.

gotomomo · 09/12/2023 10:22

@tomatoontoast

That's stealing though, it needs to be funded. If you watch terrestrial tv you should pay, end of

tomatoontoast · 09/12/2023 10:25

gotomomo · 09/12/2023 10:22

@tomatoontoast

That's stealing though, it needs to be funded. If you watch terrestrial tv you should pay, end of

It can be funded by everyone else. I won't be paying the fee and I'll continue watching.

Squiblet · 09/12/2023 10:27

Oh hello Nadine, I thought you had been forced out stepped down?

Original poster
Tulipsroses · 09/12/2023 10:28

You have such a variety and quality of programmes from Netflix, Amazon, Disney, YouTube.... It's paradoxical why would people choose to pay for TV licence? Is it a generational choice, people that are used to black and white tv and two channels on them are still the ones that pay for the license.

OP posts:
herbyham · 09/12/2023 10:28

I cancelled it before the summer, we rarely watch "real" tv and go for Netflix or Disney+ 99% of the time anyway, and SO's football isn't on any tv anyway! So he streams that and has done for years.

We don't miss it to be honest

sanityisamyth · 09/12/2023 10:29

erinaceus · 09/12/2023 10:19

I pay it because I use iPlayer.

I think if you use BBC TV or iPlayer you ought to pay it. It seems odd to me not to.

Definitely this. I watch iPlayer, I love the Planet Earth films. I listen to BBC Radio 2 in the car. I complained to BBC about a problem I had and was broadcast on National TV, radio and online within 3 days. I pay my licence.

Terfosaurus · 09/12/2023 10:29

I pay it. We watch BBC so we pay to do so. In the same way we pay to watch Netflix.

Ardith · 09/12/2023 10:30

tomatoontoast · 09/12/2023 10:10

Me, nor any of my friends have paid it since we were at Uni 10 years ago. We all have our own houses now.

I do laugh at how seriously other people take it though. As far as I'm concerned it's a completely optional fee depending on how brave you are.

I also watch the BBC and use it in some capacity several times a week.

My aunt was taken to Court for non-payment of the tv licence fee, and when she said she didn’t think she should pay on principle (as she had given the money to her landlord to pay but he had kept the money), the Judge said she would be jailed if she didn’t pay. That’s why some people ‘take it seriously’ we remember the vans that used to drive up and down the street detecting TVs so they could take people to Court, and we remember people being jailed over this.

I pay it because I’m not actually a thief. I also pay for my supermarket shopping even though I could probably manage to steal some of it.

For some people (not you and your uni friends, clearly) theft isn’t something you do just because you can get away with it.

tomatoontoast · 09/12/2023 10:32

The vans were a scare tactic by Civica. They didn't and can't actually detect TV signals.

erinaceus · 09/12/2023 10:32

Tulipsroses · 09/12/2023 10:28

You have such a variety and quality of programmes from Netflix, Amazon, Disney, YouTube.... It's paradoxical why would people choose to pay for TV licence? Is it a generational choice, people that are used to black and white tv and two channels on them are still the ones that pay for the license.

I’ve had subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon at different times. I watched a few things then left again. I sometimes buy things like box sets or movies rather than have a monthly subscription. With BBC it’s more of a steady trickle but it has more programming that I want to watch consistently.

I believe the BBC is worth saving, although I will grant you the funding model is arguably outdated now.

amylou8 · 09/12/2023 10:32

I've not paid it for a few years. I don't watch live TV or use I player so don't need it. I'd rather pay Netflix and Amazon who don't try to strong arm me into paying with threats of a criminal conviction, and don't come knocking my door if I choose not to use their service. Hopefully the fee increase will be a push for a few more people to cancel their licences.

mondaytosunday · 09/12/2023 10:34

I pay. As far as I know my friends pay. Worth it, and it's the law.

ChristmasPuddy · 09/12/2023 10:34

I pay it. Even if only to stop them hounding me with letters every week 😂

youngones1 · 09/12/2023 10:35

I pay it but I would they know if you watch the BBC, anyway?

OldTinHat · 09/12/2023 10:36

I pay it.