Talk to the BBC Trust about the future of the BBC and you could win a £300 voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We've been asked by the BBC Trust to find out what Mumsnetters would like to see from the BBC in future.

The BBC Trust says "Over the next eighteen months, really important decisions are being made about the future of the BBC. The Government is reviewing the BBC’s Royal Charter, the foundation on which the BBC is built. This happens once in a decade, so it’s a rare chance for you, who pay for the BBC, to have your say on its future."

Please let us know your answers to the questions below:

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?
• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?
• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?
• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?
• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?
• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Please also feel free to add any other comments you have. If you’d like to share more of your views on the future of the BBC you can complete the BBC Trust’s short survey: www.bbc.co.uk/tomorrowsbbc

Everyone who posts on the thread will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher*

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

• provided by MNHQ

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

I think it still leads the way in terms of British broadcasting and proving quality output.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

I think it provides a good amount currently - although maybe not rely so much on repeats when these are available on the catch up services. Other events such as the Radio 1 big weekend, which I was lucky enough to go to this year, are also brilliant.

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

More original dramas - they seem to be relying more and more on adaptations and remakes rather than making new content.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Less sport on at prime-time on the main channels, with nothing for those who are not sports fans

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes, I always enjoy the content - especially and dramas and a lot of the radio. It is well made, produced and entertaining.

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

I think it is distinctive but needs to innovate and provide more content for younger viewers/listeners (20s/30s) on order to compete with other providers such as channel 4

Overall, what do you think of the BBC?
I think it is a great service, that is really diverse and entertaining.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

I think for the price it's about right. But Pay as you play for iplayer etc would mean that there could be even more choice from the archives

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

More live music.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Less programmes like the voice - judging panels.

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

The BBC produces programming on both radio and tv that to me falls at either end of the spectrum. Often the high quality ones get lost eg Odyssey being shown at 9pm on a Sunday on BBC 2. The drama / news/ documentaries tends to be great and quiz shows / popular tv/ reality shows are poor quality and formulaic.

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Some elements are eg the plays, information programmes on radio 4 and some of the drama on tv channels. The prestige of the name can attract high quality actors and presenters. The less high quality programmes feel like they are time fillers and give the impression that they are cheap and easy to make eg homes under the hammer.

I think the BBC should be a trail blazer for new, innovative and relevant.

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

I think the BBC provide a valuable service, the majority of programmes are of a high quality in comparison to other countries which are more ad-based in their tv output. I think its an organisation that needs to take a long look at the way it spends money, I think there are too many managers and not enough people at grass roots level hence some poor decisions of late. It also needs to be more neutral with regards to political commentary.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

More services needed, BBC iplayer is good but for what we pay each month there could be a greater backlog of programmes to watch.

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

More quality dramas.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Less repeats, concentrate on original programmes and not repeats of Dads Army etc!

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes, as mentioned above in comparison to say, US tv, where you barely start the programme and ads come up, or the majority of it is just awful tacky programmes and we only see the good shows imported to this country, thankfully!

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

No, I think it could learn alot from Channel 4 to be honest, or Netflix which have some excellent dramas made exclusively for them.

Overall, what do you think of the BBC?
A waste of money!

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

I don't really agree with the licence fee, especially if you are paying for Sky/Virgin etc (it should be incorporated into that) - does it have a +1 channel? That would be nice

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

Not sure as I only watch Casualty on BBC

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of? Charge
• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not? Not really, nothing that I have seen advertised recently appeals to me
• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

No - it's still very much the same as it was in the early 90's when I watched it.

Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

Sadly i dont watch it that often in the week, maybe once a month now

Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?
Less has i dont watch alot of the shows

What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?
I did like the Paradise drama, but it was cancelled after 2 seasons, spooks was good also.

What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?
Alot of talking shows

Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?
No, compared to other channels i much prefer US shows to that of UK shows

Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?
No, as most shows are Doc, no storylines and in short way too much political and news than good character driven shows.

Also i dont like the no story lines of Doctor who, i much prefer a 4 ep show like it used to be with Tom baker and the first 5 doctors

I forgot to say earlier that I have lived several years in the USA (Texas, California and Wyoming) and there the public radio is of a laughable amount and mostly news then followed by music of little popularity (eg weird jazz). Other radio channels have prerecorded music of a certain genre (none of which were my type) with the odd often witty presented DJ show.

In fact I think pub radio in Texas at 8am plays the BBC World SErvice news, rather than their own US version.

It is all dire, the tv is virtually unwatchable due to advertising, I did watch a few very rare (often politically incorrect) movies that were screened on Mtv a movie channel, as it did not have adverts. I don't see why odd, old or quirky films are not screened here at say 4am to be recorded and watched later.

I love Radio 4 especially the informative stuff, Thinking Allowed, More or Less, The Reunion etc

Boxed TV sets, or downloads or recording DOES avoid adverts, but I find I sit up until late watching the next episode to see what happens - better it is on advert free everyday tv. I have sky and save everything with adverts on it so I can fast forward through the ads.

BBC needs to come up with another way of fundraising.

Overall, what do you think of the BBC

I like it and I'm proud of it.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

The BBC provides about the right number of services, though I think digital will need expansion in the future.

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

Digital, streaming, non linear viewing.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Sport, especially football. I know it brings in viewers/listeners, but why should my licence fee fund a bunch of overpaid prima donna footballers? I think it's the only thing that really narks me about the licence fee.

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Mostly high quality, and even the lightweight stuff such as Strictly, or The Voice, is vastly superior to the stuff on other channels.

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Distinctive, but not fresh. But why does everything have to be "fresh" these days? Have you been spending too much time with Will.I.Am??

- Overall, what do you think of the BBC?
I really love BBC1 and BBC2, they are by far the best channels on TV and provide the best drama, documentary and other shows. I watch BBC News channel daily and much prefer the BBC's news content to that of other channels. As regards its other output though, I rarely watch BBC3 or BBC4 and don't listen to much BBC radio so can't comment.

- Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?
The licence fee is archaic and should be scrapped in favour of either advertising or subscription. Considering how little of the BBC's services I actually use, paying £12 a month is extortionate. We should be able to choose how much or how little to pay for.

- What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?
Great comedy, as it used to in the 1970s and 80s.

- What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?
Reality shows - leave that kind of crap to ITV and Channel 5

- Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Mostly, yes. Some of the drama series in recent years have been outstanding - off the top of my head, Happy Valley, Line of Duty, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Good Cop, it is these kind of shows that set the BBC apart.

- Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?
That's a loaded question. "The BBC" is a massive thing, obviously some of it is fresher than the rest, think Radio 1 as compared to 2/3/4; BBC3 as compared to BBC1/2, it all depends on their target audience. I certainly think it's distinctive as you can generally tell BBC programming from others, but as for fresh, not always - particularly when there are so many repeats shown.

Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

Is better than some channels but not as good as others

Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

Yes a plus an hour channel would be good

What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

Comedy series

What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Soaps

Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

It is of equal quality to other channels but doesn't stand out like it used to

Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Not anymore as there is so many channels to choose and not many new programmes compare to repeats.

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

World class

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

More iPlayer - i.e. more of an archive, fewer restrictions on how long things stay on iPlayer

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

quality TV series - equivalents of Parks and REcreation, West Wing etc.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Gameshows with convoluted premises that aren't easy to understand if you're watching for the first time and are indistringishably from commercial TV

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

By and large

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Sometimes, thought not when you look at repetitive, drawn out storylines of things like Eastenders

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

OK - but living on past glory.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

Scrap the license fee - if you still want cash from the public start negotiating with netflix/sky et al. Stop trying to be everything to everyone, do you really need to broadcast in twelvety languages just to prove a point? Do you really need journalists all over the world? Move with the times, use contractors.

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

More wildlife, british geography/archaeology/geology etc.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Stop trying to "educate" us all with your left-wing bias.

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Mixed. Some stuff is excellent, twelvety channels of repeated dross not so much. Why are there such hidden gems on BBC3 etc. when BBC1 is prancing pap and geordie "national treasures"?

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Nowhere near distinctive nor fresh. You've lost your monopoly chaps. Could happily live without you.

Does anyone else think what we're saying is pointless, & that the BBC Trust/Whittingdale will ignore all what the public consultation feedback says? They can say "Oh well, people mostly like the Beeb but can find plenty to criticise" and then Whittingdale will pursue his agenda to drive the broadcaster to the margins / into a PBS style service.

1. Overall I am fairly neutral about the BBC. My main BBC usage is listening to radio 4.

1. I disagree with the licence fee in its current format. I rarely watch BBC TV yet I still pay the licence fee, which I can just about live with, however it annoys me that I am expected to pay another fee if I want to watch TV at my holiday home. I can't physically watch TV in two places, so why am I expected to pay two sets of what is essentially a tax?

1. I enjoy various history and archeological programmes on BBC, although I'm not sure if we need more of them.

1. Cash in the attic, homes under the hammer, One show, ridiculous middle aged men fawning over cars, strictly come dancing, any mediocre talent shows. I could happily live without all of these, but I appreciate others might actually enjoy them.

1. Nature programmes seem to be high quality - I enjoy the fact that there aren't the endless recaps throughout the show which suggests an inability to absorb the information from earlier in the programme. Some of the other commercial programmes perhaps only have about 2 or 3 interesting points to make, and the remainder of the programme is fluff and filler.

1. I wouldn't characterise BBC as distinctive and fresh. I tend to mainly watch Sky box sets or HBO programmes.

Overall, what do you think of the BBC?
I don't like it. I think it has dumbed-down significantly in recent years. It is too unashamedly left-wing when it makes claims to be neutral. I resent paying a licence fee when I mostly watch DVDs.

Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?
Firstly, the wording is 'more or fewer' although this is exactly the standard I would expect from the BBC. I think the BBC spreads itself far too thin and has far too many services. I would prefer fewer services, done well.

What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?
Good quality documentaries. I find it so sad that BBC4 has become the home if intelligent, interesting and good quality documentaries when this should be the overall standard of the BBC (i.e. on BBC1), not just resigned to the old farts channel. The only BBC programmes I watch are Only Connect and University Challenge because there are no decent quiz shows anywhere else on TV. Can we please have more quiz shows for people with a decent IQ like these two?

What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?
Sport. Why should my licence fee be spent of acquiring the rights to sport that ITV would pay for?

Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not? Not at all. BBC Breakfast is shamefully poor quality and seems to be competing with Daybreak rather than good quality news shows such as what one finds on Al Jazeera or Russia Today. BBC Breakfast doesn't actually seem to ever report any news and is more concerned with celebrity interviews and advertising the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Eastenders is the worst programme that has ever been made. The one-off dramas are always laughable and, in most cases, have a not-to-subtle left-wing agenda. Joint Enterprise is a good example as is Boy Meets Girl. And remember May Day, the whudunit in which the young woman who was killed turned out to be a fairy?! Wow.

Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Not at all, same old stuff that's on every channel. I also have no idea why you showed Top Gear for years and years- it was like a bad show from the 1970s. Not distinctive and fresh at all.

I would be more than happy for the licence fee to be scrapped.

It's funny how all the people who say they loathe the BBC, would never miss it, and never watch it, yet are so up to date with all the details of BBC programmes!

Half of my viewing is cycling on ITV. I barely watch telly & I barely know what shows are on BBC telly, much less could muster an opinion about them.

YeOldTrout my limited knowledge of BBC daytime programming is because it is on at my GP's surgery. I can't for the life of me understand why they have it on. It is complete drivel and makes me want to stick pins in my eyes

Funny, we gave up on R4 news because it seemed unashamedly pro-Tory. Maybe given Swinging's exactly opposite opinion, that shows they've got it about right!

Overall, what do you think of the BBC?
Good service across all formats that covers a good range or ages through the variety of channels available.

Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?
It is about right at the moment, I feel providing more services would comprise quality of existing products. I will be annoyed when BBC 3 is removed as a watch a lot of the programmes shown on it.

What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?
Live sport, especially football

What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?
Political programmes

Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Yes, it does well to move with the times and keep things entertaining and modern. The iPlayer is a brilliant app.

Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Yes the variety of programming on all formats gives it a fresh feel and the mix of presenters and genres help too. It is a little too PC at times but overall it is a very professional organisation that keeps up with the times.

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

I love the BBC, especially Radio 4 and BBC 4.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

I'm happy with what they offer and think they need to careful not to spread themselves too thin.

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

I love their intelligent, quirky documentaries that just wouldn't get made anywhere else.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Unsure

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

The stuff I watch, yes definitely. As above, I appreciate programming that isn't necessarily aimed at the lowest common denominator.

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes to the channels I watch/listen to. Other sources just don't make documentaries like the BBC do.

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

Overall I am very happy with the BBC. I think it provides a wide range of good quality programming.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

Programmes should be available for longer on the iPlayer but I do not believe that people who do not pay the licence fee should have access to the services

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

I love the dramas such as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell as well as the Hollow Crown. Anything with penguins. Gotta love penguins.

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Perhaps trying to copy ideas that are on other channels ie the Voice

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes. I think the production levels are high and often the programmes are types that are unlikely to be made by other channels due to concerns regarding profitability

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

I don't think that I would say that it is fresh. I think it is very conservative and traditional but I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing. It is better to do what you do well rather than something that you can't badly.

• Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

Love it. Watch it regularly and love CBeebies

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

Should have more CBeebies programmes on iPlayer

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

Drama series. One off ones like Johnathan Strange... Not things that go on forever

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Soaps

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes, good news programming, dramas and kids stuff

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes. Love hey Duggee...

Also, more pointless, less crap escape to wherever shows where the people just want to be on the telly and never move or pick a house

- Overall, what do you think of the BBC?
I am really not a fan of the BBC, at all. I really resent being forced to pay for something that I have no interest in using.

- Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?
More. £145 a year from the majority of families in the UK is quite a lot of money and all I seem to see them do nowadays is cut services, rather than add to them. Where is the reduction in my TV licence to reflect the reduction of services? I recently saw that they were thinking of changing the licence to include non-live TV broadcast on laptops, so in their eyes even if you only ever watch American shows funded by a American companies on Netflix on the laptop, you should still be forking out £145 a year to fund the BBC. How does that work?

- What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?
Nothing, I hate it enough already.

- What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?
I'd like to see less of them paying ridiculously high salaries to their big bosses.

- Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?
I like Sherlock, but don't fancy paying £145 a year for the next 2/3 years purely to be able to watch the next series of it.

- Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?
I think it's old-fashioned and far past it's sell-by date.

Overall, what do you think of the BBC?

As someone who was not born or grew up (school/university years in the UK) I have always had the highest regard for the BBC, and held it up as a model for what broadcasting should be. I have lived in the uK for 10 years now, and still love the BBC.

• Do you think the BBC should provide more or less services (e.g. TV, online, iPlayer, radio) for the licence fee?

I am not really sure about this to be honest. I would not really want TV or radio to change as such, perhaps it is online where you should be looking at for fees for those that watch programme outside of having a liscence?

• What one thing would you like to see the BBC do more of?

I love the drama you have been showing on the channel.
the news ....

• What one thing would you like the BBC do less of?

Stop making the news as if we are idiots. For example we do not need to SEE SOMEONE STANDING OUTSIDE A PLACE; BUILDING; ETC just so that they can say X reporting from outside HQ says ...... stop with all the visuals, and always feeling like you have to "dumb" the news down.

• Do you think what the BBC provides is high quality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Yes I do, overall I think it would be a great loss to the uK if this was changed. I am used to watching news etc from outside the UK and it is very very different. (boring, filled with adverts etc)

• Do you think the BBC is distinctive and fresh? If yes, why? If not, why not?

It is distinctive. I am not sure fresh is something I would say it is (but I don't mean that in a negative way) I think the BBC has spend years building a reputation as a broadcasting service that can be trusted etc, and this is what makes it distinctive.