Licence Fee - Is it worth it?

Raffles_3

anniecave wrote:

I don't have a TV so I don't have to pay for the TV licence. Easy!

Very wise, anniecave. I am in the selfsame position as you are. But I wonder if you actually realise what you and I are doing.

The BBC has a target budget, and the licence is an important contributory part. If anybody opts out of paying, be they breaking the law by operating a TV, or obeying the law by not operating a TV, the BBC gets hurt just the same. They are still getting £131.50 less.

I am glad that I am not paying for that awful BBC TV. Their radio stations are just as bad, pouring out comfort-sugar 24 hours a day. Funnily enough the only really good radio station is the BBC World Service, and that is funded out of tax and not out of the licence fee.

humfer

J. No. It's another tax, why should the BBC be so special

I have no problem paying a small fee for a public service - by that I mean a news and basic information service with basic documentaries, entertainment. I do however have a problem with paying the £16 million salaries of the likes of Jonathan Ross, etc. They have forgotten what they were originally set up to do. They should not be competing with the market

noodlebutty

Yes

Dr Who

micoli

Got rid of the TV years ago. Radio, (inc. DAB and internet) is much better and I've rediscovered literature, socializing and talking ... and posting on forums!

For all those who get letters and visits from TV licencing, (in reality it's Capita who are making money from the licence fee), just send a well phrased letter to customer services. After 3 visits and countless letters I got profuse apologies and a promise I wouldn't be contacted within 4 years. So far so good - I'm into the second year now.

helentroy_2

Re the poll:
F. No. Its too costly, halve the price and its budget and I'd be happy. (or at least- less anoyed)
Why- because I resent the fee being so high for program schedules that seem to concentrate on 'celebraties' (hah!) competing against other so called important people and J. Ross's silly money wages. The rare, well crafted BBC drama or documentary cannot justify the rest of the pap as the other channels are begining to show.
I have a dinky black and white telly (with licence) as I simply cannot justify the colour fee on my low income and only watching a few hours a week. I pretend everything is film noir and it just adds to the drama (?). The licence people say you cannot have a video/dvd recorder if you're watching a b&w telly. Is this right- how can it be justified- and has anyone ever challenged this, and won?
If I was able to prevent my TV tuning to BBC 1 & 2 could I then argue against the licence fee all together?

draigoch

According to the leaflet I had with my renewal form,from October 1st it will be illegal to watch or record tv programmes using b/w & colour tvs, video/dvds, set top boxes,computers or mobile phones without a licence. As for the cost of the licence, I don`t think it`s too bad.

noodlebutty

If it was a straight question of whether BBC programme is worth £131.50 a year then my answer would be yes, for those who can afford it, but this is actually a lot more complicated than it seems. What is the license actually for? Did you know that channel 4 will be receiving money from the license fee to help with it's digital switch-over costs? Ofcom has challenged the BBC over whether a license will be necessary to watch TV online. Television is getting outdated. I love the BBC for its programmes,, its independance and its lack of adverts, but the license fee is becoming outdated and new ways of paying for the service need to be thought about.

horfsby1984

MiserlyMartin wrote:

The principle of a fee is ok - its good to have ad free TV and radio. But the way the BBC wastes the money is not. They overspend and they waste, it ought to be reduced - halved. Cut the jollies, cut the inflated salaries and over staffing.

they waste a lot, as it is nearly a tax, there should have no huge salaries, the BBC should be a starting block for most

[Deleted User]

Yes I think it's reasonable value for money. There are lots of things I don't like on the BBC but that is what the little button in the corner is for .I think for entertainment value, as a pensioner who doesn't get to go out a lot in the evenings it is good company and if I can't find something to watch I always have entertainment on the DT discussion board.
That is worth it's weight in gold sometimes .I often have broken nights sleep so given the choice I would rather lose my T.V. than my computer I think .Then of course there is always all the books that I haven't yet read

Defiant_3

pandapone wrote:

So you joined moneysavingexpert in April 2006 and this and your only other post since joining is on the BBC licence fee discussion and in both posts you are strongly in favour of the licience fee. Would you be connected with the BBC in any way perchance?

Sounds like a guy called Iain who posts on Digitalspy too and all he does is attack people with the usual rubbish about how great the BBC is (29.000+ posts on the subject) certainly his style anyway.


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