Licence Fee - Is it worth it?

nick_b

I don't pay the licence as I do not own a TV*. However, I would just like to thank all those who do pay for funding my listening of all the excellent BBC radio programmes.


*To be honest, I don't know when I'd have time to watch it with all the time I spend on MSE!

Contractor_2

Entirely agree with Rob_B. It really annoys me having to pay for something that I don't particularly want and can quite happily live without. I subscribe to Sky and pay to receive the channels I choose. Surely this is the way things will have to go for the BBC.

Out of interest, does anybody know if anyone has actually tried challanging the licence fee in the European courts ?

Must dash, New At Ten has started

webwiz

Supporters of the licence method of funding the BBC always point to the good things that the BBC does which would not be done by independent channels. But these could be done for a licence of £20 which would give the BBC an income of £400,000,000 a year. With the current fee they simply have too much money and waste most of it on shows like Eastenders which could easily be produced by an independent company and on bloated salaries to celebrities - newsreaders, weather presenters etc. Wogan gets £800,000 a year ,Moyles £630,000, Evans £540,000 etc

Paul_Herring

No option for "No - I don't pay it already for a(the) reason(s) above"? Ditched my TV because I objected to the "TV tax" 3 years ago.

Tripledrop

I voted no.

I can understand why people like BBC, and voted yes.

These people should be able to pay their £131 per year and get the BBC tv and radio channels. I really don't think that anyone can justify FORCING me to pay for it though.

It is absolutly disgusting that the UK average Joe, is made to pay for something they do not use, and is not necessery for the running of the country!

Some people like to play on their Playstations, but should we all be forced to pay for this?

my2c

lawrencesnipe

Martin, I think you should have had a straight 'Yes' or 'No', Yes would then win, this way No will probably win! Many people will vote for the first answer, thinking they are voting 'Yes' (which they are), others like myself, look further down and vote all of the above (still voting 'Yes'). I think the licence fee is excellent value for money, even though I don't watch much telly and I don't have sky as an alternative.

crossleydd42

It's worth paying the licence fee just for being free of adverts. Nowadays, I often find myself recording some ITV programmes to watch later and Fast Fwd through the adverts. They've become particularly tiresome since they were given permission to show fewer adverts per hour during off-peak periods and show more (an extra slot around x:53hrs) in peak times. It's worth remembering, too, that the BBC is being forced by the government to fund the conversion from analogue signals to digital, with all the freeview boxes being given to pensioners (over 75) who can't afford it. IT's being given permmission to increase the licence fee to cater for this! Another stealth tax from a devious government.

Tripledrop

lawrencesnipe wrote:

Martin, I think you should have had a straight 'Yes' or 'No', Yes would then win, this way No will probably win! Many people will vote for the first answer, thinking they are voting 'Yes' (which they are), others like myself, look further down and vote all of the above (still voting 'Yes'). I think the licence fee is excellent value for money, even though I don't watch much telly and I don't have sky as an alternative.

Yes, but should I have to pay, just because you (and others) agree and want to? You should be able to pay for what you want, and I should be able to not pay for what I don't want (and still be able to get the services I do want and pay for like Sky)

EDIT: Here is a good site for those opposed to the BBC tax:

http://www.tvlicensing.biz

scaldyflash

Have to say I agree with nick_b. I ditched the telly a year ago because I didn't want the BBC or any other broadcaster "educating" my Children, My wife and I would rather do that! But I am eternally grateful for the fact that we have a BBC. I have discovered the joys of radio in the last year and I would be lost without BBC radio 4 and 3. I totally agree that the TV licence is an unjust "tax" however I would certainly not object to paying a small fee (I don't know, maybe £2.00 a month) just to have quality, ad free radio.

bigz

I think Public Broadcating is an important concept. But cetain areas do need addressing. Especially the current trend for sensational news rather than trying to inform. For all its faults it does offer a better package compared to others who charge for packages then expect you to 'pay for view', and on top of this bombard you with adverts after shelling out all that cash!!!