BBC licence fee should be scrapped, says thinktank - The Guardian

StevieJ

Snooze wrote: »

People going on about the BBC and value for money in this thread. !!!!!!? Did anyone see the last series of Top Gear that's just finished (after only 5 episodes)? As a huge Top Gear fan I can't believe I wasted 5 hours of my life watching that !!!!!!. . :mad:

You quote 'Top Gear', I will quote 'Life on Mars'

chucky

Match of the Day is better than any rubbish that ITV, Channel 4 or even Channel 5 try to attempt

vivatifosi

I actually like the BBC and don't object to the licence fee. However I don't think it should be above criticism and there should certainly be change. Specifically I would:

1. Reduce the budget for the website by 30%, which has branched out into many areas beyond its remit. Focus should be news (including sports news etc), programme related content and consumer affairs only.
2. Reduce maximum salary for presenters to £200k and make it the job of the BBC to bring on fresh new talent.
3. Make focus of the channel making programmes that are hard to make elsewhere: hard-hitting documentaries, quality drama, etc and not "me too" programming.
4. Look at its excellent outside broadcast programming (eg F1) and ask whether savings can be made that don't affect the output quality. Do they really need to take the whole BBC TV team and a BBC radio team to the Grand Prix for example?
5. As I understand it, they do this already, but trawl good small independent filmakers for quality content that would not otherwise make the screen.

POPPYOSCAR

Yes I like the BBC as well but do think they could save a bit of money.

As I understand it many of them get an allowance for hair and clothes, they earn enough as it is and should pay for this themselves.

lynzpower

vivatifosi wrote: »

I actually like the BBC and don't object to the licence fee. However I don't think it should be above criticism and there should certainly be change. Specifically I would:

1. Reduce the budget for the website by 30%, which has branched out into many areas beyond its remit. Focus should be news (including sports news etc), programme related content and consumer affairs only.
2. Reduce maximum salary for presenters to £200k and make it the job of the BBC to bring on fresh new talent.
3. Make focus of the channel making programmes that are hard to make elsewhere: hard-hitting documentaries, quality drama, etc and not "me too" programming.
4. Look at its excellent outside broadcast programming (eg F1) and ask whether savings can be made that don't affect the output quality. Do they really need to take the whole BBC TV team and a BBC radio team to the Grand Prix for example?
5. As I understand it, they do this already, but trawl good small independent filmakers for quality content that would not otherwise make the screen.

I agree with this totally. I am certain that the website goes WAY above and beyond what it needs to. Thousands of recipes which altho can be useful is there any need? Thousands of pages on gardening etc. Personally think that if they culled this content they might sell more of their books ( Market kitchen, How to grow veg etc) Their books should be cheaper through the BBC website as well ( often you find them cheapest elsewhere)

Also I dont ( personally) think BBC 3 is worth keeping ( Look my kid is spoilt, Fat children on camp etc) leave that dross to ITV et al to make

FTBFun

chucky wrote: »

Match of the Day is better than any rubbish that ITV, Channel 4 or even Channel 5 try to attempt

Although IMO it could be better. Sacking Mark Lawrenson would be a start.

At least as a public broadcaster, there's no requirement to suck up to the Big 4/Sky 4 quite so much.

StevieJ

Pennywise wrote: »

But they've not been "hard hitting" for years. It's like a love-in when the lefties are interviewing other lefties and the lion's den when you have a right winger on.

The BBC isn't impartial -.

I am with you now, that BBC lot are totally biased

BBC: "Chelsea don't deserve to be losing, but Wayne Rooney's moment of magic ensures they are behind."

Guardian: "United deserved that, they've been by far the better team. "