NewsCorp destroys BBC

amcluesent

BBC licence fee frozen at £145.50 for six years

"The BBC licence fee is to be frozen at the current level of £145.50 for the next six years, a 16% cut in real terms.

BBC executives have staved off the threat of being forced to take on the £556m a year funding of free TV licences for the over-75s, but at a heavy price.

Among the extra commitments the BBC has signed up to are to fund the World Service and Welsh-language broadcaster S4C out of the licence fee from 2015. The BBC has also agreed to take over funding of BBC Monitoring.

In addition it will provide £150m a year for the rollout of superfast broadband to rural areas from 2013 and £25m a year for local TV and online content."

FACT - Looks like 'call me Dave' Dave has paid his dues to The Digger for services rendered.

Rochdale_Pioneers

I think "destroyed" is a bit of an exaggeration. Both it and its funding method have just been guaranteed for the next 6 years. Murdoch wanted the license Fee gone and it broken up.

drc

That's still £145.50 too much per year :mad:

Cleaver

drc wrote: »

That's still £145.50 too much per year :mad:

I've said it before and I'll say it again. When I look down the list of direct debits, bill payments and general spending we do each month I'm constantly amazed at how much pleasure, information and interesting stuff I get for just that little £12 a month. I can't think of anything else I buy that gives me better value for my money.

Mr_Mumble

It's very good news for households. With increased VAT, NICs and public transport fares this move will at least keep one tax in check. Though, as the MSE poll showed, 77% want the license fee abolished or cut back.

The BBC should think themselves lucky. A freeze for six years - little different to many private companies seeing static revenue over a similar period - and taking on tasks it should already be doing is hardly swathing cuts.

It's not as if other competitors are going to be crying over the BBC having its wings clipped a little: Pearson are still seething about the Lonely Planet takeover; ITV jealous of its competitor's steady income, Virgin angry with the go-ahead of YouView and even the state-owned Channel 4 is licking its wounds from the BBC taking its staff and playing up all the Big Brother 'controversies'.

PS. a 16% real terms cut assumes RPI of 2.5% over the next six years. According to the deflationistas the BBC'll be getting a rise!

Loughton_Monkey

If a six year freeze was the 'goal' of the the Government, then as a matter of principle, I would have 'negotiated' on the basis of a 40% drop over the same period, only prepared to change my mind if (a) The number of TV Executives were reduced by 40%, and (b) The salaries of those remaining were cut by 40% and frozen for 6 years. Only under these circumstances would I have allowed them to maintain the existing fee.

StevieJ

Cleaver wrote: »

I've said it before and I'll say it again. When I look down the list of direct debits, bill payments and general spending we do each month I'm constantly amazed at how much pleasure, information and interesting stuff I get for just that little £12 a month. I can't think of anything else I buy that gives me better value for my money.

I know what your saying but my £7.50 unlimited broadband from the best provider O2 runs it close, it allows me to watch BBC I-Player whenever I want Any money going to SKY is a serious rip- off, it is so bad :eek: I must admit I do subscribe to basic channels, but looking to ditch, how can they charge and still run adverts?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Can you change your title to

"BBC destroys itself"


Can't see that being on at 10 o'clock somehow though

markharding557

how can they charge and still run adverts?

business just business

torontoboy45

amcluesent wrote: »

BBC licence fee frozen at £145.50 for six years


slinking off into middle-age I look back on the bbc as being sober, constant and worth having.
times change and its faults are obvious (how dare it waste my fee on jonathon ross) but given the choice between the beeb and sky?
the proof is in the tasting of the pud, guys. what are your taste buds like?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

torontoboy45 wrote: »

amcluesent wrote: »

BBC licence fee frozen at £145.50 for six years


slinking off into middle-age I look back on the bbc as being sober, constant and worth having.
times change and its faults are obvious (how dare it waste my fee on jonathon ross) but given the choice between the beeb and sky?
the proof is in the tasting of the pud, guys. what are your taste buds like?

If they start reporting in an unbiased, no holds barred & independent manner I might reconsider the fact its a complete waste of money.