TV Licence

MackemPunk

fozmcfc wrote: »

I can't believe people still complain about the licence fee.

Just look at how much Sky charge if you want anything but there total crud channels. Add in a few sports/film channels and you'll pay the licence fee in just 3 or 4 months.

The BBC fee pays for TV stations, numerous radio stations and one of the best website in the world including the iPlayer which is also excellent, particular compared to ITV's terrible alternative.

The BBC is recognised and respected worldwide for its quality and very few broadcasters worldwide can even be compared.

Oh and we don't have to put up with go compare, compare the market and other extremely irritating adverts.

But if someone doen't watch Sky, they don't pay, why can't BBC use subscriptions instead of assuming everyone watches their programmes.

Azari

MackemPunk wrote: »

But if someone doen't watch Sky, they don't pay, why can't BBC use subscriptions instead of assuming everyone watches their programmes.

Because a government decided that the licence would be a better way of organising things. And no government has ever thought it would be better to change that.

It does mean that we have a source of high quality, home produced, programming both entertainment and documentaries on a vast array of topics which would diminish considerably if things were left to commercial enterprises which would prefer to make a quick buck by buying in cheap foreign programming.

Lip_Stick

santer wrote: »

If you do choose to stop watching a TV and not renew the license, get ready for two years of letters advising you how naughty it is to watch television without a license.

I used to get that even though I was paying for my licence. I even got threatened with court even though I'd told them countless times I had a licence. Just shows how inefficient they are.

notatvstar

Azari wrote: »

Because a government decided that the licence would be a better way of organising things. And no government has ever thought it would be better to change that.

It does mean that we have a source of high quality, home produced, programming both entertainment and documentaries on a vast array of topics which would diminish considerably if things were left to commercial enterprises....

...Wot. Like Eastenders.

Ummmmmmm.

RazWaz

santer wrote: »

If you do choose to stop watching a TV and not renew the license, get ready for two years of letters advising you how naughty it is to watch television without a license.

Complain about harassment, worked for me. Not had a letter in over a year. Also not watched any TV in 2 years

paddedjohn

get shut of the telly and watch your programmes on your pc, no need for a licence.

chippy2u

Driver8 wrote: »

Don't pay and if they come knocking on your door, show them last year's licence and tell them it's a repeat.

Brilliant idea! Do you think it would work?

scheming_gypsy

if you do want a discount, cancel your direct debit and wait till the current license runs out. Then they'll send you a few letters before sending a letter threatening to send the van round. when you get that letter, reactivate it and set up your direct debit for as far in advance as possible....

Jsameds

Get a PS3, it has a Bluray player, BBC iPlayer (with BBC HD), 4OD, ItvPlayer, Lovefilm Player, Mubi, VidZone (Free music videos), PSN Video Store and a browser (Which can support megavideo and other video streaming apps...). You'll never have nothing to watch again, you get to enjoy all BBC programming for free on demand and you don't need a TV Licence.

Oh, and it also plays games.

RichGold

I believe you can pay only half of the license fee in certain circumstances, but to qualify you have to saw your TV down the middle and dispose of half of it, therefore making the whole concept somewhat redundant.