TV License Inspectors

DucksInPrague

If SKY can stop you watching their service with a card or box why can't the BBC do the same.
You have a choice to pay SKY with the BBC you have no choice you have to pay them to watch any live broadcasts.

biscit

Because it isn't a closed system, you're not comparing like with like.

The TV licence is also not a subscription fee, unlike the Sky fee, it's a sort of tax on recieving broadcast TV signals. The government cut out the middle man by outsourcing collection to the main beneficiary.

How would you suggest introducing an encryption system to an area which has traditionally been openly broadcast?

jennyfeffer

I lived in Bournemouth a few years ago and as I was cooking dinner in the kitchen, I saw a man vault our rather high wooden fence. He then barged in through the back door (I had left is slightly open because of the cooking steam) and ordered to see my TV License. I got such a fright and gave him a right telling off.
I didn't have my license because I have been paying it by DD for years and just moving around and he started to read me my rights. I sent him on his way and phoned the company who apologised to me! Horrendous and scary.

DucksInPrague

// How would you suggest introducing an encryption system to an area which has traditionally been openly broadcast? //

As they changed to digital they could have started to encrypt the signal.If SKY and some other channels need a card which you have to purchase i am sorry i just can't see why the BBC can't do the same.

DucksInPrague

jennyfeffer wrote: »

I lived in Bournemouth a few years ago and as I was cooking dinner in the kitchen, I saw a man vault our rather high wooden fence. He then barged in through the back door (I had left is slightly open because of the cooking steam) and ordered to see my TV License. I got such a fright and gave him a right telling off.
I didn't have my license because I have been paying it by DD for years and just moving around and he started to read me my rights. I sent him on his way and phoned the company who apologised to me! Horrendous and scary.

A lady near me has been in trouble the man filled in a statement and scared her into signing. She said he will not prosecute me as he has lied on the form.
A friend said you have signed it she said so what.

She was fined and now has a licence.

biscit

DucksInPrague wrote: »

As they changed to digital they could have started to encrypt the signal.

Well yes they could, in fact in the early days digital was a closed system requiring viewing cards. But that's not what we ended up with and it won't be easy to change now. Even if there were the will to.

[Deleted User]

jennyfeffer wrote: »

I saw a man vault our rather high wooden fence. He then barged in through the back door

Should've phoned the police.

biscit

The_Safordian wrote: »

So you think no one should have the right to watch television feeds unless they subsidise the BBC for you first, how very selfish of you.

Perhaps they should introduce a newspaper tax next so you have to fund the Guardian before buying any other newspaper?

Out of interest how would you feel if the next door neighbour knocked on your door demanding some money towards their television subscription ?

I don't know what in my politely expressed and reasonable post gave you the idea that it was ok to respond so aggressively, but I think the nature of your reaction says more about you than it does about the innocuous comment you responded to.

But, I will respond politely and reasonably, yes I do feel the BBC is a worthwhile public good and it is fair and right that we all pay for it.

[Deleted User]

biscit wrote: »

and it is fair and right that we all pay for it.

We don't all pay for it.

Azari

biscit wrote: »

But, I will respond politely and reasonably, yes I do feel the BBC is a worthwhile public good and it is fair and right that we all pay for it.

People who have to pay a licence fee and claim never to watch BBC are in the same boat as those who have to pay for schools and don't have children. Or have to pay for libraries and never borrow books. Or who have to pay for foreign embassies and never travel abroad.

Although, frankly, I find it hard to believe that anyone watches nothing on BBC unless they are trying to make some kind of rather lame point. There is such an enormous variety of programming of so many different types.