Television Licensing

[Deleted User]

I'm always amused when certain posters threaten to complain to the moderators and then themselves have their comments deleted as a result.

These license threads are becoming really tiresome and repetitive, they appear (and disappear) with alarming regularity and basically have the same arguments and counterpoints made by the same posters.

I, for one, won't be subscribing to any more of them....

Cornucopia

wiogs wrote: »

Apparently not https://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-how-biased-is-the-bbc-17028 which must annoy a lot of people and screw up their arguments

It would appear that

This research was funded by the BBC Trust

Which doesn't necessarily invalidate it. However, it's clear from many, many commentators, including various BBC "insiders" that the BBC does operate with a left-liberal perspective.

Is that a bad thing? I'd sooner it didn't feel the need to have a political stance of any sort, but this is probably the least offensive position it could hold. But like many aspects of its internal culture, it may ultimately contribute to its downfall.

edit: the comments to the article are interesting. Some well-informed comment from all sides, but very little support for the article or its (flawed) analysis.

almillar

For every person that calls the BBC a left wing mouthpiece, there's someone calling it a right wing mouthpiece.
The BBC receive TVL funding. They can't just spend this as they please, like other broadcasters. Channel 4 does also have an obligation to provide certain types of programmes.
Whilst Sky, ITV etc can go and make or buy whatever programmes will get them most viewers, and therefore most advertising money, the BBC is required to make loads of stuff that won't attract loads of viewers.
Education, minority sports, all those radio programmes, BBC 4 documentaries, all those things no business minded person would ever commission. Did I mention the BBC website, and the BBC Micro?
I don't like Eastenders, or any end of guff that's shown on BBC TV, but I do like plenty of stuff that they do provide online, on TV and on Radio.
Yes TheWise1, I am the controller of the BBC.

acc

almillar wrote: »

The BBC receive TVL funding. They can't just spend this as they please.

Here's a couple of recent examples:

• payouts for rule-breaking executives
• George Entwistle, spent just 54 days as Director General, and resigned in disgrace over the way he handled the Jimmy Saville scandal. However, he still walked away with a £450,000 pay-out, equivalent to 12 months notice, on top of his £877,000 pension

wiogs

^^ yes they do manage to p!ss away money, on some ridiculous things.

Cornucopia

almillar wrote: »

For every person that calls the BBC a left wing mouthpiece, there's someone calling it a right wing mouthpiece.

Presumably the truth is in there, somewhere.

The BBC receive TVL funding. They can't just spend this as they please, like other broadcasters. Channel 4 does also have an obligation to provide certain types of programmes.

Other broadcasters cannot just do what they please. Almost all of them have some requirement as to quality, and many as to content.

Even if they could, there is a world of difference between doing what you please with commerical funds, and doing what you please with public funds.

And against all of that, the BBC appears to be doing what it pleases with your money. There can't be too many people who were happy with the cost of the format for The Voice, for example.

Whilst Sky, ITV etc can go and make or buy whatever programmes will get them most viewers, and therefore most advertising money, the BBC is required to make loads of stuff that won't attract loads of viewers.

That is what it is there for. There are no direct financial consequences of it doing that, and it also has its share of big-rating programmes, too.

... BBC Micro?

Ancient history. It would be great if they started a computer education programme again. Much better than endless antiques and property shows.

Apparently there are 14m people in the UK who have little or no competency with computers.

Tiffany_Aching

RichardD1970 wrote: »

My in-laws get rid of their TV about 5 years ago, informed whoever (can't remember if it was by phone or post, definitely not email as they don't do technology) and have never had any hassle.

Then they are very lucky!

We gave up our TV license around 8 years ago and have phoned several times to say that we no longer require one but have the beggers let us be? Have they heck!

We get a visit on average every 6 months, they are rude and demand to come in to check, which we refuse. We are always polite and never raise our voices or argue, but we rarely get treated in the same way. The last visit was 2 weeks ago and the guy shouted at us that he knew we had a TV as we had bought one recently. I told him yes, but we didn't watch TV as it was being broadcast etc. etc. and he shouted 'I don't believe you'! I was so shocked I told him that I didn't like being shouted at and was going to shut the door now, closed the door and he shouted again that this was 'even more evidence that I was lying' and that he would 'just keep coming back until we let him in'.

Getting so fed up of this now.

Cornucopia

If I were you, I would be making my feelings known to the Head of Revenue Management at the BBC.

wiogs

If I were you I would be phoning the police and getting them done for harassment.

I would also withdraw their "implied right of access" so that they cannot even come onto your property.

Cornucopia

I can imagine the Police not being that interested.

But I might be wrong.