Should the TV licence fee be scrapped?

HappyMJ

MSE_Debs wrote: »

Poll started 29 Oct 2013

A TV licence costs £145.50 a year for any home with a colour TV, regardless of whether you watch the BBC or not (see TV Licence Saving). But all the money raised pays for the BBC - that's TV, radio, regional programmes, BBC Online and their associated costs (full details).

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps sent a warning shot to the BBC this week about the licence fee, saying he would consider opening up the cash so other broadcasters could apply for some.

Which of the options in this week's poll is closest to your view?

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None of the above.

BBC television and radio services are so universal that I'd happily see the BBC public broadcasting service funded from general taxation with minimal advertising allowed only between programs and from the sales of programs to foreign broadcasters. Programs which are not profitable and serve minimal public service should be scrapped or sold to commercial channels to continue.

On a personal note I do not pay for a TV Licence and watch BBC and other broadcasters programs on iPlayer and the internet after broadcast. I also listen to BBC radio such as BBC WM, BBC Radio Derby and BBC Radio 1 all of which are funded by the TV Licence. I also use the BBC News website funded again by TV Licence payers.

ferrit44

I'm sure others have already said similar, but I begrudge having to pay for a TV licence and watch nothing, or indeed listen to none of the BBC radio channels, purely so I can watch things on Sky.

I pay enough for that already as it is, the licence fee on top is basically like paying for nothing.

dawyldthing

I'd prefer to have adverts in between as it gives you time to make a drink and a sandwich inbetween and discuss the programme that has happened. I think advertisers think we get bought in by it all but realistically I think word of mouth is more important, but if it stopped us all wasting another tax on the tv licence for watching a bit of rubbish advertising i'm all for it

danny_x

The BBC licence costs £145.50/year. It may sound a lot, but for this we get at least 4 TV channels, 4 national radio channels, local radio and the website, which also provides catch up TV & radio.

How much does Sky cost? At least twice that for their films and sports packages, on top of which you have to put up with a huge amount of advertising. (When Sky Sports News was available on Freeview, I used to sometimes switch to it, until I realised that over half the time I would hit an ad break, which means that it was over 50% adverts!)

I don't watch that much TV, but I still think that the BBC provides good value as it is now. Of course it could be better; the website used to be a more comprehensive source of information, but it appears to have been trimmed back in order to allow competitors to charge for their products, and the news "reporting" is that of an establishment mouthpiece, especially over the recent NHS Act and Palestine.

Although general taxation is less regressive than a flat licence fee, I fear that any changes to the funding would make things worse. As for advertising, I am thankful that I can watch some programmes or listen to the radio without continually being told that I should be out buying something.

chib

I'm happy paying the £145 a year and prefer to watch TV Shows on BBC due to the lack of adverts, however I benefit most from it by listening to BBC R2 in the morning and on way home from work where the local stations broadcast the same adverts every 10 minutes or so.

The same goes for CBeebies, my kids can watch that quite happily but if they are watching Nick Jr there is a new toy on the screen every 10 minutes.

Torry_Quine

I think the licence fee is very good value for money.

ManAtHome

Are they talking about scrapping the license fee, or moving some of the loot in the direction of their mates (or cobbers)... As they say, be careful what you wish for.

Idiophreak

Meh, I pay £145/year.

I listen to the local BBC radio each way in the car (2 hours total) every day - and if I'm not listening to that then I'm listening to R4.

I'll look at the BBC news website at least once a day to catch up on events.

I watch the formula 1 on the weekends, match of the day, as well as the 6 nations coverage, wimbledon, snooker etc.

I watch Strictly and The Voice when they're on and a couple of mainstream comedies. I really enjoy things like Dr Who and Sherlock, too.

BBC3 and BBC4 have some really fascinating (if somewhat "budget", at times) documentaries and early stages comedy. (I was quite sad to see the end of How Not To Live Your Life)

...and all of that is before any account is made of the enormous contribution the BBC make toward television infrastructure and communication worldwide, the work they do to bring communities together, the advancements they drive in science, the relatively impartial news coverage they provide and the support they give to countless initiatives around the world.

I'm not claiming the beeb are perfect, but I'm actually pretty proud to live in a country that has a BBC and would happily fund them, however they want to collect the money.

Cornucopia

For those people who use the BBC a lot, I'm sure that it represents good value for money. The question is whether everyone should be required to contribute if they want to watch any TV channels.

Idiophreak wrote: »

the advancements they drive in science

D'you mean teletext?

however they want to collect the money.

I can't agree with that - some of their tactics are completely unacceptable in a civil society. And most of what they do under the TVL guise is well beyond what is acceptable in support of mere TV.

Rotor

Can someone explain the difference between options 3 and 4

'scrap the licence fee monopoly' ( so everyone can charge a universal licence fee?)
and
'scrap the licence fee'

thanks