MSE News: Watching BBC iPlayer on catch-up to require a TV licence 'soon'

callum9999

Cornucopia wrote: »

I'm not sure it's a question of things we do or don't want, but more the notion that what is publicly funded is sufficiently important to require it.

In the case of the BBC, there are various further complications like the effect on the commercial industry, the presence of free-to-view competitors, the unnecessary connection between the Fee and the Licence, issues with Licence enforcement and questions around independence and impartiality.

You're the one who said it!

I don't think anyone who questions whether the BBC should be publicly funded or not has the slightest idea of the level of soft power it's given the UK - which is arguably taking over from physical power in the modern world now superior might doesn't win wars. Whether it should be funded to make the likes of Eastenders however is another matter! My personal view is that we need to at least retain a respected independent global news organisation regardless of anything else.

VisionMan

Well said. Despite the BBCs many controversies one things to be sure, they are a world class broadcaster and respected throughout the world for it. Benchmark, no less.

Cornucopia

jrawle wrote: »

Thinking about it, they were also planning to decriminalise TV Licence evasion. What is the latest on that? Is it still going to happen?

In pursuit of that aim, the Government commissioned David Perry QC to undertake an enquiry in how best to deal with Licence evaders. He recommended keeping things the same as they are now.

I'm sure decriminalisation will come up again - there's really no need to criminalise 200,000 mainly poor people every year.

Cornucopia

callum9999 wrote: »

You're the one who said it!

Said what?

I don't think anyone who questions whether the BBC should be publicly funded or not has the slightest idea of the level of soft power it's given the UK - which is arguably taking over from physical power in the modern world now superior might doesn't win wars. Whether it should be funded to make the likes of Eastenders however is another matter! My personal view is that we need to at least retain a respected independent global news organisation regardless of anything else.

I don't have a problem with that - News and Current Affairs is clearly a public service.

The notion of the BBC winning any kind of propaganda war for us is a scary one, though, given how totally unaccountable they seem to be.

VisionMan

Cornucopia wrote: »

The notion of the BBC winning any kind of propaganda war for us is a scary one, though, given how totally unaccountable they seem to be.

In your opinion.

Cornucopia

Most of what goes on here is someone's opinion. And that's a fact.

In this case, the BBC is arguably unaccountable by design (to achieve maximum independence from Government). Like many public policy ideas, that's a compromise. Some would say an uncomfortable one. Certainly, there should never be any law enforcement operation that is not democratically accountable - that way lies incompetent and abusive enforcement.

To take the point a little further, being independent and unaccountable to Government does not preclude the BBC being accountable to the public, which in my opinion is what it should seek to do. I appreciate that there are limited, periodic consultations, but they tend to attract relatively low participation. I'm thinking of something a bit more populist than that (which the BBC should be good at ).

missbiggles1

Cornucopia wrote: »

In pursuit of that aim, the Government commissioned David Perry QC to undertake an enquiry in how best to deal with Licence evaders. He recommended keeping things the same as they are now.

I'm sure decriminalisation will come up again - there's really no need to criminalise 200,000 mainly poor people every year.

Laws don't crimialise people - breaking them does.

Cornucopia

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Laws don't crimialise people - breaking them does.

I won't go into the vast litany of issues with the BBC-TVL process.

I will simply say: bad laws criminalise people unnecessarily.

Or in other words: the TV Licence serves no useful social purpose, its policing is disproportionate, abusive, inept and unaccountable, and therefore any prosecutions arising are pointless and potentially unsafe.

There surely must be a better way to manage and fund mere TV than this.

onomatopoeia99

Cornucopia wrote: »

There surely must be a better way to manage and fund mere TV than this.

Danish model, anyone who has receiving equipment must pay or face heavy fines? This includes 3G or better smartphones, and computers connected to the Internet, by the way.

Removes any doubt, you have the kit, you must pay, solves all the policing problems. Bargain at only £260 a year too. :money:

Cornucopia

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Danish model, anyone who has receiving equipment must pay or face heavy fines? This includes 3G or better smartphones, and computers connected to the Internet, by the way.

I prefer the American model.

"I'll give you my remote when you pry it from my cold, dead hands".

... solves all the policing problems...

I've not heard any reports on the Danish situation, but I'd be surprised if their enforcement was not controversial.

The problem is that you cannot police minor misdemeanours taking place inside people's homes without it being both controversial and either disproportionate or ineffective, or both.