Tv licence...no more!

GEDJARVIS

It's time that the powers that be let the tv licence go and give people the right to let the bbc stand on its own two feet.
We can choose our energy providers, our politicians, e.t.c, e.t.c, so why are we forced to pay for something that we don't want?
Martin if you are reading this please help us get rid of this rip off known as the tv licence.

Cornucopia

I certainly think that it needs the support of someone like Martin to put some proper scrutiny on to the TV Licensing operation whose behaviour is probably unlawful in multiple ways - both their official policies, and the conduct of their poorly supervised staff.

giraffe69

It's time that the powers that be let the tv licence go and give people the right to let the bbc stand on its own two feet.

Well the BBC has to be funded in some way. It could be through general taxation or advertising or a subscription model. You can avoid the fee much more easily these days by sticking to playback and not iplayer if you wish.

pogofish

How many hours since our last TV licence thread?

Cornucopia

pogofish wrote: »

How many hours since our last TV licence thread?

I hear this a lot (not so much on MSE, but elsewhere). What is the issue with people asking for advice about the TV Licence, or stating their various concerns about it?

Marvqn1

Rather than scrapping the TV licence fee, why not just make a change so watching Freeview channels other than the BBC doesn't require a licence fee. If people could watch ITV, Channel 4, Dave, etc.. without a licence then they'd be happy (at least most would). After all, people can already watch catch-up services for channels like ITV and Channel 4 without a licence.

It seems a better alternative than making the BBC a subscription service or it being ad funded.

Cornucopia

Marvqn1 wrote: »

Rather than scrapping the TV licence fee, why not just make a change so watching Freeview channels other than the BBC doesn't require a licence fee. If people could watch ITV, Channel 4, Dave, etc.. without a licence then they'd be happy (at least most would). After all, people can already watch catch-up services for channels like ITV and Channel 4 without a licence.

It seems a better alternative than making the BBC a subscription service or it being ad funded.

I think that could well be a useful stepping-stone to subscription controlled by electronic means. However, realistically (a) I don't think that the BBC would want to be singled-out in this way, and (b) the extent to which BBC programs are now spread out around commercial media would probably make enforcement more difficult.

onomatopoeia99

I'd suggest turning into a media tax for anyone with receiving equipment. This would be a TV / monitor / tablet computer / mobile phone, freeview or satellite equipment, or an internet connection capable of sustaining a stream (whether fixed line or mobile).

This is the model used successfully in Denmark.

Cornucopia

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

I'd suggest turning into a media tax for anyone with receiving equipment. This would be a TV / monitor / tablet computer / mobile phone, freeview or satellite equipment, or an internet connection capable of sustaining a stream (whether fixed line or mobile).

This is the model used successfully in Denmark.

Of all the options, I would least favour anything which either increased the scope of the Licence (which this would do), or failed to address key issues with it (which this would do, not addressing its regressive nature).

Most similar countries to the UK have abolished their TV Licence or never had one, and this is the way I would like us to go.

onomatopoeia99

Cornucopia wrote: »

Most similar countries to the UK have abolished their TV Licence or never had one,.

France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Sweeden, Denmark?

Which countries are more similar to us than those?

Cornucopia

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Sweeden, Denmark?

Which countries are more similar to us than those?

USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand?