TV Licence article Discussion

[Deleted User]

Zapito wrote: »

OK, that's a valid opinion

Actually, I think you will find that one is a fact.

Regressive

(of a tax) taking a proportionally greater amount from those on lower incomes.

[Deleted User]

Zapito wrote: »

It is a fact.

No it's not.

That the BBC is "a precious jewel not only in the eyes of the UK but all over the world" is not a fact.

It's an opinion, just as "The Wrath of Khan is the best Star Trek Movie" is merely my opinion.

Nilrem

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Isn't World Service radio part of the BBC?

It is (or rather was a department of the BBC*), but used to be paid for by the Foreign Office as it was not something that benefited the UK public but seen as part of the U.K.'s "soft power" overseas (IE something that generally helped put the UK in a better light and countered a lot of propaganda in certain countries by broadcasting an unbiased/less biased version of events).

One of the Government's cuts to the BBC was to make the BBC pay for it out of the TVL despite it not be accessible to the UK public in most cases.


*Basically because the BBC could do it cheaper/better/with more credibility than if the Government did it directly.

Zapito

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

If a licence were only required for watching BBC channels, it wouldn't be a burden on the unemployed/low paid.

Zapito wrote: »

OK, that's a valid opinion (yes, one of those dreaded things). So propose it in the current charter review.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bbc-charter-review

Actually, I think you will find that one is a fact.

It would depend upon whether or not the people concerned used BBC services. You are assuming they would not.

If your suggestion were to be made the case, then I would want BBC radio services also to be covered by the licence fee. I simply don't see why any people should be allowed to get any BBC without contributing to its finances.

Zapito

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

No it's not.

That the BBC is "a precious jewel not only in the eyes of the UK but all over the world" is not a fact.

It's an opinion, just as "The Wrath of Khan is the best Star Trek Movie" is merely my opinion.

You are not comparing like with like, and it may well be a fact that "in the eyes of many The Wrath of Khan is the best Star Trek Movie" (I don't know if it is, but it could be for all I know).

I continue to maintain that in the eyes of the UK and all over the world, the BBC is a precious jewel.

cw18

Zapito wrote: »

If your suggestion were to be made the case, then I would want BBC radio services also to be covered by the licence fee. I simply don't see why any people should be allowed to get any BBC without contributing to its finances.

If there were some way of putting the BBC radio stations behind a 'wall' that could only be accessed by those with a licence/subscription I could quite happily live with that too - can't remember the last time I listened to a BBC radio channel (probably at least as far back as I watched a BBC TV channel). But I think that might be asking a bit much of technology

Zapito

cw18 wrote: »

If there were some way of putting the BBC radio stations behind a 'wall' that could only be accessed by those with a licence/subscription I could quite happily live with that too - can't remember the last time I listened to a BBC radio channel (probably at least as far back as I watched a BBC TV channel). But I think that might be asking a bit much of technology

In all those years you have never heard any of Radio One, Radio One Extra, Radio Two, Radio Three, Radio Four, Radio Four Extra, Five Live, Six Radio...(and whatever I've missed)? Forgive me if I find that hard to believe. But please note I only said "hard", not "impossible".

Oh, by the way, I'd also include all BBC online. Won't pay the licence? Then don't use the service!

Zapito

Nilrem wrote: »

It is (or rather was a department of the BBC*), but used to be paid for by the Foreign Office as it was not something that benefited the UK public but seen as part of the U.K.'s "soft power" overseas (IE something that generally helped put the UK in a better light and countered a lot of propaganda in certain countries by broadcasting an unbiased/less biased version of events).

Quite so. Overall, the BBC represents a tremendous benefit to the public.

One of the Government's cuts to the BBC was to make the BBC pay for it out of the TVL despite it not be accessible to the UK public in most cases.

Which I think was a wrong move, and would wish to see a reversuion to the previous arrangement.

*Basically because the BBC could do it cheaper/better/with more credibility than if the Government did it directly.

Exactly. The BBC is a very good deal!

[Deleted User]

Zapito wrote: »

I simply don't see why any people should be allowed to get any BBC without contributing to its finances.

BBC TV programmes (both live and catchup), radio programmes, and the BBC website(s) should all be limited to those who buy a licence?

Cornucopia

Nilrem wrote: »

... despite [BBC World Service] not be accessible to the UK public in most cases.

I think you may be getting confused here.

World Service Radio is funded by the Licence Fee and is available in the UK via various listening methods, for example channel 710 on Freeview.

World Service TV is a BBC Worldwide venture. It carries advertising, is not available in the UK, and is not funded in total or in part by the Licence fee. It was never funded by or requested by Government, IIUC.