Is the TV Licence fee worth it? Poll results/discussion

jonthedog

I love the BBC! It gives us (in my opinion, of course) the best TV Channels, radio programs and web site in the world (there's a reason why it's one of the most popular sites in europe). I have cable (due to roof aerial not working), but rarely watch anything other than the bbc channels, mainly due to the high quality of the (commercial free) programming. For me, the license fee is exceptionally good value for money. I think the amount is maybe a little too high for people struggling to make ends meet, and maybe an amount below £100 is more reasonable, but anyone who can afford sky/cable should certainly be able to afford the license fee. I think the poll results are slightly skewed somewhat by this being a moneysaving site. No one wants to pay fees if they think they can get away with it, but it is in part the 'unique' way the that the bbc is funded that allows it to produce the world class material that it does. Britain, and the world's impression of us (for that is in part given by our national broadcaster), would be lesser without it.

Schwade

jonthedog wrote: »

I love the BBC! It gives us (in my opinion, of course) the best TV Channels, radio programs and web site in the world (there's a reason why it's one of the most popular sites in europe). I have cable (due to roof aerial not working), but rarely watch anything other than the bbc channels, mainly due to the high quality of the (commercial free) programming. For me, the license fee is exceptionally good value for money. I think the amount is maybe a little too high for people struggling to make ends meet, and maybe an amount below £100 is more reasonable, but anyone who can afford sky/cable should certainly be able to afford the license fee. I think the poll results are slightly skewed somewhat by this being a moneysaving site. No one wants to pay fees if they think they can get away with it, but it is in part the 'unique' way the that the bbc is funded that allows it to produce the world class material that it does. Britain, and the world's impression of us (for that is in part given by our national broadcaster), would be lesser without it.

I disagree that the BBC funding has made a different to the quality of programming. In fact, I think it is more the people behind it, not because of the public funding.

Why? Because there are also quality shows from non-BBC channels. For example:
1. The Bill (ITV1)
2. My Life as a Popat (ITV1)
3. You're Not Splitting Up My Family (Ch4)
4. Meet the Natives (Ch4)
5. Come Dine with Me (Ch4)
6. Fonejacker (E4)
7. Britz (Ch4)

The above was awarded by Royal Television Society (respected society). In fact, it is interesting to see the documentaries (which is always assumed to be BBC area) have been won by non-BBC channel.

The MOST interesting point is SKY news BEAT BBC news to win the News Channel of the Year. Again. For the 6TH TIME.

Of course BBC has won awards too but that doesn't mean non-BBC doesn't win awards. Moral of the story for me is, it is not the funding but the people who make the programmes.

Defiant_3

rikreschem wrote: »

The BBC is still the best TV broadcaster in the world. Just go to the US or Austrailia and see what dross is churned out ther.

You can always spot the BBC employee's because they always make out their opinions are fact. The truth is the BBC is a dinosaur that belongs in the dark ages but this selfish minority will always want us to subsidise their entertainment.

Rik, I'm one of hundreds of millions who love Amiercan TV and also one of the majority who can't stand your BBC TV Licence. I've going to say a nasty word that you hate, CHOICE!

Defiant_3

poor_man wrote: »

The total licence paid to the BBC is I have read about half what Sky tv rise from subs. and advert, so at about £2.60p a week is good value.

Total I pay to watch FTA (not including the BBC subscription fee) is ZERO. On another note isn’t it interesting that the BBC fans drill numbers down just like the BBC itself. The fact still remains the BBC costs £136.50. Now while I’m happy with my FREEview PVR if I wanted to get something better I’d go with Virgin Media which only works out at 35p a day (£2.45 a week) and I get a FREE phoneline too. You see I can play BBC games too

DdraigGoch wrote: »

I agree with Bogart. It is a tax on everyone who has a television because we have a publicly funded television network. If you don't want to pay it, don't have a television.

Why should people have to do without TV’s just because they don’t like your mighty BBC ?

Alec wrote: »

HOW CAN ANYONE NOT LOVETHE BEEB ?

Easy, you don’t like it so don’t watch it and yet you are forced to subsidise people like you who think you have a god given right to force people to contribute towards your entertainment.


Check the opinion BBC fans and you’ll see how the public really feels about it because you do not speak for the majority of people in this country

Defiant_3

Hustle wrote: »

Hi, the BBC iPlayer and 4OD does not require a TV License Fee.

However the BBC is pushing for a Broadband tax or did you think the big push on the internet was them just being kind

If we saw, over time, that some people stopped receiving live broadcasts at all, stopped paying their licence fee, but continued to consume televison programmes, solely on-demand through the iPlayer (or other players), then we might have to consider talking to the Government about Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004, so that they can then consider whether on-demand tv viewing might be brought within its aegis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/01/iplayer_does_not_require_a_tv_1.html

Know your enemy so you can't be fooled by them any longer!

Nocturne

As it's been mentioned already without the amount of channels that can be scrambled why we should be forced to pay for a service we may not even use beggars belief.
Even the name itself is a joke, might not be so popular if it was just referred to as the BBC tax as it's unshared (currently) although there's debate going on that may allow the commercial channels to have their share of the tax bonanza.

Also with the other tricks they pull, hosting the lottery for one, if that isn't just one long advert I don't know what is. The resale of programmes manufactured at the tax payers expense being sold back to us at full price on DVD's and CD's should we have to pay for something we've bought already, or just pay the cost of manufacture of the product.

The internet site can be used across the world, is that right that the british tax payer public funds the worlds right to information.

And to be honest they provide a very narrow channel of entertainment. The only programme I personally watch is Mock the Week and I don't think £135 for 3 odd hours of entertainment is quite fair. That and the complete lack of any form of programming for the "Alternative generation" 2 hours of the radio 1 rock at midnight on a tuesday is pretty crap to be honest.

The BBC is a non-essential service unlike the NHS, Police etc as stated above. No one will die by not receiving the Beeb, however with the rules as it stand it does prevent you receiving free entertainment generally paid for by the products you buy, so it's like a licence fee, you just have something to show for it. It also casts that grey area for just using your DVD Player, X-Box etc

Defiant_3

Low income families, pensioners (not 75 yet) and venerable single parents have all been targeted by the mighty BBC because they’ve struggled to pay for the BBC TV Licence and the lifestyle that goes with it.

Extraordinary details of the expense account of BBC Creative Director Alan Yentob are revealed today in documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday.
The controversial executive is awarded thousands of pounds of licence-fee payers' money each year for a range of items – including "dry cleaning", "evening dress" and "accessing email while on location".
Mr Yentob, whose basic salary is more than £300,000 a year, also filed a £120 claim for a single cake and £25 for repairing the DVD player in his BBC car.

High life: Alan Yentob, who claimed £27,000 expenses, enjoys wine with author Kathy Lette

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=559322&in_page_id=1770

The mighty BBC is the last basten for the toffs and they want YOU to fund their lifestyles. Remember what they don't get they can't spend & it's the size of the BBC that allowed scum like the above act in this manner!

irishwench69

I can't stand the BBC, and would happily give up all BBC radio / tv listening / watching rights, if it meant I didn't have to pay up.....

As it is, I have sky, and am just resigned to paying the rip-off licence fees, even without ever using any of their services :mad: :mad: :mad:

IW x

Sigur_2

I love BBC3 and BBC4 with the varied and compelling documentaries that are regularly on.

I'd pay £500 a year for all the channels to be commercial-free and high quality programming. I haven't watched a show on ITV in years, everything it broadcasts is banal dross.

Defiant_3

Sigur wrote: »

I'd pay £500 a year for all the channels to be commercial-free and high quality programming. I haven't watched a show on ITV in years, everything it broadcasts is banal dross.

And yet the pro BBC lobby want everyone else to subsidise them :rolleyes: