The Licence fee

[da-robster]

So what do you think on the licence fee? Considerering that all the main parties are gunning for the BBC to keep monsuier Murdoch happy and less than half of all people in the UK support the licence fee, are the BBC as we know it's days numbers?

Many people claim that ITV and 4 would benifit from the removal of the licence fee but that wouldn't work as their would be more advertising space so an individual slot would cost less. Which would mean that minority and worthy programming like attenborough and BBC Four would end as channels would chase ratings with programmes like the x factor and traffic cops.Personally I feel that the BBC should remain publicly funded as it does produce lots of worthy stuff,also the licence fee is not compulsory if you don't want to pay don't but don't complain.

[Speedy]

I think you should be given the option to get sky or virgin without the BBC channels so you don't have to pay the licence. That doesn't really answer your question though

[Beefster]

I think you should be given the option to get sky or virgin without the BBC channels so you don't have to pay the licence. That doesn't really answer your question though

You'd have to accept not being able to use the BBC website, iPlayer, BBC Radio any other BBC output? All funded by the TV Licence.

[Jack]

I think you should be given the option to get sky or virgin without the BBC channels so you don't have to pay the licence. That doesn't really answer your question though

SKY and Virgin would just be a wee bit more expensive to cover the fee. I think.

[Betty Boop]

Why don't the BBC just use adverts like the rest of the channels?

[Pete]

Why don't the BBC just use adverts like the rest of the channels?

At least with the BBC I know I'm not going to be subjected to adverts all the time. They might show small trailers for programs but it's nothing compared to the commercial stations that bombard you every 15 minutes with "important messages".

I'm happy to pay the fee and watch real quality tv without commercialism....most of which is on bbc three and four. I watched a fantastic documentary on ship building in the clyde and it's deterioration on BBC 4 a few weeks ago and I would have happily paid the 12 quid to watch that program alone.

For the licence fee you get real impartiality...and quality.

On ITV's other channels you get "Jordans boobs...the story so far".

[Removed]

At least with the BBC I know I'm not going to be subjected to adverts all the time. They might show small trailers for programs but it's nothing compared to the commercial stations that bombard you every 15 minutes with "important messages".

I'm happy to pay the fee and watch real quality tv without commercialism....most of which is on bbc three and four. I watched a fantastic documentary on ship building in the clyde and it's deterioration on BBC 4 a few weeks ago and I would have happily paid the 12 quid to watch that program alone.

For the licence fee you get real impartiality...and quality.

On ITV's other channels you get "Jordans boobs...the story so far".

BBC impartial :faf:

Agree about the adverts though. I don't want to see commercials at prime time related to dib dabs :no way:

And what's wrong withg Jordans boobs anyway :greengrin

[HibsNibs]

I like some light entertainment stuff the BBC produce but the relentless leftist, environmentalist, multi-culturalist agenda of their news and current affairs output is not something I should be forced to pay for. Nobody forces right-on'ers to pay for the Daily Mail.

[Sylar]

At least with the BBC I know I'm not going to be subjected to adverts all the time. They might show small trailers for programs but it's nothing compared to the commercial stations that bombard you every 15 minutes with "important messages".

I'm happy to pay the fee and watch real quality tv without commercialism....most of which is on bbc three and four. I watched a fantastic documentary on ship building in the clyde and it's deterioration on BBC 4 a few weeks ago and I would have happily paid the 12 quid to watch that program alone.

For the licence fee you get real impartiality...and quality.

On ITV's other channels you get "Jordans boobs...the story so far".

Oi! :grr:

[New Corrie]

I would happily pay the licence fee for "5 live" alone. I think the BBC is worth every penny of the fee. All you had to do was watch Jonathon Meades latest efforts to see that. Cant cope with adverts i'm afraid (unless it's those meercat ones).

[hibsbollah]

Why don't the BBC just use adverts like the rest of the channels?

The absence of adverts is the one of the few redeeming features of the BBC. Im happy to pay the license fee for this alone (and that nice Mr Attenborough felly)

[PeeJay]

Why don't the BBC just use adverts like the rest of the channels?

Surely this would end up lowering the whole quality associated with the BBC or its motivation to present or produce programmes that are not geared towards maximum viewer ratings? Advertisers do not want programmes that cater for anything other than mass audiences. Here in Germany we have private stations that are fully financed by advertising revenue.
We also have state television to which the licence fee is apportioned, BUT the state companies also have some advertising (not as much as the private stations and nothing after 8 p.m.). so maybe some sort of mix would be possible in the UK too? Sometimes I think people do however, forget just how good the BBC really is though - particularly the radio stations, absolutely magnificent and the Beeb's internet site: second to none! All of which I enjoy without paying anything towards the licence fee I must admit (not so for the televison sadly) - so thank you everyone back in the UK.:thumbsup:

[Betty Boop]

Surely this would end up lowering the whole quality associated with the BBC or its motivation to present or produce programmes that are not geared towards maximum viewer ratings? Advertisers do not want programmes that cater for anything other than mass audiences. Here in Germany we have private stations that are fully financed by advertising revenue.
We also have state television to which the licence fee is apportioned, BUT the state companies also have some advertising (not as much as the private stations and nothing after 8 p.m.). so maybe some sort of mix would be possible in the UK too? Sometimes I think people do however, forget just how good the BBC really is though - particularly the radio stations, absolutely magnificent and the Beeb's internet site: second to none! All of which I enjoy without paying anything towards the licence fee I must admit (not so for the televison sadly) - so thank you everyone back in the UK.:thumbsup:
Channel 4 also has some excellent programmes and documentaries, but I agree with your comment regarding some kind of mix. The BBC has a deal with YouTube, is that not advertising? :confused:

[Speedy]

You'd have to accept not being able to use the BBC website, iPlayer, BBC Radio any other BBC output? All funded by the TV Licence.

You don't need a licence to use any of those things.

[Scouse Hibee]

I think you should be given the option to get sky or virgin without the BBC channels so you don't have to pay the licence. That doesn't really answer your question though

You need the licence for any equipment that can recieve a TV signal including a mobile phone so it wouldn't make a difference.

[Speedy]

You need the licence for any equipment that can recieve a TV signal including a mobile phone so it wouldn't make a difference.

Only if you use it for watching TV.

[Scouse Hibee]

Only if you use it for watching TV.

Doesn't say that on the back of the licence if I recall correctly, which I probably don't!!

[Speedy]

You only need it for live broadcasts

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/

[hibsbollah]

You don't need a licence to use any of those things.

No, but the TV licence funds these things. Thats the point.

[Swoosh]

Not a fan of the fee at all, Dont watch much live TV. Mainly watch DVDs. Sometimes use the BBC football site to look at footie scores. But if i was givin the option to not pay a fee i'd jump at the chance and use the Sky Sports website instead.
Nothing on BBC really intrests me. Some football on, but if there is Football on then there is usualy a better game on Sky Sports.

Scrap it i say :thumbsup:

[Speedy]

No, but the TV licence funds these things. Thats the point.

:confused:

Obviously they are funded by the licence fee but the original quote said I'd have to accept not using the website, iplayer etc. if I wasn't paying a TV licence which isn't true.

[hibsbollah]

:confused:

Obviously they are funded by the licence fee but the original quote said I'd have to accept not using the website, iplayer etc. if I wasn't paying a TV licence which isn't true.

Think about it.

[Scouse Hibee]

:confused:

Obviously they are funded by the licence fee but the original quote said I'd have to accept not using the website, iplayer etc. if I wasn't paying a TV licence which isn't true.

So if the licence fee was abolished, these sites funded by the licence fee would be funded by???

[Speedy]

I think I have maybe been misunderstood. I was not suggesting abolishing the licence fee. I was suggesting that there should be an option to receive sky tv without the BBC channels rather than the current options of all or nothing.

Obviously this would have some impact on the amount of money available to invest in websites etc. but that wasn't what I was talking about.

[Scouse Hibee]

I think I have maybe been misunderstood. I was not suggesting abolishing the licence fee. I was suggesting that there should be an option to receive sky tv without the BBC channels rather than the current options of all or nothing.

Obviously this would have some impact on the amount of money available to invest in websites etc. but that wasn't what I was talking about.

Okay I see what you're saying, however the licence is required if you watch any TV so excluding the BBC channels would not make a difference.

[da-robster]

Here's some intresting things David Attenborough thinks about the BBC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_David_Attenborough#The_BBC_and_public_service_ broadcasting