BBC not worth the cost of a TV Licence
02-September-2010
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BBC not worth the cost of a TV Licence

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Like most people in Britain I own a television set and I am currently paying the £104 'BBC TV licence fee' each year and my gripe is that I'd like to know what I'm getting for my money!

The TV Licence - funding the BBC

Like many other people I feel that I am subsidising the BBC because I rarely ever watch terrestrial television and I prefer to surf the many digital channels currently on offer instead.

Some of the reasons given for the fee is that it helps to keep the quality of BBC TV programmes at a high standard and makes it possible for them to broadcast quality content without the constant interruption of annoying advertisements and commercials.  Personally I think these are pretty valid points, but they are probably the only ones as far as I can see.

Also if you were to treat the TV Licence fee as a subscription and compare the cost with a subscription to the popular digital services.  Your subscription to terrestrial channels would work out at about 10 to 15 times more expensive!

What are the alternatives to a TV Licence?

So what are the alternatives to funding the BBC with the licence fee and what would the end product be like?  One option would be to charge a separate subscription fee and possibly even boost revenues by allowing advertisments.  I suspect though that this may not be too popular due to the fact that people quite like having a channel with no adverts on.  Another option would be to integrate the channels with existing subscription services so that you can opt in for these channels in the same way that you would for any other premium channel.

At the end of the day though, it's probably all too much trouble for those in charge and besides they would not be prepared to accept any of the inevitable losses that would be incurred.

Paying for a licence
If you're paying for a TV licence like the rest of us, you might as well check out what the beeb have to say on the subject.  There's lots of usefull information here like how to pay for one, if your so inclined that is!

Watching the TV on your PC
If you thought that it might be possible to watch TV without a licence then have a read at this article from The Register, it might make you think twice about that.

Campaign to abolish the licence fee
This site is really worth checking out if you feel strongly about this subject.  There's lots of information and points of interest in this site, so don't delay - check it out now and make a stand!


Other Related Gripes

TV programme spoiled by 'Coming Up' clips
Watching TV on the Internet
TV presenters who mumble
What's coming up next on TV?
TV on-screen logos are annoying
Need a TV licence to watch BBC1 online
Why is digital television slower than analogue?
Wasting money on Sky and Sky Plus
TV Licensing send threatening letters
Sky Movies a waste of money
No television in this house
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Breaking news from the BBC
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TV commercials that denigrate men
Sky customer service a joke
Adverts on television and radio
IPTV and the threat of a PC tax
Reality TV shows aren't real life





Should the TV Licence be scrapped?

Do you think the BBC is good value for money and things should stay as they are, or do you think the television licence should be abolished?


 Yes, scrap it
 No, it is value for money
 I don't care


Visitor Comments

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At this moment in time, the BBC is showing video's of everyone but the Beatles singing the Beatles hits, one after the other, raking in billions you would have thought the BBC could have done a decent compilation of videos of the real artists.
*Gainsborough lad.  25-Aug-2010 20:20

 
I received a renewal notice for my TV license, but when I phoned, I only got a recorded, automated system with no way out. I found out it doesnt matter when you take the TV licence, you have to pay for the whole year. I should start in June and pay £145 for the period of 5 months..!! Why do they not have a telephone SERVICE? Haven´t they paid their phone bill? Maybe the phone company wanted 12 months money for 5 months of service?
*MARK BAYLISS  30-Jul-2010 11:18

 
The director general and deputy director general of the BBC are both men. Men are in charge of the government and most banks and financial institutions and are responsible for the current global financial crisis.

If you cannot live with the fact that some women are now in a very few positions of power then that is your problem.

Presumably you did not mind when most television and radio was anti-women and anti-black?

Have you ever actually listened to radio 4? A book at bedtime,The Archers and In Touch are hardly propaganda!
*mrs archer  25-Jul-2010 22:23

 
Get rid of the BBC. It is just a front for a load of loony PC types. While your at can someone stop radio 4 being used as a vehicle for all kinds of anti male, anti white and anti worker propaganda.
*BBC too PC  25-Jul-2010 22:00

 
dont confuse the licence fee and the B.B.C. the B.B.C. get paid from the licence fee.
the Licence Fee payments go to govenment (stealth tax)thats why the B.B.C puts in a claim for
payments (but not all go to the bbc) Now look at your license(if you have one) nowhere does it mention bbc It says you can now watch a tv set watch and record tv progammes on your computer ,any diggy box.or mobile phone without breaking the law.scrap the bbc?but that wont
SCRAP THE LICENCE
*gloves  06-Jul-2010 11:46

 
It is a tax on owning a TV given to an arrogant ,overrated and outdated institution. Scrap it.
*Kalasim  01-Jul-2010 07:25

 
lets all send them a copy of last years cheque see how they like so many repeats
*im going back to black and white  25-Jun-2010 18:25

 
Why are we paying for a service which is outdate & redundant?, there is never anything on the BBC worth watching because its all repeats repeats repeats, the same movie/program is played at the weekend that was played during the week & vice versa, if the bbc wants to charge let all their channels be pay per view & let the general public watch the free to air channels in peace with no licence fee being enforced.
*Coldfusion  22-Jun-2010 14:05

 
I can't believe we are forced to pay a TV licence for the BBC as almost everyone I know watches the other channels which have more interesting programs. Please stop that bloody TV Licence or close for good both channels of the BBC as we are not going to miss them. Or charge for it only to the rich people and not to the poor people who is struggling in this country.
*Lorraine  09-Jun-2010 15:25

 
Things should not stay as they are, but I like my programmes uninterrupted by tiresome 5-minute long commercial breaks. The sad thing about the "Yes" voters on this site, is that they completely miss the point. Every time they buy something that's been advertised on TV, they are also paying for the adverts!!! 38p a day isn't that much really, compared to £50+ a week to watch a bunch of obscenely overpaid 'athletes' kick a ball around for 90 minutes!!
*Dave Mundy  08-Jun-2010 08:53

 
THE BBC T.V. LICENCE EXTORTION =jobs for the boys,and contempt of the british public .They do advertise in .ways, books for so called celebs on chat shows.Their own progs on billboards around the country and of course MASSIVELY on digital channels which one again pays for ! Which the bbc infiltrate.All backed by continuous governments.See www.bbcresistance.com
*nobody knows what its all about.  31-May-2010 22:49

 
TV License is daylight robbery. They are even asking for a license if you watch TV on your phone. Honestly, what's this world coming to? I will try to be as civil as BBC enforcement officers are. Truly this is becoming a totalitarian state and we by no means will put up with this.
*Mr. Protester  28-May-2010 15:45


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