Let’s talk about BBC

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Psamathe

Guru
Do you ever listen to any BBC Radio, or ever visit their website?
Those are not part of the License Fee. Anybody can listen to those without subscribing so I don't see that as relevant.

If relevant then maybe everybody using them should be paying not just a select group.
 
Just for clarity. No more, no less.

You need a TV Licence if you:
  • watch or record live TV on any channel or service
  • use BBC iPlayer
 
Do you ever listen to any BBC Radio, or ever visit their website?

But that's not really the point. It's simply a tax that is levied on those who choose to watch live TV in the UK in order to finance an important part of the UK broadcasting media. Once you choose to watch live TV, it's simply a tax levied, not a subscription to all or part of it.
 
I regard it as a subscription as payments go to a single broadcaster ie you are paying the BBC.

Well, that's not how it works, clearly, even if that's how you conceptualise it. As I say, it's a tax that finds the national broadcaster. You can choose not to pay it by not watching live TV, as I do.
 
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Psamathe

Guru
Well, that's not how it works, clearly, even if that's how you conceptualise it. As I say, it's a tax that finds the national broadcaster. You can choose not to pay it by not watching live TV, as I do.
For me it was very very marginal last renewal. Were my renewal today I'd be stopping as I only really watch one live TV program and that's not BBC and I could happily do without that one.
 
I might object to the enormous sums being spent on HS2, especially as I'm unlikely ever to use it, but that doesn't give me any right to not pay part of my tax bill. I have to accept that it is probably beneficial to the overall transport structure of the UK, and that's what some taxes are justifiably spent on.
 

PurplePenguin

Well-Known Member
Even if I didn't watch anything on the BBC, I still think it should be funded to benefit society.
 

Pross

Senior Member
My objection is about my being forced to subscribe to it even though I don't watch any BBC TV. That isn't elitist.

As I said, think of it as a communication tax. The licence isn't to watch the BBC, it was originally to have the use of a radio. The money is just ring fenced to fund a state broadcaster
 
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For me it was very very marginal last renewal. Were my renewal today I'd be stopping as I only really watch one live TV program and that's not BBC and I could happily do without that one.

Well there's your answer then. It's a tax you can actually choose not to pay, unlike most of them.
 

PurplePenguin

Well-Known Member
I might object to the enormous sums being spent on HS2, especially as I'm unlikely ever to use it, but that doesn't give me any right to not pay part of my tax bill. I have to accept that it is probably beneficial to the overall transport structure of the UK, and that's what some taxes are justifiably spent on.

I think this is a better objection than the no kids and education argument. You received an education and you are now repaying your debt. That's off topic though.
 
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Pross

Senior Member
It's not even as if the licence fee is a significant expense, I never understand people moaning about it in the grand scheme of things people spend more on.
 

Psamathe

Guru
Re: Website and Radio
How do you think they are funded?
In what way is that relevant to paying for TV broadcasts? I was discussing TV broadcasts whereas radio and website are not part of the TV License Fee.

If website and radio need including then there needs to be some way for BBC to charge subscriptions as making consumers of one form of media pay for a different form on behalf of others seems beyond weird.

nb BBC websites do get a fair criticism due to the pressures they put on our mainstream press. In effect BBC are competing against other press media on unequal terms.
 
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