Let’s talk about BBC

[Rusty Nails]

I took up a half price offer from C4 for ad free programs.
I watched a 90 minute show last night. It had 6 unavoidable ad breaks for upcoming programs. They may have been a lot shorter, but their ad free claim is bogus.
I won’t be renewing.

I have a hard drive recorder and record anything, other than live sport, I want to watch on commercial TV. I can then watch it at my preferred time, fast-forwarding through the ads, and usually save around 10-15 minutes on an hour long program.

 

[Beebo]

Same way as the BBC don't count promoting their shows as adverts

But if you paid for no adverts you would expect to be able to skip the promo stuff.

 

[laurentian]

But if you paid for no adverts you would expect to be able to skip the promo stuff.

Pretty sure you can on iPlayer

 

[AndyRM]

Pretty sure you can on iPlayer

You can.

 

[All uphill]

I'd be pretty annoyed if I was told we had to pay for an entertainment service we don't use.

Is TV now an essential service?

Do you die if you don't have a TV?

 

[First Aspect]

I'd be pretty annoyed if I was told we had to pay for an entertainment service we don't use.

Is TV now an essential service?

Do you die if you don't have a TV?

It's essential in the same way that the internet is.

 

[All uphill]

It's essential in the same way that the internet is.

But we can choose whether or not to pay for an internet service, and can choose between competing providers.

With this proposal we have to pay a new tax and are restricted to one provider. A very different proposition.

 

[briantrumpet]

But we can choose whether or not to pay for an internet service, and can choose between competing providers.

With this proposal we have to pay a new tax and are restricted to one provider. A very different proposition.

It's a tricky one to square if one believes in some sort of free market and fair competition, even if the outcome is desirable (which I think it is).

 

[Pblakeney]

I'd be pretty annoyed if I was told we had to pay for an entertainment service we don't use.

Is TV now an essential service?

Do you die if you don't have a TV?

I presume that you do not watch live events?

 

[All uphill]

I presume that you do not watch live events?

No, we don't.

Or any other kind of events for that matter.

I read books and browse the internet. With my failing hearing I avoid audio as it's too depressing.

 

[Pblakeney]

No, we don't.

Or any other kind of events for that matter.

I read books and browse the internet. With my failing hearing I avoid audio as it's too depressing.

Fair enough.
You are in the extreme minority though.

 

[All uphill]

Fair enough.
You are in the extreme minority though.

I realised that about 50 years ago!

English Republican,
Football allergic,
Non-aligned politically active,
Atheist
Diversity loving person who rides a bike.

But at least I'm not a lefty, @Stevo 666

 

[First Aspect]

But we can choose whether or not to pay for an internet service, and can choose between competing providers.

With this proposal we have to pay a new tax and are restricted to one provider. A very different proposition.

It's not strictly for one provider and fwiw I'd be in favour of a pot of money for any provider to provide certain types of content. A lot of countries have state media and the BBCs impartiality is about as good as it gets, even though it's infuriating and imperfect.

Whether that content includes only news/current affairs/educational, radio and where the boundaries of those are, I'm less sure.

Providing it doesn't include strictly or any horse racing, that's the main thing.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I'd be pretty annoyed if I was told we had to pay for an entertainment service we don't use.

Is TV now an essential service?

Do you die if you don't have a TV?

But remember there is radio as well, and there must be (I think mandated in the contract?) a platform for public information and emergency broadcasts? Anyway, I assume that if it was a PAYG service then you'd have adverts on BBC and would pay monthly for an ad-free service? They probably fear that many people would just put up with ads if it means free TV so they'd be even worse off

 

[briantrumpet]

Fair enough.
You are in the extreme minority though.

Slightly less extreme: I think I fit that description too.