Hanley

I heard on the local radio yesterday (City in Liverpool) that 8 Merseyside people are challenging the TV licence fee.

They are claiming it violates their human rights

What does everyone think of their chances?

I think our courts will laugh them out but if they pursue it to the European Court then who knows....after all aren't we the only country doing with a TV licence?

Personally I'd love them to win

Tommy 2000

that story makes sense...it's one of the only things that scousers can't thieve!

TelBoy

Hate paying TV licence fee, primarily because you HAVE to pay it, whether or not you watch BBC. There ought to be the ability to turn off the availability of BBC for those who don't want to/can't afford to pay, imo.
Heaven knows how they'd do it though, although it must be possible with digital transmissions, i'd have thought. Although i'd hate adverts on BBC as an alternative.

Hanley

Telboy

Why would you hate adverts on BBC?

Every other channel you watch has adverts on, whats the problem with one more?

IWatkins

And the BBC have adverts all the time anyway. Granted, it is for their own programmes and channels (or Radio Times) but they usually squeeze is a couple of adverts between every programme.

Cheers

Ian

Hanley

I think it's a complete rip off

They take all the licence money and then cry to the government that they need x millions or they won't be able to manage

So you are in fact paying a lot more than just your licence fee to the BBC

TelBoy

True, the programme advertising on BBC is prolific enough.

But with commercial adverts too, it would drive me nuts! At least on the BBC when a programme starts you know it won't be interrupted. Which is usually a good thing.

chiark

...other than films, which they break around the news.

Whoever thought this was an acceptable solution should be, and I don't think I'm being overly harsh here, taken out and shot.

Reffro

Why is everyone missing the point here.

You are not paying a subscription to the BBC as you would to receive Sky, you are paying a License fee to use your TV receiver, as you do to use your car.

OK so eventually the money does end up funding the BBC, so they can provide TV, Radio (I'm sure some of you listen to the radio they seem to have them fitted in most cars nowadays), Websites such as BBC News which people here often post links to, etc etc.

At the end of the day you are paying to use a piece of machinery which the government has decreed you need a license to continue using. They can remove this license fee I'm sure but you'll end up paying extra income tax / VAT or whatever. At least the current system offers some transparency, so you know exactly what its costing you to support the BBC. I for one still enjoy having a advert free service, with occasional quality programmes, when was the last time you saw anything vaguely like a documentary on ITV.

Hanley

Reffro

Thats pure bull****

Let them fund themselves

It s a load of cr*p anyway

Reffro

Its not bull****.

You can quite legally own a television and provided you are not using it to receive a TV transmission it doesn't need a license. FACT. Same as you can own a car and provided its not used on the road you don't pay road tax. FACT. Plain and simple really.

The only exception is that the money that is raised from the TV license (A tax to use your TV in reality) is ring-fenced and paid to the BBC, I'd like to see the money raised from road vehicles ring-fenced in the same way, but the fact is that they only spend a fraction of what is raised on Transport the rest goes on the NHS, Social Security etc etc.

chiark

You try persuading the license boys that you don't use your TV if they find one hidden after writing you a letter... If you know of a success story, let me know

Nimbus

How is it violating their human rights??

MrDBM

interesting story, and for the record, I think paying to use a TV is totally outrageous...

I'm much more interested in the fact that TV License spending is to be looked at thoroughly and audited - now we should be able to see exactly where our +£100 per year goes.

Dirty_Den

I believe it has something to do with restricting the flow of public information from one person to another. Probably someone else will have a more complete explanation.

Den

Hanley

Reffro

Even if you don't have a TV you still have to pay....you pay for the radio!!!

Reffro

Do you?

I've never heard of a Radio license before, I know the Blair witch project thought of introducing one but ruled it out for fear of a backlash from drivers who have radios fitted to their cars.

Jerome

I hate having to pay the licence fee because I watch so little TV overall, let alone BBC1 or 2.

I would also prefer adverts on the Beeb. A 2 hour film and no adverts to take a comfort break, make a cuppa, refil a wine glass etc.

Dracoro

you have to buy a newspaper. you have to buy a tv or radio in the first place.

If it's restricting the 'flow of information' then stand in front of a TV shop when the news is on! free viewing and plenty of screens.

If the beeb didn't have licence fees then they'd have to advertise on tv & for one like the fact that the beeb doesn't have tv ads on.

Also the beeb is not, theoretically, tied to any of it's advertisers only to the public thus less conflict of interest regarding programming. They'd never have public information/educational programmes if it became another tv company having to answer to shareholders etc. which would happen if it were to become a privately funded. Imagine Rupert Murdoch getting his hands on the beeb!!!!!

World service, bbc radio and a certain amount of tv progs are top quality and these type of programmes never appear on the commercial tv/radio stations as they're only worried about viewing figures.

I'm all for more information about where the licence fee goes tho.

unclebuck

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

What I really love is watching all those programs where my licence fee is being p*ssed up a wall by a team of "experts" backed up by a film crew, to renovate someone's house or GARDEN for free.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr[img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

James Neill

iTrader: (1)

Having travelled quite a bit in this world - i have absolutely no problem paying the license fee. The BBC produces some of the best television anywhere on the planet. Compare this with the garbage that the US throws out.

Also, the news services they provide (reporting, radio, world service, etc) is second to none. I would really worry if we reach a point where all our news comes fom CNN and is reduced to sound bites (and too much make up on the presenters)

Dracoro

Also it's not a 'human right' to have a TV and you have to spend money to get one.

If you're not getting 'public' information as no tv/radio then go to a library.

This is as bad as those that live in 'poverty' coz they aint got a sky a porsche.

[Edited by Dracoro - 1/10/2003 6:18:31 PM]