Rage!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5345132.stm

Well nobody asked me!

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Saw this earlier and would like to know where my money goes cos most of the programmes on the beeb are ****.
Wouldn't mind finding out who they ask for all these opinion polls cos i don't know anyone who has been asked.

davegtt

or me, the only thing I like about the BBC is probably Radio 1 and when they have the footy on (usually FA Cup etc)

OllyK

I'd prefer it if you had to pay to view BBC, I don't watch it anyway

lightning101

That doesn't sound like we all want an increase in our fees

OllyK

Hmmm - £30 a month for the BBC offerings or about the same for the discovery channels - no brainer really. When can I opt out?

Vapid

Isn't it still cheap compared to the £30 quid or more some of you morons cough upto Sky every month for their diet of american imports, crap sporting events and censored movies?

davegtt

No because we get a choice of what sport we watch or what film we watch, the BBC offer us 4 TV channels (2 of which are only available on digital anyway) and some radio stations.... £30 is a complete rip off, I wouldnt miss it at all if it wasnt available

OllyK

Being forced to pay £30 for something you don't watch good value? I think not.

Vapid

You get a choice of what sport or what film you watch on the BBC. You just turn the TV on when something you want to watch is on and then turn it off again when it's finished.

It's an utter bargain compared to sky.

Vapid

You aren't forced to pay £30, there is no compulsion for you to own a TV, or am I missing something here?

stilover

Same as the majority of the British public support more speed camera's

If they say it, it must be true. Governments never lie !!!

TelBoy

Owning a television doesn't necessarily imply that you want to watch the BBC though.

The licence is an anachronism, and although i'd hate to see adverts to replace it, there has to be a better way to raise funds than this.

OllyK

If you want to watch TV other than the BBC, you still have to pay their fee, it's a bit like having to pay BMW £300 a year for servicing despite owning a Ford and getting it serviced by them.

mad_dr

TOP analogy!

Vapid

The origins of the licence are a little more complicated than that but essentially it's a licence fee you are paying to use a TV to receive broadcasts as I understand it. Who it funds is of little matter.
If the money didn't go the the BBC then it would go to the government and you'd get nothing for your money because if the BBC stopped existing tommorrow then you could be sure as hell that the licence fee wouldn't.
Looks like value to me as you get something in return for your taxes and there is of course no compulsion whatsoever on you to own or use a television.

Vapid

again edited to reflect reality as you will of course still be receiving BBC channels on your Sky digibox , your radio etc etc.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Isn't it odd how the TV licence is the only tax that's ring-fenced for one specific and relevant purpose?

Imagine for a moment that all motoring taxes - fuel duty, road tax, new car tax and road tolls - were all actually spent on building and maintaining a transport infrastructure. By now I'd probably be able to get to work and back on a MagLev train that would cost 50p a trip and would take 5 minutes.

I wonder whether people were asked if they'd happily forego the new digital channels and online offerings, if that meant they could have a reduction in licence fee? I would - and I'm in the well educated, high earner category that's apparently supposed to support an increase.

davegtt

But Sky can block specific channels if you dont pay for them, so we dont pay for the BBC let sky block the channel, easy.

Vapid

.......currently though you'd still be able to recieve it via your rooftop aerial.

davegtt

Thats not my problem though, why should I pay for something I dont particually want or like?

Would you pay a tax for being allowed to drive a car even though you dont use or own one?

Vapid

Yes and for many years when I had no car I did, it's called a driving licence.

The reason you are paying for the BBC is because you choose to have a TV. If you don't want to pay then get rid of the TV. Nobody is forcing you to own one.

OllyK

I don't have one

hectic

nope, not that easy... the rule of thumb is that your tv is 'capable' of receiving the signal... simple as , large pair of pliers ..two very sore gonads

OllyK

You don't have to pay £200 per year for your driving licence whether you use it or not.

Vapid

Then you could recieve it from an indoor aerial. The point is you are capable of receiving it.

davegtt

Erm, one off fee presuming you pass the test....

Vapid

No but I did have to pay an initial fee for it despite not being a driver for many years. Then I had to pay to upgrade it for a photocard. Do I bitch about it? No because it's my choice to want to have one. A bit like you with your televisions.

Did you ever consider not having a television or is that something you couldn't face?

and a fee is a fee whether or not it's annual or a one off payment........

OllyK

And it still sucks and should be charged on a usage basis, the trouble is the BBC would struggle to survive on what it woudl then get.

TelBoy

Or pay for a passport if you don't intend travelling abroad.

But you DO have to pay for a telly licence irrespective of whether you want to watch the BBC's output of not. The BBC is not "television".

It has to be the most indiscriminate, unfairly applied tax in the country. I can't think of a single similar tax. The BBC know it too; i'd love to see how many people would opt out of receiving BBC channels if they were able to forego the licence. Lots, i reckon.