BBC Licence Fee

[Mr Radish]

Originally Posted by Shooms

Basically where has the art of lucid, challenging, thought-provoking, intelligent social conversation gone to ?

That is unlikely to be the debate question on Jeremy Kyle!

[Presuming Ed]

Originally Posted by Lozzie

i think it's total capitalism

One of the reasons i don't watch much tv or read newspapers..the majority of issues are sensationalised to attract readers or viewers..and it all comes back to money at the end of the day..people produce newspapers and programmes to get paid at the end of the day. a classic example of a programme being made to seem more extreme than it really was recently, was one called 'sleeping with my sister' I know that 85% of the nation would see that title and think...oh my god how could someone do that and so tune...it turns out they were actually step brother and step sister...so were really not doing anything wrong in an incestual way...unfortunately things in the media will only get worse not better. I did used to love the life on earth programmes and some of the classic comedies like blackadder etc..but theres not much of that calibre these days. Now im sure people may say that by not reading newspapers or watching current affairs programmes i am in some way being ignorant...tbh as with most things i could really care less. Ed

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Originally Posted by Presuming Ed

One of the reasons i don't watch much tv or read newspapers..the majority of issues are sensationalised to attract readers or viewers..and it all comes back to money at the end of the day...

EXACTLY why having the BBC funded like it is is a GREAT thing.
Commercial profit-making privately run organisations are all well and good, but when it comes to reporting the news, I'll choose to believe the one organisation who don't rely on big business for their funding.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Interesting quotes in today's Metro from Stephen Fry about this subject...

and more here, although this un's mainly about iPlayer

a bent-nosed bummer he may be, but he's incredibly clever and he knows a thing or two about making films & telly programmes

[Dj M Jaxx]

I will buy a licence when they call it a BBC licence and not at TV license. This to me is a corperation full of lies. I shold have the right to have all bbc services cancled should i choose. There are more ways than just theres to find out all the information i need on the internet


It is my choice where i choose to find this information, i should not be contracted to one service, if i don't use it !!!!

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

I'm not gonna say it again...
nah bollocks yes i am.
Look at the bigger picture man... This kind of "me me me" mentality is gonna kill the arts in this country stone dead if we're not careful.
What if the people who never get sick "opt out" of funding the health service? Answer - there wouldn't (couldn't) be one.
I know there's a whole argument about the state of the health service which I'm not going near, my point is just that the principle is the same with the BBC.

IMO they should do away with the licence altogether, and put income tax up to cover it. That way people have no choice but to fund the BBC along with everything else income tax pays for. Then stop people who don't pay income tax from having access to anything the BBC puts out... That'll learn em...

Never happen of course, one because it's technically impossible and two because if it was funded from income tax the government would want to control it, which would be even wronger.

FFS, it's 3 quid a week! Why do people get so irate about having to pay it? Especially given all the arguments against the "principle of paying for TV channels you choose not to watch"... it's an idiotic stance to take, I'm afraid.

[Mr Radish]

Originally Posted by Dj M Jaxx

It is my choice where i choose to find this information, i should not be contracted to one service, if i don't use it !!!!

So you would never watch the 10 o'clock news, Little Britain, Live Sport, Nature programmes, Drama such as Life on Mars, Listen to any of the radio shows (I know you listen to Radio 1), Question Time, Documentaries such as the fab Age of Terrorism, Catherine Tate Show, Gavin and Stacy and many more?


Honest now?

[lastnightadj]

Originally Posted by Sheikh Yerbouti

a bent-nosed bummer he may be

Isn't he technically celibate?

I like to use the expression "confirmed bachelor"

[Dj M Jaxx]

Originally Posted by Mr Radish

So you would never watch the 10 o'clock news, Little Britain, Live Sport, Nature programmes, Drama such as Life on Mars, Listen to any of the radio shows (I know you listen to Radio 1), Question Time, Documentaries such as the fab Age of Terrorism, Catherine Tate Show, Gavin and Stacy and many more?


Honest now?

For the sake of not wanting to get in a debate about a topic im non to wise on, i will just say in my deffence

I dont really watch tv no, i have far better things to do with my time, and if i do, it most certainly is not the BBC.

Yes you are correct i do listen to radio1, but that is when i am at work, and that is there choice if they wish to buy a licence. I dont listen to the radio at home, i play my own music.

The fact of the matter still stands its A BBC not a TV Licence !!!

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Originally Posted by Dj M Jaxx

The fact of the matter still stands its A BBC not a TV Licence !!!

How is that even relevant?
OK, next lot they order from the printers, lets get them to stick a little BBC logo in the corner, before the word "Television".

Happy now?

[Dj M Jaxx]

Originally Posted by Sheikh Yerbouti

How is that even relevant?
OK, next lot they order from the printers, lets get them to stick a little BBC logo in the corner, before the word "Television".

Happy now?

because its called false information m8......look it up !!!

am i paying for a licence to watch a tv, no...im paying to fund a company that is not even stated on the contract

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Originally Posted by Dj M Jaxx

because its called false information m8......look it up !!!

am i paying for a licence to watch a tv, no...im paying to fund a company that is not even stated on the contract

mate, if that's keeping you awake nights, life must be good

[Mr Radish]

Originally Posted by Dj M Jaxx

For the sake of not wanting to get in a debate about a topic im non to wise on, i will just say in my deffence

I dont really watch tv no, i have far better things to do with my time, and if i do, it most certainly is not the BBC.

Yes you are correct i do listen to radio1, but that is when i am at work, and that is there choice if they wish to buy a licence. I dont listen to the radio at home, i play my own music.

The fact of the matter still stands its A BBC not a TV Licence !!!

Then fair enough, you do indeed have a legitimate claim to not need a TV licence. Hard bit is finding a way to exempt you without opening the floodgates to people who do use the BBC, but claim not to.

As for preferring other channels to the BBC, each to their own. You want to see the TV in other countries such as Italy, Spain and the USA. . . It even makes ITV look good.

Easy way to not pay legally would be not to own a tv.


Still think of your fee as helping maintain a national institution that many people value, then you are actually making a contribution to the nation. (IN FACT OSA COULD BENEFIT FROM MORE CONTRIBUTIONS).

As Sheik said, if all the people who wanted to opt out of paying for services did. . . there would be no public funded NHS, Schools, Libraries, Bin Collections, Police, Fire Service etc. . . . .oh. . . .unless by the greatest of ironies . .. you paid for them privately!

[Dj M Jaxx]

M8....im simply giving my own opinion.......what you choose to do with it is up to you

you wanna spend half a weeks wages on lining some corrupt company's pockets, then you go right ahead

Like i said, it is my right to choose whether i want to recieve this service that is all

[blue jammer]

The advent of broadband xDSL and cable modem services means more and more people will be tuning in on their computer screens instead of watching on their tellies.

And, it seems, the licensing authorities have already thought about this one and are advising anyone who asks that yes, you do need to buy a full TV licence if you're tuning in on your PC.

"...a television licence is required if you use television receiving equipment to record and/or receive certain television programme services," says Anthony Hardwell, Policy Manager of the Post Office Policy Group. "This means a licence is needed to receive BBC, ITV, Channels 4 and 5, digital television, other terrestrial services, satellite television (from a place in the United Kingdom) and cable television."

So far, so reasonable - if you have a telly, you need a licence.

However, Mr Hardwell goes on: "With this in mind it does not matter how the service is received but whether or not it is."

"If your computer is capable of receiving live broadcasts, whether on-line, through an aerial or satellite dish, then it is classed as television receiving equipment..."

So... if you didn't have a TV set in your house and you never rec'd any live transmissions, but downloaded programs and watched them back later on your PC, would you still need a licence?