im forever getting threats about not having a t.v licence surely im no the only one who feels this way,it's time for a stand people!!!
2006-09-02 11:33:17 · 25 answers · asked by johnnyzap 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
I quite agree, ITV and Channels 4 + 5 both manage without the licence fee through adverts and I think that BBC should do the same. I pay mine through direct debit, which is the supposed "easiest and cheapest" way of doing it. absolute rubbish, I have to pay an credit charge on my debit because I pay for the licence 3months at a time. we are changing it at the moment so we have paid half of next years and therefore will not incur the credit charge.
I always thought that by paying through direct debit you were supposed to save money, most companies tell you that they will give you a small amount off the total, but not the BBC they make you pay more, in my case over £5 per year at the moment, so if 20,000 people do the same that is an extra 1million that they gain that they are not entitled to.
We could always do away with the BBC, and not pay a licence at all. Unfortunately we cannot not pay it, because they are always chasing you for the licence fee, they are like bloodhounds, they will not give up while you owe them money. They are worse than the Water companies and they are quick to take you to court over unpaid bills.
The BBC do not help themselves though. they have made changes on how to pay your licence, unlike before when you could buy stamps at the post office, you cannot do that now. they give you a payment card, okay thats fine, you can use that to pay at the post office. Wait a minute...................... the BBC have now said that you cannot pay at the post office any longer, you must pay by direct debit or if you have a payment card then you must take it to the nearest paypoint outlet and pay it there. does everybody know where their nearest paypoint outlet is?????????
It looks like the BBC has joined forces with the goverment to try and do away with the small post offices by withdrawing the services that they can provide to the community, they are now making noises to do away the post office card accounts that people use to have their benefits paid into, where will it end.????
2006-09-02 12:01:18 · answer #1 · answered by cross_sox 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The licence fee currently goes solely to the BBC, and forms approximately 75% of its income . However, the UK's second public broadcaster, Channel 4 has claimed that it may need licence fee income if it is to continue with public broadcasting after digital switch-over. To this end, on April 25 2006, it was announced that Channel 4's digital switch-over bill would be paid for from the licence fee .
Collection is enforced by criminal law. However, since 1991, the revenue is collected privately by the BBC and does not pass through the state before reaching the BBC, and hence it is inaccurate to refer to the BBC as a "state broadcaster". The BBC in turn have contracted out the work to three companies, Capita, Revenue Management Services and AMV Consortium, working together under the trading name TV Licensing. Prior to 1991, the collection and administration of the UK licence fee was the responsibility of the Home Office.
Lets just hope not all channels will want a license fee. I think that the digital switchover may start incorporating the license fee.
2006-09-04 05:50:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that the TV licence is a rip-off, I think the BBC and their multiple TV and radio channels offer VERY good value for money and we should be proud of them, it's not just actual adverts it's having the program content driven by advertising!
The rip-off is Sky and the other subscription digital television channels where you pay at least double the TV licence fee to watch second-rate television interrupted every five or ten minutes by commercials, So you PAY to watch COMMERCIAL TV!
Note how much BBC content you actually watch (if you are in UK) and you may realise that Quality is worth paying a nominal licence fee for.
I cancelled my digital TV subscription over two years ago after getting fed up with the QUALITY of what I was paying for (content). I now rely on free channels and BBC and can honestly say that I have saved nearly £250 a year and the quality of my available TV programmes has (if anything) improved!
It's the rip-off subscriptions that you should be moaning about. If your licence fee doubled AND the BBC took advertising revenue there would be uproar, yet you happily pay AT LEAST double the licence fee to watch (mostly bought in) second-rate TV, driven by advertising on COMMERCIAL TV!
All the best NEW TV programmes during (at least) the last year have been BBC. Good old BBC, we would all miss it if it disappeared.
2006-09-02 12:04:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The alternative is you have pay per view or look for more advertising to pay for the programs. As there is only so much money in the cooperate advertisers pot it would mean a dilution of money sponsoring programmes or television production companies. Hence programmes would suffer across the board and those bad programmes that fill our screens for the majority of the time would get worse.
T.V production companies including the BBC sell there programmes to other countries and rely on the licensing and sales of DVD's but it is not enough.
That and radio is why we need a licence fee and if you have read this to the end it is more boring than our television so you probably deserve what you get
2006-09-02 11:50:17 · answer #4 · answered by philipscottbrooks 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its a sort of compulsory pay per view system. But look at what you get for the money, BBC 1 - 4, All of BBC Radio, Including Radio 1 (responsible for launching most of UK pop for the last 20 years) Radio 2, with Jeremy Vine at lunch, a standard of debate you just dont get on commercial radio, classical on 3, comedy on 4, the list is endless.
Plus downloads and repeats on the internet.
No adverts, rally good (reliable and respected) world news coverage
The BEST DAMN TV on the planet (Have you seen what passes for TV in the US!!!)
Not to mention Doctor Who & David Attenborough
Compare this with other (voluntary) Pay channels, such as SKY, (blink and you miss the program between the ads!) with MORE to pay if you want other sky channels
Stand all you want! I'll pay up!
2006-09-02 11:43:47 · answer #5 · answered by agtfos 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So do you never watch the BBC or listen to it's radio stations? Ok so you may resent paying the licence but it's all about quality. Right now on BBC 2 we have highlights of the Reading/Leeds music festivals, on ITV1 we have something called "The Mint" where some bloke is trying to get you to part with your money by phoning a premium rate line!
2006-09-02 12:22:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why? Because we are a cultured lot.
BBC website is the most popular site in Europe. It aslo educates all our kids at gcse and A level.
BBC news is of the highest quality.
BBC world service ensures espionage/ british intelligence across the globe. We know what's happening.
Thank god for TV without adverts.
We spread the English Language across the globe with it.
It funds the arts and Humanities.......Give it a try -you will earn more money and respect as a cultured person.
Ask the Dutch.....they've been 'stealing' the BBC signals for free the last 40 years.
It certainly has enriched their culture
2006-09-02 11:56:47 · answer #7 · answered by Jimbobarino 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its a BIG BUMP!! Especially since we all have digital/ntl/sky etc....
Just be careful - When I moved into my new house they came knocking on my door!!! coz i just moved in it was cool, just payed for the previous 2wks... If u been there 4 a while - Boi!!!!!! U will get slappd wi a BIG **** fine as well as havin to bk pay (not trynta scare ya)...
I wonder if it will ever be abolished? Doubt it very much though.... 90 odd percent of the uk have tv's... Imagine the amount of revenue that generates?? Many millions a month no doubt... And where does it go ??
Rip Off !!!
2006-09-02 11:43:08 · answer #8 · answered by BlueMorpho 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Despite its many faults, the BBC still produces most of the best TV in the world. It is able to produce intelligent programmes that inform and entertain because it is not dependant upon advertising revenue. Commercial channels set out to attract the largest possible audience and this means they have to turn out absolute rubbish to appeal to the lowest common denomination of person.
Go to the USA and watch their television and, with a few exceptions, you'll realise how fortunate we are in the UK.
2006-09-02 11:59:11 · answer #9 · answered by Peter Bro 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you require a licence to operate a radio receiver the fact that it covers your TV is irrelevant it pays not only for your TV but for all the BBC channels that are transmitted radio and TV
It allows people in remote countries to listen to real news via their world service surely it's a small amount to pay
but you have a choice pay it / pay the fine/ or go to jail take your pick
2006-09-02 11:48:00 · answer #10 · answered by bbh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋