Can someone explain to me why some countries have to have licence for T.V.?

Answer 1

Just another way to increase tax revenue. I've always been amused by Great Britain, where, for many years, the BBC was the only legal television station. Brits therefore had to pay a tax to watch programs payed for with tax money.

Answer 2

As others have mentioned, in the UK the BBC is entirely funded by television licensing. Anyone who owns equipment capable of receiving TV has to pay an annual license fee.

The reason there isn't just commercially funded channels is that the government believe the BBC provides a service that commercial channels cannot. For example, it provides special interest programmes (ie. See-Hear for deaf people, religious programming, educational programmes, etc.) that wouldn't have large enough audiences for commercial channels to target them.

The money also goes towards other events organised by the BBC (cultural entertainment type things) and the BBC radio stations.

On the other hand, the reason they don't pay for it directly from standard tax is so that the BBC is independent and not controlled by government. Hence why there's a license fee for those who choose to watch television.

I hope that explains things a bit.

Answer 3

Socialist and Islamist countries try to clamp down on information. Their governments want total control over the minds of their populations and a TV is a dangerous tool allowing people to get outside information that is not controlled by the government. So, they crack down on TV as well as internet access.

Answer 4

some of the channels in the UK are non comerecial. no adverts means no way for the network to pay for the shows, so a tv licence, meaning us pay for them.

Answer 5

It's only in britain we pay for one channel that does not have adverts