TV Licence - fair or not?

[Spikey88]

Am I right in thinking that my TV licence fee all goes to the BBC?
Don't get me wrong I watch BBC but after thinking about it - I watch more ITV overall.
The BBC don't show adverts (except for their own progs...obviously ) & to be honest the ad breaks on itv come in handy for wee breaks/kettle on etc.
Do you think the licence should be dropped & the BBC should start financing through adverts?

[jake-the-peg]

It's not so much BBC1 as BBC2 and 4 that needs state protection.

A lot of the stuff on BBC1 hardly comes under public service broadcasting and would attract advertising.

However the billiant programming on 2 and 4 would never get made without state support and we'd all be the poorer for it.

A possible third way might be to split the BBC so radio 1, 2, BBC1 and 3 become commercial and radio 4 and 5 and local radio along with BBC2 and 4 stay funded by a reduced license fee with a strengthened public service remit

[Everhelpful]

The only thing that bugs me is the money needlessly wasted!!
2 Newsreaders reading 1 line each,5 Football pundits telling you what you have already watched,unfunny "comedians" like Dawn French and Lenny Henry,Jonathon Ross getting �6 million per year,He's good,but not that good. I could go on but I have to be somewhere in the next 10 days.!!

[Mattk]

as was pointed out to me recently the license is not just for bbc. this is a common misunderstanding.

"Under the Communications Act 2003, you need a television licence to receive or record television programmes. This applies if they are received by a satellite, cable or land based transmitter. If you are watching any satellite service, controlled from within or outside the UK, you must have a television licence."

[BenDToy]

I object to my licence money being used to fund blatantly "commercial" programmes. Sure the Beeb produces some excellent stuff, but why do they need to spend so much money trying to compete. Stick to the drama, documentary type format and leave the soaps, reality TV, sport, films, and even comedy to others. Why should my money be paying for Jonathan Ross and the like? Also, as for being independant - pah! The BBC is nothing more than a Government mouthpiece - ever since they exposed the WMD/David Kelly fiasco they have been scared to offer any criticism of New Labour.

[lilminxlou]

i do! particularly when you pay your tv licensing and all the bbc can come up with is repats as was the case a few years ago. also for some reason i always find the Htv dramas more impacting