Free Licence Fee For All Over 75's Scrapped

[ladybirder]

What do you think of that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48583487

[gulliver1]

It will not be long before they slap a licence on Computers , Lap tops smart phones . tablets etc.

[ichkeria]

It’s good news. Free TV licences were introduced in 2000 by Labour but 4 years ago the Tories decided to make savings by have the BBC stump up the money out of the licence fee. That would have been a huge hole in the licence money, and an ever increasing one at they as the no of older people watching increased.
Nothing in life is entirely fair but if the government is not prepared to subsidise this, why should the BBC be forced to.

[Old_Geezer]

I think we should all get a "free" "licence". We all pay tax anyway. And then we could dispense with the cost of all the detection and harassment nonsense. Either it's in the whole nation's interest to have the BBC or it isn't. If it is fund it out of the tax we already pay.

[anotheoldgit]

It is in fact a licence to own a TV, if it wasn't then viewers should be given a choice of subscribing to the BBC or not.

One can choice if they want to view Sky and so pay for the privilege, so why should the BBC be any different?

Just like in Nazi occupied countries, when radio listeners hid their radios, I am going to hide my TV when the BBC's Gestapo come around.

[spathiphyllum]

You do not need a license for a TV, you need a license for the arial if you use it.

I have a TV license because i watch BBC and channel 4 / itv etc.. on my laptop.

I could have a TV and use it for netflix only, or for a games console, without needing a license.

[ichkeria]

You should direct your ire at the government. They very cunningly decided to transfer the burden of payment somewhere else so the BBC got the blame. In fact the BBC has not yet taken on the responsibility. And this is them saying they aren’t going to. Good for them.

[retrocop]

If I live to 75 I will, then, be totally deaf and more than likely half blind.The TV will end up in the dump. :-)

[Gromit]

I believe people over 75 have more integrity than accept a Gordon Brown election bribe. Elderly people will feel grubby accepting Labour’s cynical vote catcher.

[fender62]

bbc license is an out dated concept, scrap it..if you want netflix pay, sky pay, it's about choice is it not, no license then you cannot use your tv if it receives a bbc signal, can they not make tv's that do not pick up bbc signal.

[cashier]

It's going up by £4 as well. It should be abolished and as other people have said, pay to view. It's almost a hidden tax.

[ladybirder]

Hopefully there will be some clarification in the media over the next few days clarifying exactly what can, if anything, be watched without a licence. I have Netflix for instance. So should I not be able to watch that without a licence?

[SparklyKid]

You will still qualify if lucky enough to be on benefits.

[vulcan42]

Haven't watched BBC for months as I think the programmes are very poor. I can live without the few programmes watched on other channels so if the licence comes in the TV goes out.

[anotheoldgit]

spathiphyllum
/// You do not need a license for a TV, you need a license for the arial if you use it. ///

Well that is strange, since I was asked to give my personal details when I bought a TV, but I can never remember when I was ever asked to give the same information when I purchased a TV aerial.

[ichkeria]

Lol
It’s hardly a hidden tax.
Subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon, sky, BT Sport, Premier Sport etc et mc are not mutually exclusive, are also not hidden, and also add up.
Are Sky reviewing their free subscriptions for over 75s too I wonder ;-)

[spathiphyllum]

AOG, you do not need a TV license to buy, or own a TV.

You need the license to actually watch / use the station.

I have never been requested for anything but payment when purchasing a TV.

[Jackdaw33]

Spath is wrong. If you own any equipment capable of receiving a TV signal you need a licence .

[ichkeria]

That’s a common misconception spath.
The TV licence IS as a matter of fact for the right to watch live tv channels, not specifically BBC ones.
Traditionally that money has been used to fund the BBC.
Anachronistic? Probably, but they’d how it currently is

[spathiphyllum]

"Spath is wrong. If you own any equipment capable of receiving a TV signal you need a licence ."

No you don't.

[spathiphyllum]

Jackdaw, and others :

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-legal-framework-AB16