Jonathon Ross's Salary

[Kathyan]

It's just been announced that the BBC are to pay Jonathon Ross the staggering sum of �18 million to stay with them. I find this grossly insulting due to the fact that because my husband is in N Ireland with the Army, and living in the Mess, we have to pay for two TV licences. Does anyone agree that it's time for the TV licence to be abolished?

[THECORBYLOON]

The licence works out at less than 36p a day which is less than the cost of most newspapers. The BBC provides eight television channels, 10 national radio stations and more than 50 local radio and television stations. Not bad value for 36p a day eh?

[Kathyan]

OK the BBC provides 8 channels (we only watch one and not much of that) we don't listen to BBC radio (prefer local commercial) so we get nothing for our (two) licence fees. I'd rather buy a newspaper!

[WaldoMcFroog]

It depends.

If you want your television to lose any semblence of innovation, then yes, scrap the licence fee.
If you want to see lowest common denominator television that seeks only to maximise it's audience, then yes, scrap the licence fee.
If you want to destroy probably the single most respected news gathering agency in the world, then yes, scrap the licence fee.

Jonathon Ross isn't worth �18M of anyone's money, but the BBC is not an institution worth losing. We'd all be poorer for it. Did you see the recent recommendation that perhaps Radio 1 and 2 should be privatised? Now, that is something worthy of discussion, IMO...

[El D]

Of course, the fact remains that we can choose not to buy a particular newspaper - surely if the BBC is that worthy of remaining an institution enough people will back it based on the quality of its programmes?

[kempie]

Do people honestly believe that if the BBC did not exist that the Government would not tax broadcast transmissions.

The licence fee covers all TV broadcasts and is channelled into a body which actually puts something (a hell of a lot actually) back into TV and radio.

This is exactly what doesn't happen when the Government gets directly involved e.g. less than a fifth of revenue raised from VED, Fuel (Duty and VAT) is returned to Roads & Public Transport.

[johnlambert]

your hubbby only pays TV licence in the UK ,when overseas he wont pay it, when I was in the Sgt's Mess in Germany we only had BFBS (paid for by the british tax payer), and the German and Dutch channels

[johnlambert]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sorry should have said british licence fee payer

[Kathyan]

I am aware that he will only pay in the UK but the fact is he has to pay or go without entertainment. What I cannot understand is why should they all have to pay when the Mess could be covered by one licence? Ooops sorry I know the answer to that one, more licences mean more money so that they can pay ridiculous salaries to co called celebrities.

[kev100]

Compare how little the BBC costs compared with ITV, when you buy something from Sainsburys say a tin of beans why do you think it is three times the price of Netto?

The reason that Sainsburys is so much more expensive is because YOU are the suckers that are paying their advertising bills through ITV

[Kathyan]

It seems that I am in the minority when it comes to the value of the BBC. But I wonder how many of you would change your minds if you had to pay double for your licence?

[noxlumos]

My wife has a flat in London for when she's working there and she pays for her own licence there and frankly it's no big deal, it's always been that way.Your husband doesn't live with you in the north of Ireland, that's why he has to pay, nor is he part of a household there.It'd be like me saying my son who lives in Belfast should be able to share my TV licence it's daft.Sorry but I can't see why you're so agitated about it, it's the same for us all.

[Kathyan]

I'm agitated about it because we are paying for two licences out of one salary. I can't work due to ill health. I wouldn't be so bothered if I was working, at least then we would have two wages coming in. Why is everyone attacking me?

[noxlumos]

hi Kathyan, no-one is attacking you I don't think, we just don't agree with you that's all. I appreciate that it's frustrating if you have only one wage but you in effect have two households at the moment and so that's why it's happening.Sorry if you think you were being attacked, your penultimate post just seemed a little terse.

[kempie]

I am sorry that you feel that you are being attacked.

For my part I am also just offering an opinion that is not in agreement with yours.

It seems to me that the crux of your argument is that the Mess could be covered by a licence (which is correct) but apparently isn't. Well surely you should be complaining about the MOD not the BBC.

[Kathyan]

Sorry noxlumos, but we don't have two households. I live in our house in England and my husband lives in the Mess in N Ireland. If he lived in a house or flat I would accept the charge, but he only has a room. The point I was trying to make is that as the Mess is one building why is it not covered by one licence?

[Kathyan]

Actually it's the Government who make the rules and I have compained to them but their answer was 'there are a lot of groups who would like to be exempt from paying the licence fee but unfortunately it would cost too much to include them all'. I'm not saying that they shouldn't pay anything, just not the full amount. Then I read in the newspaper that they are paying J Ross �18 million. Would you be angry?

[kempie]

The TV Licensing Authority only stipulates that TVs are "covered by a TV licence".

The Army could license a communal area for the use of their personnel, thus allowing access to a TV.

However if personnel want their own TVs in their "residences" then a separate licence is required. This is true of all businesses, student accommodation, tenancies etc. etc.

As for Ross's salary; of course it is exorbitant. I also think the same of salaries paid to film actors, footballers and especially the upper management of Insurance companies who decimate members' policies and yet receive huge bonuses and even worse claim a golden handshake when they leave.

[THECORBYLOON]

If you'd rather buy a paper, buy one, get rid of the TV and you'll not need a licence, problem solved.

[noxlumos]

Well I'm sorry Kathyan but you clearly do have two households, one where you live and an army room where your husband lives. It's the same in student digs, hostels etc as I was trying to demonstrate and as others have. He has the option of not having a TV persumeably in his own quarters and I'm sorry your so upset but if the Govt relaxed it for the army then as you so correctly say there would be droves of groups who'd want the same preferential treatment.Jonathan Ross is clearly an overpaid idiot but the licence fee really doesn't upset me and I really am sorry that you are so upset, and I really mean that.

[johnlambert]

kathyan,

the Mess counts as a houshold, I mean he pays for his food etc out of his Mess fees, even in NI (field conditions)