with another rebel thread being posted

[DrFilth]

and the bbc gang in attack found this on the web

In a media world defined by choice, the BBC licence fee is an outdated compulsory subscription model that should be scrapped. How can we keep justifying this outdated TV fee?

The media environment is defined by choice. But the one element that’s missing is the choice to pay the licence fee or not.

We are forced to pay the licence fee by law, and thereby forced to pay for the BBC, despite alternatives being freely and widely available.

And as technology delivers alternative ways to watch TV, so the fee’s justification crumbles


can you imagine having to pay for the mail newspaper when you go to buy your guardian.
it is just the same as being forced to pay for a left wing biased tv channel that a lot of people don't want or need.

the entire bbc hierachy is driven by greed, corruption and secrecy it is just like an old boys club .

[DrFilth]

you are bound to get one or two

[Zeuhl]

The top brass at itv seem to undermine your argument:

Even the Chairman admits that commercial television in the form of ITV is:

"driven to look for mass audiences, so it in a sense drives us to the lowest common denominator."

He referred to the broadcaster being stuck in a "ratings rat race". "We need to be able to move away from the ratings rat race we are caught in," the former Asda boss and Tory MP said. "We are driven to look for mass audiences, so it in a sense drives us to the lowest common denominator."

Chief Exec Adam Crozier admitted to a "remarkable lack of diversity" in ITV1's schedule

"Not chasing audiences would open up things like the arts, like more drama, like more factual programming."


You say you don't want to pay for the Mail when you buy your Guardian or whatever. That is a different context - both are commercial competing entities.

More relevantly, would you also like the freedom not to pay taxes for your local libraries if you don't use them? or museums and art galleries? or the parks and open spaces?
.

[DrFilth]

all tv , all channels are driven by ratings even the bbc

see my other post regarding cuts to museums

[DrFilth]

who is head of the rat race

BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Men in Black win ratings battle18 Oct 2000 ... Will Smith's film Men in Black helps the BBC win latest round of the ratings war with ITV.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/978470.stm - CachedBBC News |

ENTERTAINMENT | Square victory in ratings battleEastEnders beat Coronation Street in 2000's battle of the soaps to become ...
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1121741.stm - CachedBBC News |

ENTERTAINMENT | BBC wins news battleBBC wins news battle. ITV's News at Ten ... It is not the first time the BBC ...
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1170558.stm - CachedShow more results from bbc.co.ukCracking, Gromit! BBC win Christmas TV battle with family ...27 Dec 2008 ... Wallace and Gromit's A Matter Of Loaf And Death led the BBC's ratings triumph over ITV after the corporation claimed nine out of ten of the ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Cracking-Gromit-Chris
tmas-TV-battle-won-family-
favourites.html - SimilarWorld Cup 2010: BBC v ITV in the big battle for viewers - Telegraph8 Jun 2010... line up in the BBC v ITV battle for ratings for World Cup 2010. ... um, passion for the game, and maybe, um, win the World Cup.” ...
www.telegraph.co.uk/.../World-Cup-2010-BBC-v-
ITV-in-the-big-battle-for-
viewers.html

[McMouse]

DrF.....try watching tv in USA and contrast that utter rubbish with the BBC service.

[DrFilth]

morning McMouse dont watch tv mate

[Zeuhl]

I'm puzzled

<<dont watch tv mate>>

then surely the issue of Licence Fee is totally irrelevant to you?
.

[DrFilth]

still get a letter from them once a month, should i not have a view seeing that i have stopped paying for a licence.
if they stopped the letters to me i may never mention them again

if you think about it they are in touch with me more than you and you have a licence :)

[bobjugs12]

The BBC tends to create programs based on a sound idea, and then that idea attracts audiences (ie Top Gear, QI, Strictly, Question Time etc)
The large commercial stations create a show with simple aim of getting a massive audience and selling airtime for ads. They will milk this idea until the public is tearing it's eyes in agony (eg Popstars - Popstars The Rivals - Pop Idol - X Factor)
As i've already stated, i'm happy to pay my licence fee, especially as it keeps radio stations like 5Live, Radio 1 BBC Radio 2 etc. running.

[Sooper]

I understood that those letters are automatically generated and will never stop until either a licence is paid or contact is made to confirm that there is no Television etc. Is that right?
I know i moved into a brand new block of flats in and i was astonished to see the pile of threatening letters about not having a TV Licence despite no one ever having lived in the building before!
Ive also heard that Tv detector vans dont exist anymore and even when they did they actually couldnt do anything, it was more of a scare tactic? Dunno if anyone can confirm or deny this?

[DrFilth]

bobjugs you are happy because you watch them what about the people who never watch those shows.
in this modern age of choice the people who never watch them shows have no choice

[nosmoking]

mcmouse is right, also canada a country i love, but their tv is rubbish an advert every 5 minutes or less.

[Zeuhl]

Agreed DrFilth

That must be annoying.
I would have thought an annual 'are you still not watching' confirmation would satisfy any legal requirements.
.

[Count-A-Strong]

DrF's post is obviously fuelled by the reminder letters and general hassle he has been receiving. He has chosen to be an 'odd one out' in society and is now a victim of a standardised world.

I personally abhore commercials on TV and tape everything on such channels so I can FF through the ad's. The BBC produce some excellent dramas (Spooks and the new 'Accused' being just two) and to make it commercially funded would be a travesty.

[DrFilth]

sooper what happens is they want your name and a phone number ( house not mobile number)

they say a tvl person will call they do not give appointments

if a person from tvl does call it is usually in the evening
( friday, saturday and sunday are there favourite days )

once that tvl person is happy that you are not watching any live broadcasts they will put your property on hold
when a property is on hold and logged onto the tvl computer you should not receive any letters

after a property has been on hold for 1 year 10 months or 1year 11 months they will send you a letter to ask if you are still the home owner and are still not watching any tv

while the property is on hold not all but some will get another visit. if you do not let them in to search the house straght away you will then start to get the letters again and you are back to square one.

the reason they call in the evening is because most people will be watching the tv then

i will post a you tube video of them checking out a house

[DrFilth]

1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI-cpLUFdok

[DrFilth]

2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nYGw29e48s

[DrFilth]

there are another two to watch if you are intrested

[Zeuhl]

Enough for me at least. Fascinating.

It is a minefield to manage isn't it? As one of millions of Licence payers I would object to people enjoying the same viewing rights without paying and how do we know the chap in the video isn't such without checking him out?

Commercialisation has too many downsides all round. Perhaps the move to digital will provide a technical solution in that all receiving boxes will only work when a Licence Payer's P I N is entered.
.

[Count-A-Strong]

Very interesting DrF. (incidentaly, you sound just like Barry off DIY SOS but then I doubt you've seen it)

Zeuhl - I too hope technology stops this ridiculous invasion of privacy (and the fee dodgers!)