television license

[claymore]

Did I read those posts about the BBC and their Gaelic tv channel correctly, do you actually have to have a license to watch television in Britain? If so, why do you let the government or whoever it is rip you off like that? Now that really is a reason to think about emigration . p.s. if tv is as crummy as it is here in oz they should pay you to watch it.

[anotheoldgit]

You have proved my point Newsdesk, anything that the left wing defends has got to be suspect.

anything that deviates from the stance of the right, is immediately labelled left wing.

What a silly statement to make, could we also say that?

"anything that deviates from the stance of the left is immediately labelled right wing"

What does this prove except the obvious that the left is on the left, and the right is on the right. Or hasnt' the right, the right to exist? That is a one party state a dictatorship something this country is swiftly heading towards.

[Gromit]

AOG

Depends on where you lie on the political spectrum yourself whether you think the BBC is right wing or left wing. If you are far to the right, it will appear to represent views that are left of your own. If you are on the extreme left politically, it will appear to you as being right wing.

Here is a good argument that the BBC is right wing (not that I agree)

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentat ors/johann-hari/johann-hari-yes-the-bbc-is-bia sed--but-to-the-right-443954.html

[Bazile]

I recall one of my early posting on here ( after stumbling across this site ) was regarding the license fee.

I still remain in my opinion now , as I did then .

Will someone please tell me why I am FORCED to pay a license fee for the BBC network , in order to be able to watch others - Where is freedom choice here ?

[weeal]

I agree with Bazile, I pay the full fee and my TV is very seldom on! I mainly use it to watch DVD's or the odd comedy show.

Its a bit expensive if youre not a soap addict.

[Gromit]

Because the license is for operating receiving equipment.

The Government could quite easily fund our national public service broadcaster from income tax (though that would be unfair on people who don't want television). Instead, it funds the BBC from the license fee proceeds.

Parts of the BBC such as the World Service are invaluable in promoting this county's views to the rest of the world, and the Government fund it because it is in our national interest.

[weeal]

fair explanation gromit
ta

[Bazile]

The point is that the fee is collected for and goes to the BBC not to other broadcasters .
The operating receiving equipment does not of course receive only BBC output .

Let all the broadcasting companies compete in the market place and if some fall by the wayside - then so be it

[jno]

it is, Bazile, but the others have the option - which the BBC does not - of selling ads. This has the side-effect of producing a high standard of advertising too, believe it or not. Watch TV in the USA and generally the ads are literal-minded and rather dull. (Though I did see one that demonstrated how good a car's suspension was by having a mohel circumcise a baby boy in the back while it was driving across New York.)

[Ice.Maiden]

I agree with anotheoldgit - TV licenses are a rip off. I personally think the BEEB puts out some good programmes, but if everyone turned to a pay-by-view method, you'd soon see how much profit they made then!

[Stu in USA]

Thank God for the BBC!! Here in the USA we do have a "pay per view" system. I have to pay over $100 per month in order to get a package that includes BBC America and DVR so that I can record shows and fast forward through the ads. Yes the BBC over here is full of commercials. What bliss to pay a small fee for many BBC channels and no commercials. Next you'll be telling me that your hospitals are free!!!