TV licence fee to rise by FIFTEEN pounds?

nanna8

We are more civilised in my country. We don’t have to pay for National television. It is free. So should yours be.

But we are civilised enough not to have national television - we have an independent broadcasting service, which is linked to the government by its funding model, but not (in theory) otherwise. It is not perfect, but who pays the salaries of those on ‘national television’? Who puts up the money to make drama, or for the research that goes into documentaries, the insurance for those in war zones and so in? If it is advertisers then they weild the power over what goes out, so it is only ‘national’ in the sense that it covers all regions of the country. If it is the government, then it is paid for from taxes, as is all government spending (sorry Maisie), and it is not free from their interference.

The BBC model is as good as it gets, I think. As I say, I think jailing people for non-payment is draconian, but a means should be found to ensure that everyone pays their share, and can’t piggy back on those who do contribute. FWIW I do support free licenses for the elderly, the sick and the disabled. Not means-tested, but universally applied. Everyone else should contribute though, unless they genuinely opt out of watching or listening to everything the BBC produces.

nanna8

We are more civilised in my country. We don’t have to pay for National television. It is free. So should yours be.

Now that is a telling statement.

DrWatson tltr, cba.

Actually national television isn't free in Australia, it is finaced by the government from taxes paid by residents.

We could say that we are more civilised in the UK, our national tv is not a government funded mouth piece for the current governing party.

M0nica

Actually national television isn't free in Australia, it is finaced by the government from taxes paid by residents.

We could say that we are more civilised in the UK, our national tv is not a government funded mouth piece for the current governing party.

We could say that we are more civilised in the UK, our national tv is not a government funded mouth piece for the current governing party

I have read claims on Gransnet that, in fact, it is just that.

Others will argue that it has a left wing bias.

😃

Callistemon we will know the BBC has a bias, when only one side of the political spectrum complains.

Mind you , to be fair, DD worked for the BBC for quite some years - what she says about doesn't bear repeating.

Oh, I'm intrigued!!

It would be scandalous, libellous and probably end up in court.

For Iam64 - Hurray. Sure, BBC has its faults, but any org with 20K+ employees has some. It's be far the most popular TV, produces tons of radio, and has that excellent ads-free website.
The people (cheapskates) who say they get news from websites of papers must be very patient, they all take ages to load due to all the ads coming with it.

For Callistemon, that "too long, didn't read" and the "couldn't be arsed", standard responses on F'book from people who don't have any legit argument for the points raised to them, but feel they must keep yakking to try and save face, so come back with some feeble jibe like that. BUT on another comment, you were quite right, the moans that BBC gets re politics stem from folk seeing and hearing JUST what they WANT TO, it's been shown many times, a bit I'm told like football supporters yelling at the ref?

If our public broadcaster wants to save some money and decrease its carbon footprint,it should stop sending THREE radio commentators to each of the top football games to cover the same match.

I haven’t got a television but have to have a licence to watch iPlayer.
Why do people resent paying for their main form of entertainment and information? Every day I listen to the BBC’s Radios 3 and 4 and I sometimes watch a programme on iPlayer. It’s worth every penny for high quality, impartial broadcasting without vested interests or advertising.
Of course there have been drastic cuts, because the BBC’s funding has been drastically cut.