BBC licence fee update

not everyone has pension credit but what really annoying that just read they have 148million to spend themselves on wages. About time they start having pay when you watch it.

Why do we pay a television license in this day and age? Surely it's time for a review. As for bus passes, I hope they don't stop these. For some elderly people it's the only way they can get out and about and meet others.

There was a thread on Mumsnet 're the amount of money spent on the new Eastenders set (I don't watch soaps, so idea if it is value for money).
The OP was concerned 're the amount spent, however another poster who had worked for the TV industry pointed out that the BBC would re-coup it's outlay and earn several millions on top from selling episodes to the foreign TV companies.
Big budget programmes are sold on to other countries
The licence fee is just a top up fee for the BBC.

If it not under government control, I don't see why the viewer should be held to ransom just because they have the 'capability'receive the BBC.

Many watch via Sky, Amazon Prime, Netflix, youtube, read news on -line etc.
Other channels and freeview that gets their revenue through adverts.
Not everyone listens BBC radio.
There are hundreds of radio channels to choose from.

My grandchildren have virtually no interest in TV, they watch films, documentaries via their pads..
They have an avid interest in dinosaurs, sharks and scary animals which the watch on their tablets.
Music is also via tablet and downloads.
I would be very surprised if as adults the will even own a TV.

The BBC’s stance that the free licences ‘cost’ them is misleading - it is an income they don’t receive now that the Government has cut BBC funding. And all in the wake of Boris Johnson pledging to cut tax for the wealthy. Time for a revolution of the people by the people!

Let’s all apply for pension credit then.... all the forms they’ll receive may make them change there mind.

Anyone know whether this is for pensioners who will turn 75 in 2020, or for those who are are already over 75? My parents are both in their mid 90s. Maybe they should simply refuse to pay up. I wonder what would happen? I'm sure that if it came to a custodial sentence, they would get better care in than in many other options available.

What will the BBC lose in quality and variety of programs, that have global export value, if they continue to pay for an ever increasing ageing population........

Coco - exactly! You've hit the nail on the head there.

Allule
Can't you ?
Winter sees more OAP activity in A/E than at any other time .I do not know of any OAP not grateful for this boost of a winter payment.
Spreading payment is not the answer ?
What planet you on.

I’m happy to pay Tv licence fee. Think we get good value for money. Tv plus radio. Spend more on our mobile phones than what licence costs. As long as the benefits for pensioners in real need not stopped.
We were due to get our free licence this year. We’re not wealthy pensioners but we get by ok.

I've had six months free.

I was baffled when the BBC agreed to take on the free licenses but have learned it was heavily leaned on by government to get an agreement for the overall license fee. This must have been Osborne's doing. Now the BBC does the government's dirty work. Tory ideology really demands that the BBC becomes privatised and finds itself with advertising and paid for series.

Why the £200 winter weather payment anyway ? This would go a long way in securing finance for young families who genuinely can't manage. I wouldn't mind !

Spot on AlisonKF

It's the principle. As tax payers, for 30/40 (even 50 for some) years we have contributed to older people's 'perks'. But now it's time for other people to contribute to ours, it's too expensive. In 2015 George Osborne, delighted by the cost-cutting measure of concertina-ing the women's pension hike, off-loaded the cost of the free licence onto the BBC, which was its death knell.

We badly need to reduce those families who have to rely on foodbanks----give them more money instead. It's criminal the way some have to live in this day and age.
Never mind about propping up the BBC !

Yes, it is just for watching BBC. All the other channels are commercial and support themselves.

Gary Lineker's salary a whopping £1.75 million could fund the TV licences of 11 thousand pensioners. Something to think about.

I have no problem at all with removing the free tv license from the over 75s providing those on pension credit still continue to receive a free license. I know one 75 year old lady who has savings of over half a million and she owns her detached three bedroom house. Why on earth should such a pensioner receive a free tv licence? I don’t object to paying for our license because we both have professional pensions as well as our state pensions and we do not need a free license, mind you we wouldn’t have been eligible for several years anyway!

The fact that the BBC is allowed to make a blanket charge to anyone who owns a television is another matter entirely. I seriously object to the inflated salaries paid to BBC staff and therefore I think it would be better if we bought into the BBC as we wanted to, just like Sky. Then only those who want to watch the BBC would need to pay.

Just don't pay the licence fee, what are they going to do ? Put millions of pensioners in prison ? It would ensure that they were warm and got three meals a day.
BBC not fit for purpose.

Riverwalk, I agree the fee is outdated. I suggest we do not pay a fee any more. Let the BBC fund themselves by adverts as the rest of the channels do. We shouldn't pay the BBC by tax. If they were funding themselves maybe they would stop paying so much money to their executives and look at ways to cut costs. As it is now, there is no incentive for them to do this and they have free rein

Three billion pounds worth of pension credit is unclaimed every year. So many people who are entitle to pension credit but do not claim will miss out on a free TV licence.

mmm. I am 85 and could pay it but i will not while MPs get free TV licenses. I have already written to my MP asking why she should have a free TV license when MPs ear £70K and more. There is a large group of older people who will defy the charge and go to court over it. it will not be a good look when the newspapers show 80 and 90 year old going to prison!
I worked at BBC in London in 1983. I was a researcher.

EllenVannin if you don;t mind losing the winter fuel allowance then you don;t need it, some do, and it helps for any extra heating being used for an unexpected bad winter,
I try to pay a bit extra than i am asked to on my DD for my gas and electricity, but often as in the winter before last it was very cold and i bet most people used more heating than usual
Also most elderly people spend more time in their homes than younger people so therefore use more heating anyway

I agree the licence fee should be scrapped - its outdated, but this would probably mean we would have to have advertising on BBC programmes. It would have been better if they had started by letting the over 80s have free licences - give us an incentive to live longer. To a lot of elderly people the TV gives companionship.