Abolition of TV licence fee.....

I'm merely addressing the system of collecting the funding GT not the ethos of the BBC and how we should keep it public and free from the likes of Murdoch.

I really can't see the political difference between a licence fee which is collected by a government agency, and taxation, paying for the BBC.

I disagree River - I said more of a political football - a license fee reduces that, it doesn't remove it. It's the least worst option. I think we take the BBC too much for granted. The right would like it gone completely and sold off to the likes of Murdoch et al

Yes it will involve adverts, I was sent a survey to complete, from Yougov and obviously commissioned by the BBC. I voted against removing the licence fee, because not only will it mean adverts, it could also mean the end of the BBC's impartiality when it comes to commissioning good documentaries. I may be a cynic, but advertisers could threaten to withdrew business if they got wind about a programme concerning their products.

Ring fencing is when money is assigned for one particular purpose.

No; it was more of a general query cause I assumed it would mean adverts and hadn't thought it would just be funded in another way [I've no idea what ring fencing is ].

If that's addressed to me Tegan - I've no idea if there will be adverts, how would I know?

So this won't involve adverts then?

A national broadcaster will always be under political influence so it's fanciful to think that by having a licensing system it somehow creates a buffer between the BBC and the government of the day.

The BBC World Service until recently was directly funded by the Foreign Office.

The problem is that a) ring fencing never works b) it makes the BBC even more of a political football than it is already. It's easy to knock the BBC but it does set a base line. BBC Radio 4 is brilliant

I quite agree Riverwalk.

About time too!

I assume around 99% of the population have a TV/radio so the money could be ring-fenced and come out of general taxation.

How much does it cost to administer the licence system I wonder - it's an archaic system.

Oh please no!!!