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If BBC was subscription only...

(130 Posts)
Aveline Wed 26-May-21 17:14:19

Would you pay for it in the way that Netflix, Amazon etc are paid for? Obviously this would be if the licence fee was abolished. I'm not sure if I actually would any more which surprises me. I used to trust BBC news but now it's all political sniping. I don't watch the big expensive shows like Strictly or any of the quiz shows. I do follow 'Eastenders' and enjoy QI and some of the comedy panel shows but that's about it.
What do others think? If you had the choice would you pay for BBC?

greenlady102 Sat 29-May-21 10:57:29

I think it would depend on the cost and what is offered....maybe if they divided it up so I didn't have to pay for sport and the current events rubbish

suttonJ Sat 29-May-21 10:58:00

I have seen ‘news’ broadcasts from around the world and there is NOTHING to compare with the even-handedness, impartiality, and trustworthiness of the BBC. NOTHING. I have friends abroad who turn to the BBC for the real news. So despite recent wobbles which have now been identified, and despite political attempts to denigrate it and threats to impose more political control over editorial content, of course I will continue to support funding via the license fee. I can’t believe that people prefer to be fed adverts as a means of funding.

And, incidentally, I have one friend who thinks that Laura Kuenssberg is too biased towards the left and another who thinks she is too biased to the right. She must be getting something correct!

henetha Sat 29-May-21 11:00:44

I absolutely would pay a subscription for our great BBC.

Candelle Sat 29-May-21 11:02:09

Until recently, I have always trusted the BBC but they are so 'woke', left-left wing with unbalanced reporting that I have almost boycotted them.

They do not now represent me and I am sick if having some ideals thrust at me day after day.

I understand the world evolves and society changes but I feel the Beeb (a term hitherto used fondly) has gathered pace and is ahead of the pack and even itself. It has discarded people like me and amongst other gripes (mainly foreign political reporting) they aim at a vastly younger audience.

justwokeup Sat 29-May-21 11:03:02

Agree with your post Aveline, the BBC has it’s own agenda these days, nothing to do with independent journalism any more. I’ve long thought the BBC should be an independent station and then we’ll see if it can stand up with the others. I’d possibly pay for an ‘entertainment’ package (just ‘The Repair Shop’ really grin ) but not the biased sneering, particularly on news and current affairs programmes, we have to pay for with the licence fee.

Candelle Sat 29-May-21 11:03:15

I didn't answer the OP's question:. yes, I would.

Lolaberry Sat 29-May-21 11:12:12

The license fee is for radio and tv. If you only have a radio you should still have a license

HannahLoisLuke Sat 29-May-21 11:13:02

Yes I would. I enjoy a lot of programmes on BBC2 and 4 and listen to Radios 2,4,5L and WorldService although I also listen to virgin radio for Graham Norton and Chris Evans and Greatest Hits Radio for Simon Mayo, all previously on Radion 2

trisher Sat 29-May-21 11:14:45

It would depend on how much I was charged. But what about the people who couldn't afford to pay. The people with children who used the school service they provided during lockdown. Programmes for all children from 2-18. Would a service paid for by subscription still stick to the guidelines behind the BBC? I can't think of any other broadcasting or media organisation that has a Mission and Values behind it www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/governance/mission.
So it should remain as it is.

Jess20 Sat 29-May-21 11:20:18

I'd be lost without BBC Radio 4....

And I really don't watch much except on BBC Iplayer

Notinthemanual Sat 29-May-21 11:27:32

It is my understanding (and right now, I can't find the TV Licencing link where I read this) that if you have any device in your home on which you are able to watch TV programmes you need a license whether you actually watch or not.

So people who do not have a television but do have a smartphone or computer need a TV licence.

As it is a TV license rather than a BBC license I don't see how it would affect radio, but if I remember the link correctly radio would be moot.

To answer the question - no I wouldn't pay to watch the BBC, partly because of those heavy handed rules. Partly because their BBC iplayer technology is naff.

Neilspurgeon0 Sat 29-May-21 11:33:32

No, it is far too trivialised and tawdry these days not to mention the woke and trendy metropolitan rubbish shoved down the throat morning, noon and night. I virtually never watch the BBC any more, apart from the 6:30 Local show which is brilliant and the odd BBC4 documentary which is not a repeat which generally are good value for money and apart from ‘In our Time’ even Radio Four is pathetic.

Yammy Sat 29-May-21 11:36:26

I would pay just to watch a programme not interrupted by adverts. Some give you time to go to the loo and make a coffee but how much of the programme be it plays or documentaries do we actually see.
An Indian friend says that the BBC radio is where a lot of countries get their news when their country is showing State propaganda. She also pointed out how universal it is and listened to.

Fashionista1 Sat 29-May-21 11:37:02

The BBC is more than just a mainstream TV channel. It also covers educational programmes. Open University transmit their course content online via the BBC enabling study from home. During the pandemic BBC 2 stepped up and provided programmes for school children. I like to listen to Radio 2 but there are many other BBC radio channels including World Service. When we lived in Australia it was nice to get UK news on TV via the BBC. I do think they need to sort out the vast salaries some personalities earn and also the news bias but I think there is a bigger picture here to consider. Also Imagine not being able to view a programme straight through and having to put up with constant advertisement breaks?

PippaZ Sat 29-May-21 11:41:39

Wouldn't Sky, etc. (if there is an etc. to Sky) all offer the BBC and the BBC would get fees from them.

I'm afraid I really don't understand the multiplicity of ways that television programmes are offered these day but the above would mean everyone would chose a vehicle and the BBC would be included. They wouldn't get as much per person though - would they?

silverlining48 Sat 29-May-21 11:42:51

Just listening on R4 to From our own Correspondent. Its always interesting and informative and that together with so many of their other programmes I would really miss.
Dont dis the bbc we dont know how lucky we are.

Treetops05 Sat 29-May-21 11:47:53

No I wouldn't. The only BBC programme we watch is Repair Shop, and that is already appearing on Sky channels. Unless it was ultra cheap or added to a sky bundle it simply isn't worth it for us

greenlady102 Sat 29-May-21 11:49:22

you don't need a licence to listen to bbc radio www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ102

Aepgirl Sat 29-May-21 11:50:20

If I could opt out of the BBC I would. They are so politically left-wing biased, and their interviewers, particularly on BBC Breakfast (Naga Munchetty to name one) are rude and antagonistic, and I object to helping to pay their over-inflated salaries. Don't get me started on Gary Linekar!

MTDancer Sat 29-May-21 11:57:00

I pay £4 a month not to have adverts on channel 4 which represents much better value than the license fee.
I only watch line of duty and call the midwife, never, ever, BBC news

Bijou Sat 29-May-21 12:05:42

I don’t pay for Netflix etc because I find enough interesting programmes on the BBC although there is too much sport for my liking. But I would pay for the BBC. The over 75s? get their licence free.

Mishy Sat 29-May-21 12:11:43

I used to trust the BBC but over the last decade have listened less and less. I wonder about the pointless articles eg Newswatch which has little or no effect on outcomes. Would I pay to view? Probably yes for dramas but very little interests me now.

ayse Sat 29-May-21 12:20:43

I’m very happy to pay my tv licence. I loathe adverts and rarely watch other terrestrial tv. They provide a broad range of drama, entertainment, documentaries, children’s tv, bite size etc. etc. Where else can you find such a broad variety? Plus of course all the radio channels minus adverts. Not of course to mention OU programming that links with Open Learn. I would however like more discussion programmes. For example, during the pandemic it would have been useful if they had tackled the numbers of rumours concerning Covid and the vaccines.

I also subscribe to BritBox. BBC, ITV, Channel 4 films, Channel 5. I’d be happy to pay for Channel 4 minus the ads as they have so many European dramas.

Although I have Amazon Prime I rarely watch any of their stuff just using it for books and free postage. There are many free news sites if you don’t want to watch BBC news.

IMO there wealth of American c**p on our TV is getting overwhelming.

harrigran Sat 29-May-21 12:20:48

No I would not give one penny to the BBC.
I never watch live TV and never listen to the radio, I find most of the presenters patronising and irritating.

ayse Sat 29-May-21 12:25:42

Everyone as below has to pat a tv licence

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:
watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.
This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.
You only need one TV Licence per household, even if you use more than one of the devices listed above. A TV Licence costs £159 for colour TV, and £53.50 for black and white.

Taken from tv licensing!

I wonder how many people think because they stream programmes they don’t need to cough up? Perhaps the licence should be renamed as a communications tax or something else.