If BBC was subscription only...

We barely watch the BBC these days. It would be better if it was a subscription channel and the licence fee scrapped.

i stopped paying my tv licence over a year ago as i was paying for something that was never on, i still have my tv but i only watch vhs videos on it...i have about 400 of them..lol, they have sent so many letters and threats and i have replied to most of them telling them i do not watch live tv and they would have to pay me to watch the bbc, i think the bbc should be a service that you should be able to pay for if you want and not pay if you do not want

Yes, I certainly would. In my opinion the standards of BBC radio, drama, documentary, natural history and children's programmes are exceptional. I've seen enough of the various subscription packages at our AC's houses to know that I wouldn't pay for any of them.

"Sorry - IS revoked" not "us"

@magshard20. I meant to say I totally agree with you. People have different electricity suppliers but nobody has to pay the National Grid for a licence, they pay their supplier and that is the point, we don't have a choice with the BBC, I hope the charter us revoked

Reading through some people's thoughts, I suppose it is all to do with money for me. I would never buy a licence if I did not have to, I think what I could do with £3+ a week. There are many people who just about get by and I would be happy to see the end of the BBC; ads on ITV are loo time or put the kettle on time. That Diana fiasco with Bashir telling all those lies and the BBC covering it up made me wish the whole BBC would disappear for ever. I expect many on a limited income would agree.

Dinahmo

Methinks that some of you have been reading a bit too much in the rightwing press with your claims of bias and wokenesss. Do any of you know what wokeness actually means?

I won't write what I really think of you but I can't imagine what you find to like so much on the streaming channels. We subscribe to Netflix but often when I go through the programmes looking for something to watch there is very little. It seems that around half the output is aimed at teenagers - lots of dramas about teens getting lost in the woods and getting spooked. Or science fiction, or indeed good BBC dramas that I've already seen.

I know what ‘wokeness’ is supposed to mean - being aware of injustice and oppression, which is a good thing. However, here is my slightly tongue-in-cheek view of what it means in practice.

- Woke people subscribe to foolish and dangerous ideas such as identity theory and critical race theory
- They feel everything about the West is bad and do not value the good things in their country’s history, or in its present either
- They are so intolerant of opinions that differ from theirs that they feel entitled to silence and even cancel the holders of those opinions. They KNOW they are right!
- They proudly signal their virtue - and if they happened to be born white, they are very sorry and fully admit their fault

This former BBC journalist thinks it has a left-wing bias.
The Noble Liar: How and why the BBC distorts the news to promote a liberal agenda www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GQJ47Y2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_QNHQ096MCZTN4G0VW2NB?tag=gransnetforum-21

I don’t want to lose Radio 4, Springwatch or Wimbledon, and I have an attachment to the BBC based on past experience, I suppose, so I probably would pay. I would like more impartial news coverage, though. And it would be nice if it was less than the licence fee.

Doodledog

Yes, 100% I would if it could remain (or go back to being) independent of the government of the day.

For many years the BBC was the envy of the world, and in parts of the world it still is. I have seen news (print and TV) in areas where the is no alternative to the ruler and the dominant religion, and there is just no comparison to what we have, even at its worst.

I'm not sure how it would be financed, as now that there are so many other options, and a lot of people prefer to watch films, sport etc than want to see unbiased news, there would probably not be enough take-up, but I would like to see the BBC able to operate without government subsidy and without any large donations from vested interests.

Agree 100%!

I don’t watch much tv at all but I would pay a subscription just to watch Strictly.

It’s a yes from me.

I feel as if we are paying twice for the BBC when we are with Virgin, Sky, BT or any of the other packages. You cannot have a Virgin (or any of the others) package without having the BBC stations, ( Tv and Radio) included in them, so we are paying monthly subscriptions to our provider and also paying yearly for the BBC. But in answer to the original question I don't think I would pay to keep the BBC, I watch much more on the other channels.

It's inconceivable really that we should have to pay one TV station in order to be able to watch all the others! Absolute madness. It's outdated and should be scrapped.

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True

I know lots of people don’t want to pay a licence fee. I don’t watch much entertainment TV but I do think that the BBC at its best is incomparable, and I think it helps the UK make its mark globally as it is well respected for the quality of its programming on Radio & TV. I watch mostly news but watch news on lots on different channels.
I think the quality of its wildlife documentaries is second to none, Netflix is far inferior.
Maybe it should come out of our taxes but they’d have to rise in that case. I feel we have to ‘sell’ the UK, especially now we’re out of the EU.

I had to really think about this.
Decided on balance, ‘no’ I wouldn’t pay.

Vickysponge I have no idea what you mean. I have no recollection of any of your posts and I certainly don’t think I have posted after EVERY time you post. , I can’t help it if I want examples of the left wing bias you mention.

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Lesley60

I wouldn’t subscribe to BBC the good dramas are few and far between and far to many repeats

Have you forgotten that we have been in lockdown for nearly 1 1/2 years. Do you not realise that is why there are so many repeats. They haven't been able to make new programmes.

Aepgirl

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!

There is an off button!

Methinks that some of you have been reading a bit too much in the rightwing press with your claims of bias and wokenesss. Do any of you know what wokeness actually means?

I won't write what I really think of you but I can't imagine what you find to like so much on the streaming channels. We subscribe to Netflix but often when I go through the programmes looking for something to watch there is very little. It seems that around half the output is aimed at teenagers - lots of dramas about teens getting lost in the woods and getting spooked. Or science fiction, or indeed good BBC dramas that I've already seen.

jenni123

No I would not pay to watch BBC, I do watch Eastenders but could leave it if I had to. I did watch and enjoy Line of Duty but again if you could pay for single events/programmes I would prefer to do that and not pay for a TV licence. re no adverts.. many years ago we lived in Germany for a couple of years and one of their TV channel had ALL the adverts at the beginning of the evenings TV, There was half hour of ads interspersed with comic figures, my children called them 'the little men' once these ads finished there were no more for the whole evening. Maybe BBC could do something like this and dispense with the licence.

If everyone didn't watch the first 1/2 hour then what we be the point of the adverts and how would the programmes be paid for?

No, it is expensive compared to other subscription services e.g Now and Netflix which I watch far more than BBC. I only listen to podcasts so do not even get my money's worth from the radio.