That used to be my argument in support of BBC too but I’m not sure that’s true about TV anymore, based on the programmes I see being produced by other commercial TV stations.
There’s a wide range of programmes on commercial TV channels - and a huge number of Channels to choose from; some Channels have their own niche specialities.
I am often driven to look through the Channel listings nowadays because the evening viewing on the BBC and ITV is one long round of mass market programmes and soaps, apart from a few little gems.
Channel 4 & 5 have some very interesting programmes and documentaries on all sorts of niche topics - and there is lots of investigative journalism done by ITV News teams and hard hitting investigative documentaries on Channel 4.
The BBC always made the best adaptations of my favourite books and have produced great drama, so I would miss that but I think they are losing their touch in that area too now.
I agree with you about Radio, though. I would definitely miss BBC Radio - although we don’t pay a licence for Radio, I presume the fee income also funds the BBC Radio services?
I have never minded paying a TV Licence Fee and would be worth it to me to keep paying a licence fee just to keep BBC Radio going - I can’t stand radio programmes being interrupted by adverts, even though it doesn’t bother me much on TV.
Its about time this was sorted, thought great, a bit of post Christmas normality back with the programming this Saturday just gone, as “The Wall” was back. Great I thought, lets watch a few “Ordinary” folks win and lose a few bob but, the joy was short lived when the word “Celebrity” came up, wasted no time changing channels. I think folks are sick to the back teeth with celeb this and celeb that, thank God for Youtube.
I couldn’t agree more spitty. I cannot bear the celebrity quiz games, they’re all about self promotion, me me me. The way most of them ham up their responses is excruciating. They get an answer right and it’s all huge wide eyes, a mock look of shock on their face, hand to their chest or throat as if they’re about to faint from the sheer excitement of it all. And, oh Lord, if it’s a comedian on there, then they think they have to crack a joke every single time they’re spoken to. Oh for God’s sake get over yourselves
My fear, though, is that the other channels like Channel 4 only do those investigative journalism and niche programmes because they have to compete with the BBC.
When the BBC is gone, they won’t need to and as those programs are expensive to make, they won’t bother.
Yes, I presume the licence fee funds the BBC radio programs and advert free radio will be a big loss.
Well, exactly, I don’t get it either. People cheerfully fork out for Netflix, Sky, Amazon Prime etc where they get a lot less for their money
And of course, when the cheaper option of the BBC is gone, those services will put their prices up
I think the day will come when people regret letting go an inexpensive TV service where the price is regulated by the Government.
My concern is that with the BBC gone, the commercial services will be able to offer less and less in their basic packages and those on low incomes will be priced out.
I think the resentment about the licence fee maybe political for some.
Some on the Right don’t like alternative opinions given air time and accuse the BBC of bias
I didn’t mind paying for the TV license, what annoyed me was the fact they gave it free to pensioners, then rescinded that & we had to pay again.
I like the BBC programs, well most of them, but ads really get up my nose as there are so many of them on every commercial program, even half hour ones.
The scrapping of the license fee should be under this governments term in office. Saying your going to do something in 6 years time is a complete cop out.
Ah, yes. WAS. I never watch it, but perhaps you can tell me some of the programmes the BBC produces which offer serious competition to other TV services.
Yes, they used to produce some very good programmes, but I haven’t heard of anything these days that I’d miss.
I have just been watching a chap on GBNews stating that, yes, it’s only 43p a day, but he equated that to what it builds up to over weeks and months and how that affects poorer and older people.
He challenged the BBC that if they feel they can offer a competitive service, perhaps they should make the licence optional, and see how many people actually choose to pay it.
Yes, but they’ll only have to compete with each other on a different level, just on the low quality, uncontroversial popular stuff that brings in the big audiences and advertisers like.
They won’t have to raise their game to compete with the BBCs better quality programming, the investigative stuff and niche programming any more.
I don’t really agree with free things being given out to all pensioners.
Some pensioners are very wealthy and I don’t think it’s fair, really, to give them a free TV licence while working families on low incomes and Universal Credit end up paying for theirs.
I’m probably on the wrong type of forum by age to say that!
Thing is, if you are on low income, the BBC is a good value package. You don’t get as much for your buck on the paid for services
And if the BBC goes, the paid for services won’t have to keep their basic packages lower, to compete with the BBC.
Because a lot of people at the moment only have the BBC and a TV licence.
Yes, if they didn’t have to pay for a TV licence they could pay for a paid for service, like SKY
But the price those service providers can charge isn’t regulated by Government.
And with no cheaper BBC package to compete with, they’ll probably up the price of their basic package because there’s more demand for it, and profits to be made
And if those basic packages go up above what some people on low incomes can afford, then it’s no TV for them and social exclusion
I really think we’ll look back with longing at the bargain we got for the price of a TV licence in a few years time when the price of the paid for services rocket and programming quality goes down
OK, but why not make it a choice? Pay the TV licence if you want to watch the ‘superior’ BBC; don’t pay it if you prefer the ‘inferior’ programmes available elsewhere.
Perhaps you can now tell me some of the programmes the BBC produces which offer serious competition to other TV services.
Then there’s:
Call the Midwife
His Dark Materials
Motherland
You Don’t Know Me
Shetland
Hidden
Silent Witness
The Split
Line of Duty
Green Planet
The Tourist
Etc etc…
The only thing I can think of worth watching on BBC is the Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s, but that’s only once a year and £150 for one programme is a bit of a stretch!
Yes! I’m perfectly happy. I don’t want to watch the BBC; I don’t want to support the biased BBC; I’m happy to watch all other channels, some of which I pay for and others are free.
Consequently, like an increasing number of others I refuse to pay the BBC Tax and enjoy watching them suffer from a decreasing financial income.
