Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

As I said above, I do watch the BBC. I just do not understand why people who do not watch it are forced to pay.

I have already pointed out that while you may not use some services carried out by the councils, you do benefit indirectly and you may benefit in the future as you have done in the past.

However, BBC is an entertainment service and if I don't want it I shouldn't have to pay for it. The BBC is not an essential service.

If TV transmission has to be paid for through a licence fee (not sure if it is) then there is no need to include in it the cost of running the BBC. To my mind, it's the broadcast channels that should be paying for the tv transmission fees.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

The TV license fee is purely to keep the BBC running. It's about time the BBC stood on it's own 2 feet just like any other channel.

The BBC is a dinosaur past it's sell by date. Most original content shown now is produced by Independant companies commissioned by the Beeb.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

:clap::clap::clap::clap:

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

It's no longer used solely to finance the BBC. The Government forced them to use independent companies, it was not by choice.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

So to stand on its own 2 feet that would mean the BBC advertising and an end to programming that doesn't make a profit?? It would just become ITV/Sky or any of the other rubbish channels, of which we have hundreds. More down market reality TV, less quality drama and documentaries.
It's not just 2 channels either it's several channels, plus it's radio, local and national, and the website. All provided without advertising, it would be hard to totally avoid using it. It comes out at about £12 a month, compared to Sky/VM it's a bargain, many of their channels are just repeating BBC content.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

Sorry Dave.:td::td::td::td:

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

BBC already has far too much reality tv - so changing to an ITV type model shouldn't have any effect on that. Take your point re adverts, however as I always watch recordings of programs they don't bother me that much - just FF through them.

Point re £12 pm - even if you only watch sky which you pay for, you still have to pay the license fee - I am seriously surprised this hasn't been changed as it basically means BBC is state subsidised (is that legal within the EU?)

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

State subsidy isn't allowed within the EU, but that doesn't mean the BBC is breaking the law, it means that you're wrong to describe the Licence Fee as a state subsidy. There is no law against incorporating a body by royal charter and granting it legal authority to collect fees from all citizens who meet set criteria. Local government works in a not dissimilar way.

I wouldn't be totally averse to adverts on the BBC per se, so long as there was a strict cap on advertising minutes per hour. The problem as I see it is that there is a finite amount of advertising spend among the UK's consumer brands and if the BBC starts hoovering it up, it will put a lot of smaller channels out of business.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

I just don't believe people realise how much they use the BBC. Do they never use the BBC website, apps, iPlayer, sport, weather, radio? All these have licence fee funding.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

Its a bit more complicated than that. An article from 2015 but worth a read:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tony...b_6790818.html

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

Although I would not consider myself a big watcher of the BBC, I still consider the monthly fee good value for money.
IMO their Drama series are step ahead of most of the competition and most are worth a watch subject to taste.
I use a lot of BBC websites and sport coverage is very good considering they are priced out of many top sports.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

Personally we think the licence fee represents good value when you look at the scope of what the BBC actually does but alas quite a few others disagree and that is their prerogative.

Re: ITV threaten to blackout on Virgin
 

I was intrigued by the Telegraph's comment that VM was basically going to pirate a feed of ITV's channels into its cable network. Allegedly, of course.