Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Really.. and the BBC receive equal amounts as do the independent channels e.g. equal share of the money from the license fee.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Most of it goes to the BBC.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

No matter where the money goes, I believe mainstream TV is a mere shadow of what it used to be. It is slowly but surely being strangled by the push for Equality, Diversity and Political Correctness (in my opinion).

You can give production companies £5 million a week, but unless writers, directors and producers have the freedom to express themselves we will just get the same unpalatable claptrap regurgitated week after week.

The script writers who gave us classics like One Foot in the Grave, Cracker, Last of the Summer Wine, Fawlty Towers, Black Adder, Keeping up Appearances, Men Behaving Badly, The Britass Empire, Boys From the Blackstuff, Tenko, Jonathan Creek, A Touch of Frost, Taggart . . . they're all gone, replaced by writers who may possibly have some damn good shows in them but are constrained by the rules & regulations surrounding what is or isn't allowed.

Historical/Period Drama is at least safe (for now) from many of the constraints, as it wouldn't be a true reflection of the times if they had to follow the rules ;)

You'll also never see anything again that approaches the sheer mayhem, laughter, insanity and joy that was It's a Knockout . .

. . . aah buggrit, rant over, going for a lay down in a darkened room :D

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

I think you are right about that, particularly when you look at the BBC. However, the streaming services also have rather a lot to do with it, with their superior content, ease of viewing (when you want) and with no commercial breaks.

There will always be the odd programme on the traditional broadcast channels (eg The Bodyguard) that prove to be the exception over the next four or five years, but these will become fewer as we move to alternative ways of viewing.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

I know this was intended as another BBC knocking thread, but the BBC have just had the most watched Drama on TV since 2011. If we want quality new programmes we have to pay.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45622655

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Yes, I referred to that in the previous post. I try to be balanced!

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Well if we did not have the BBC they would have to pay awful lot more Mr K and then they would be moaning even more.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Except that we wouldn't, Den. Most people would elect to pay the subscription. The shorfall could be made up in other ways, in particular by way of new global streaming services paid for by consumers in other countries.

It just needs a bit of imagination to achieve this and the Beeb has 10 years before the implementation of the next review to get to that fairer system.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

A subscription is likely to be a lot more than the £12 a month the BBC currently costs. How much do you pay VM in comparison for mostly repeated programming - much of it originating from the BBC !

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Why should it? What other streaming services (other than sport) demand £12 per month?

I have already drawn attention to how any shortfall in existing income can be addressed. Income from global streaming services should not be underestimated.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Because not as many would be contributing OB, do the maths ! Unless you dramatically decreased what the BBC output. Drama, the BBCs strength, is particularly expensive.

And what about local and national radio? Get rid of that too ? It provides a public and sometimes essential service.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

But you are looking at this from an extremely negative point of view, my good man. First, most people will continue to subscribe, and secondly, by offering streaming services to other countries at an appropriate cost, they could easily make up the difference, with cash to spare.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Never thought of Chris Evans as essential.

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

What would you without the Shipping Forecast Smurf ? ;)

Re: BBC wants to increase licence fee
 

Especially when one is consistently prone to going in the wrong direction and getting lost.;)