But is it worth it?
 

Source BBC
Why am I not laughing then?

Re: But is it worth it?
 

Biggest RIP off is the TV licence. Waste of mony and i never watch BBC!!

Re: But is it worth it?
 

i think its worth it cant stand the rubbish on the other channels

Re: But is it worth it?
 

I'm almost tempted not to bother paying it next year, afterall, TV detector vans are too scared to visit homes in the area I live in.

Re: But is it worth it?
 

It is steep - but isn't Little Britain worth it alone ?

Re: But is it worth it?
 

shouldnt that be rip off britain :mad: :mad: :mad:

Re: But is it worth it?
 

I have to admit, I don't think an extra fiver a year will break the bank.

Re: But is it worth it?
 

What would / could they do if for arguements sake you didn't have a tv, but had a pc with tuner card that just happened to pick up channels, would it be a case of, you have the capabilities so pay up :shrug:


And yep, for the crap they show most of the time, it is IMO way to high :mad:

Its not the extra fiver, its where will it stop with no real program improvements in years IMO

Re: But is it worth it?
 

I find it amazing that the government is able to add all sorts of money to various taxes (VAT being charged at a different rate on online purchases for example) and people say nothing, then suddenly they add £5 (which is, after all, the cost of a packet and a half of cigarettes) to the licence fee and people start crying "rip off britain"..

Yet, those same people are paying up to £100 a month to recieve satellite and/or cable and get a load of channels that 90% of the time they probably won't watch. Yes, I do count myself in this group. I have about 120 channels and I watch maybe five or six regularly..

Re: But is it worth it?
 

As I understand it, when sky first started, they changed the law so that it covered any device capable of recieving a colour television signal (otherwise STBs & Videos would be exempt)

I understand that, but I think the real problem is that the BBC is chasing viewers too enthusiastically. Now, obviously I don't want the BBC showing a load of elitist programs that nobody wants to watch, but it would be nice if they didn't just put on endless soaps, Reality TV & Makeover programs purely because they think they'll get more viewers from them.

I think programs are also (and this is generally, not just at the BBC) expected to be successful too quickly now. I have actually read that under the current management, both Only Fools and Horses and Blackadder would probably have not got a second series. Most people I know agree that these programs did not start to be good until the second series.

I will say I am a fan of the BBC, but I do think they should be required to have a wider variety of programs, and as I said above should not just chase viewers blindly.

The government is in a position to stop this, but the government would probably decide the BBC is not giving good value for money if they stopped..

Re: But is it worth it?
 

I don't / wouldn't mind paying for the service / license if it offered value for money, I very seldom watch more than 2/3 hours a week, yet still have to pay an ever increasing amount, and for what, a chance to see all the repeats and programs that i've allready paid to watch over and over.

Re: But is it worth it?
 

How your licence fee is spent...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/licencefee/

Re: But is it worth it?
 

Oh gods, another TV Licence thread.

So this rise is going to cost an extra 10p a week more or less is it?

So that means the cost of all the BBC TV and Radio channels will cost you £10.60 a month.

Compare that to the "basic" packs you get on cable/ satellite and how much they cost, then think about the rubbish you get on those including masses of repeats and, of course, commercials all the way through and then suddenly it doesn't seem quite so bad after all.

Re: But is it worth it?
 

The BBC really need to start advertising like all the other channels and stop this damn licence fee.

Re: But is it worth it?
 

Or how about a coin slot on the side of all tellies, and when you wanted to watch anything on the BBC, you had to insert a coin - that would be great for me.... I'd save £120 p/year!

Re: But is it worth it?
 

Which (and I have contacts in the Advertising industry that can verify this) would introduce a MASSIVE oversupply of advertising space, and drop prices so low that ITV (and several commercial channels) would be in SEVERE danger of going bankrupt.

Before you say "That's OK, I don't watch ITV", bear in mind that ALL commercial channels would have reduced income, and, in the case of Sky, they would probably put prices to their subscribers and cable companies UP to compensate.

So, you could end up paying more..

Re: But is it worth it?
 

Personally I would'nt mind the price rise if there was anything decient on tv, at pretty much any time of the day. If you switch on the tv during the day/ early afternoon all you see is totally braindead tat. I love that the BBC consider a program like Bargin Hunt to be a good way to spend the licence payers money. If the BBC want to renew their charter, and increase the fee, then its time they invested our money more wisely. As it is I watch very little tv because I'll either have some reality tv pap or a home/ garden improvement show on. In my view......... bless computers and online gaming. ;)

Re: But is it worth it?
 

People on a low income are going to find it hard to find the extra money.

adding to their grief... Rent, Gas & Electricity Going up etc.

I'm just waiting for Sky to add a couple of ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£ÃƒÆ ’‚£ on their channel packages like they have done so far each year.

Re: But is it worth it?
 

Sure, great, lose the one place you can get to watch films, sport etc without a) having to pay for them or b) having the action interrupted by stupid bloody commercials.

And you can also watch the news without "10 dead in road crash, coming up after the break"...! :rolleyes:

Re: But is it worth it?
 

bbc's worth the money how many times a day do you lot wonder off to the bbc news site and then post the link here while other people argue about it? it certainly keeps the current affairs section busy :)