TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...e-a-crime.html


With so much magistrates time taken up by such a minor offence i think this is a sensible move,don't think the Beeb hierarchy will like it much

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

All the more reason not to pay for a TV licence.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Hopefully this will be the start of the end to the TV tax

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Somehow l still think it will still be with us in 10 years old bean.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Maybe but this does change things as who can be arsed to pay when its a civil offence. If they do this then i will join the rest of the non payers of the Tax.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I don't think so ,there may be a change in the way the BBC is paid for and the money collected but i think there will always be some form of compulsory payment for the BBC.Personally i think that there should be a separate payment ,i don't think it right that the fee is collected through general tax or electric bills as some countries do

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Which is why i say it is a TAX already.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Maybe it should be made a tax instead of a license then at least dragging people through the courts for tax evasion could be justified .

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Maybe the BBC should be made to be subscription then people have a CHOICE if they wish to watch the BBC or not. Why should i be forced to pay for something i dont want to watch. The bbc is no longer the broadcaster it was and i for one want the choice of paying to watch or not.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I don't think subscription is the best answer ,imo that would lead to the poorest in society being denied quality programs as the subscription continues to rise far beyond the ability of the poorest to pay and at least at the moment you do have a choice of sorts ,if you don't watch live tv then you don't have to pay

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

:tu:

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

No - if you're watching live BBC you DO have to pay ;)

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

No the rules are if you watch any tv live you have to pay, so if all i watch live is sky sports i have to pay the tv TAX. Why should i have to pay the BBC for watching Sky sports.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I missed the 'don't' out of my post,and yes it is is live tv which is what i meant :dunce:

"if you don't watch live BBC then you don't have to pay"

I still think the licence fee is the least worstoption though

---------- Post added at 09:21 ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 ----------

edited the typo ;)

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I pay so little for my tv licence that I don't really mind it.

But I must admit if I wasn't still in a contract for the BT part of my youview box I would most likely go down the on demand route.

I do see why people who don't watch the BBC get irritated by it but I don't like the idea of it going subscription only. At leas the BBC does still do /some/ good programming which I am sure would disappear completely.

Still I don't see them getting rid of it any time soon.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

The little bit you pay turns into millions that they pay themselves and each other.

Oh, it's going. believe me.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Little question Dilli :)

If Tesco charged you a fee each time you used Morrison's would you get annoyed ?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I'd go somewhere else if it worried me that much.

Same as with the license if it worried me that much I'd get rid of it and go down the on demand route.

But then I don't watch much tv if any that isn't on the on demand channels.

---------- Post added at 10:41 ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 ----------

Personally at the moment Natalie is the reason I'll end up keeping it after the BT youview contract is up. £6.06 a month isn't bad value to keep her happy :)

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

do you resent paying for schools even though you don't use them

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

That's fine but i cannot watch a live rugby match on Sky unless i pay the tv tax i have no choice in the matter. Its a tax that then goes to a provider who had nothing to do with broadcasting that live service by sky, does not pay the wages of the people involved in showing that service. So why should the BBC be allowed to profit from a broadcast they had nothing at all to do with ??????

---------- Post added at 10:46 ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 ----------

Yes

The BBC is a commercial service and it should be made to make its way in the world like any other large company would do. Schools are funded from real taxes not the highway robbery that is the TV tax.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

As I said I can understand why it would be a problem for others.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Does that mean you'd be willing to pay for a TV licence even though you don't watch TV?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

The BBC is a public service and most public services are funded by general taxation ,like schools, that are there for the good of society as a whole regardless of who uses them .I know there is a separate debate to be had about the impartiality of the BBC but it is supposed to be there for the all to take advantage of

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

The BBC sells it's content abroad and to other uk providers therefore its commercial. So you would pay for something you never use, sorry but the word MUG springs to mind.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I would favour funding from general taxation ,i would also favour a complete restructuring of the BBC to ensure that it remains impartial

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I can see them at least trying to close the on demand loophole.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Plenty of our public services make money from their products and facilities when they are supplied in a way other than for their public service obligation. Hiring of school premises on evenings and weekends immediately springs to mind. Yet that doesn't make our schools or councils "commercial".

It is perfectly reasonable for a public service provider, having fulfilled its obligations to the taxpayer, to find other ways of supplementing its income in order to further enhance its public services.

If BBC Worldwide did not sell products overseas the BBC would have less money and would be able to do less in the UK.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

BBC worldwide sells programs world wide to supplement the licence fee ,as far as i know this has always been the case ,this in no way stops the BBC being a public service

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I'm not saying the BBC is like a school. I'm demonstrating that just because a public service provider also does commercial operations on the side, it does not reclassify the whole operation as "commercial".

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

What's Sky Sports got to do with the BBC?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Your confused .Sirius has used that example by saying he feels aggrieved that even though he watches no BBC channels he must still pay if he wants to watch a live sport event on Sky ,which is a fair point but can easily be settled by funding through general taxation

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Because if i watch sky sports live i have to pay the Tv TAX to which the BBC is given the money not Sky. As i pointed out that's like shopping in Morrison's and having to pay Tesco for doing so.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

And because there's more and more supermarkets and corner shops springing up. and you having to pay just one a 'shopping tax' when you don't even shop there. and the other supermarkets and corner shops don't get a cut of it.

that's why it's out of date and is seen for what it is in this day and age. and will be finished.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

No, it was some modelling work, which appears to state that people would pay £9 per month for Radio 4 alone :confused:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01...cher_mps_here/

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

No I'm not.

You said we have a choice. I want to watch Sky Sports but have to pay the BBC. Not only is that not a choice but it's also not fair.

---------- Post added at 12:26 ---------- Previous post was at 12:26 ----------

Yes that was my point. I replied to someone who said I had a choice.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Of course you have a choice you don't have to watch Sky Sports. It's just not a fair choice you have to make.

Same as watching TV at all - you don't have to do that either. Still a choice - just not a fair one.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Then it needs to be rectified so there is a level playing field, ether spread the TV tax across ALL providers or make the BBC pay there own way like all other providers. The BBC's days of running to the Government cap in hand shouting please sir i have wasted all the money should be stopped. The BBC should be made to WORK for every single penny just like every other tv provider and the TAX should be shared around ALL the providers if it is to stay.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I don't really disagree with you - I'm just not that fussed about it all. If things change I'll probably get worked up about it.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Well if you want to play the pedantic game then I'm off.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Fair enough.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Indeed however for me its over a £140 a year that i would prefer i spent on something that i had a choice to pay on and that benefited me.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I can fully appreciate that - It'd wind me up. I know I only pay half that but I am locked into having to pay it at the moment. At the end of that I can dump it completely (If Natalie lets me) but then I don't watch sport at all so that would work for me. I definitely don't think it's a fair situation and hope it all gets worked out, but I won't hold my breath.

I expect the ondemand thing to change and they expect me to pay then. It'd probably get me worked up then ;).

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I said you have a "choice of sorts" and you do ,you can watch on demand content if you wish and avoid paying the licence ,in fact over a 100,000 people reckon that's what they do when they go in front of the magistrates,as said though it's not the best choice but still a choice

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

So how do i watch the super league game on a Friday night via sky which i pay a subscription for ( because i have a choice to) which is NOT then available on demand. So if i do watch it live i must pay the TV tax to the BBC who then gets paid for something they don't provide, have nothing to do with and therefore should not benefit from. The BBC should be made to provide a decoder box that then allows those who wish to watch the bbc the ability to do so for the same cost as the TV Tax. If other providers can do it so can the BBC

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

The difference is that the other providers are commercial enterprises the BBC isn't ,i do agree however that things must change .The BBC should be much more accountable instead of the old boys club it is perceived to be now .Possibly separating the news and education side from the entertainment side is an option

---------- Post added at 14:17 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

like i said it is a choice of sorts ,just not the choice you want .There is no way to make it fair to everybody and at the moment a licence of £145 p/a is the fairest way all round imo

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

If the BBC is so good then a subscription system would work because those that like it would pay for it, the fact is they are nowhere near as good as they think they are and they would have to dare i say it buck there ideas up so they keep there level of funding. Lets face it if there output is crap then they will soon find out as would they if there output was good. they would sooner sit on the fence pay high wages and redundancy payments to high earning managers and cry there poor to the Government.

Then make it a subscription fee via a decoder of £145.00 because if you think the BBC's output is that good then there is no problem with a subscription is there. Then i and other dont have to fund something we dont want to watch.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

The whole point of the BBC is for it to be a public broadcast service not a for profit organisation like Sky.A subscription fee would be far greater than the current licence fee and it would only keep rising putting quality tv beyond the ability to pay for the poorest in society .The BBC make some fantastic programs that would be lost if it relied on subscriptions and the guarantee of funds makes it possible for such programming to be made and as i have said those funds must be used much more wisely and in the public interest

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

So what, BMW make some fantastic cars, but I don't have to pay them in order to drive my Ford.

The BBC is on it's way out, and they know it. They'll never go subscription because they would quickly go bust.

And they have made profits.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

The BBC is not on it's way out at all ,maybe the way it is funded will change,even the way it is operated but we will always have a public broadcast service ,at least for the foreseeable future.

BBC worldwide make profits which are used to subsidise the licence fee not pay shareholders

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I have no doubt that the BBC will change ,i think it must change but imo it must remain a public service ,just about every country in the developed world has a public tv service and all are funded either by general tax,a licence such as ours or other somewhat imaginative methods ,fancy paying for the beeb on your gas or electric bill ,or even a tax on receiving equipment

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I might be able to see a future where the BBC can charge a subscription worldwide and then in the UK too but I would want to see a licence fee, albeit cheaper, remain in place for public service broadcasting such as national events, school programs, education programs, and the news.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Universities are another. Every university does research which is linked with outside companies. The profits generated from that research are usually ploughed back into the Uni and used to improved facilities at the Uni.

Hospitals are yet another. The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital , despite being an NHS hospital, used to have a couple of wards that were only open to private patients. Any profits generated by these wards were ploughed back into the facilities offered to BOTH NHS and private patients.

I would not consider any taxpayer funded University or Hospital to be commercial though.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have umpteen senior managers/directors getting the equivalent of fat cat wages.

Not to mention the millions spent on redundancy.

Schools should be funded for all, it's a necessity in life (Education that is)
An entertainment TV/Radio station, should not be publicly funded.
If I want to watch quality shows, I will pay for them. I shouldn't be forced to pay the BBC for watching Game of thrones, which IS worth the money spent on it.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

So only those who can afford it should be able to watch 'quality' shows?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Yes.

Surely that's a fairer way rather than making everyone pay who watches live TV like Sky Sports who don't see any of the money you have to pay to the BBC.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

No it's not ,all that would happen is the subscription cost would continue to rise as less and less people subscribe because of the rising cost .Having a licence fee keeps the cost down and ensures that quality programming is available to all to suit most tastes .

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

So your answer is to force people to pay the tax even if they don't watch the BBC because by your way the BBC benefits because people watch other providers. Why should i be forced to have to pay for something i don't use just so YOU get it cheaper ?????


If the BBC is so good then it will still get subscribers however if people think there output is crap then they wont, and whose fault will that be. If that is the case then maybe they will start to produce good stuff unlike now where they don't give a crap because they are guaranteed a fortune in tax each year

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Why should people pay substantially more for a public service because you don't use it?? Your dislike of the BBC isn't shared by everyone and a large part of the population rely on the BBC as their only source of entertainment because they can't afford subscription tv ,they rely on freeview tv which probably wouldn't exist had the licence fee been scrapped

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

WHY should i be forced to pay for something i dont use ????????????????????????

But if they are already paying the Tv tax so making it subscription at the same amount would not be a problem would it.

So if i read your answer correctly your answer to this is just to force this on everyone and let the bbc continue to take the **** and not have to produce programs that are worth people paying for unlike everyone else.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

But they're saying subscription could be twice the cost of the current licence fee, and also recommend charging for watching through iPlayer.

How would the radio channels work through subscription?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

The radio channels cost substantially less than the Tv channels and could easily be covered by a payment from the government from general taxation, the TV service can be controlled if it is made subscription so that those who wish to watch it can just like the other providers. forcing people to pay for something they dont want is stupid in this day and age when the systems to allow a CHOICE are there and tested to work perfectly.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Your actually arguing against a public broadcast service .The reason you should pay is because one day you may need it ,just the same as you pay for schools, roads, hospitals and any other public service you don't use but may need to use one day

A subscription would be substantially more than the current licence fee putting it beyond the reach of many people

No ,keep the licence fee and force the BBC to be more accountable ,stop paying ridiculous payoffs and cut back on the number of senior managers .They already produce many top quality programs the fact that you don't like them is nobodies fault but your own .Millions of people use the BBC services and quite frankly i think it provides good value given the services it provides for around £12 a month.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Erm, yes it is. Why should someone pay for none essential services that they don't use?

Further more, if the subscription costs continue to rise, you might want to ask yourself why.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Er, yes?
You want a quality movie, you go to the cinema, or wait for it on DVD/Blu-ray
You want a quality TV show, you pay for Sky/Virgin media, or as above, buy it on DVD/Blu-ray.
I'm sure the BBC has SOME quality TV shows on it, but none appeal to me, yet I have to pay the BBC £12 a month, because I watch Game of thrones and walking dead, programs made in the USA? There's just no logic in it.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Both Sky and Virgin increase their subscription fees annually why do you think that a subscription funded BBC would be any different .You want to turn the BBC into a commercial enterprise so it would automatically be subject to the usual economic forces .

The concept of a 'public service broadcaster' appears to escape you

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Does the concept of a forced tax on a person lose you to, The BBC via the government tax us its as simple as that. You are forced to pay for something you don't want and if you don't pay you have to suffer the bully boys at your door.

The sooner this goes to a civil offence the better as i will stop paying at that point and they can go stuff themselves.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Just don't pay it. I don't.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Some people don't want to pay for art galleries, some people don't want to pay for nuclear weapons or for a large military, some people don't want to pay for schools if they're not using them and others don't want to pay for the social services.

I don't think the idea that you are forced to pay for something you don't use is lost on him. I think the idea that this isn't especially novel is lost on you.

I would categorise the BBC as a similar investment as that which goes into art galleries, maintenance of historical buildings, and other public grants which are deemed to be important to strengthening our culture. British culture and the sheer amount of musicians, comedians, actors, writers and directors that we produce is pretty impressive and a good portion of them are helped into the mainstream by the BBC.

BBC Radio often has played a large role in promoting British acts. Coldplay were given their first airtime by BBC Radio 1 and the BBC's Sound of 'year' has paid a part in launching the careers of several of our musicians. BBC Radio 4 has also given a lot of writers and comedians a platform from with to start as well. Fry and Laurie were given their biggest break by the Beeb as were Monty Python. Mitchell and Webb are a more recent example as is Ricky Gervais and The Office.

If the BBC is just another commercial broadcaster then they will take less risks and won't have a public duty to promote British interests. We will be seamed by cheaper American imports just like Sky, the model many on here wish to see us copy.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Rupert Murdoch and his financial clout (and others like him) over broadcasting and influence on government makes me very pleased to pay the licence fee or tax as you want to call it if only to have one section of the media free to actually give us a independent uninfluenced viewpoint.

And yes I know some of you think that they are too right wing biased.But then some of you regard them as too left wing biased. As far as I'm concerned that means they are doing a good job of being independent.That independence can only be maintained by them having funding from all and not being doled out money from the government coffers.If it becomes a civil matter then the BBC will cease and all we will hear is the voices of Murdoch and his ilk.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Some people go on as if the the BBC are the be-all and end-all. Like they, or life itself, couldn't possibly survive without it. Life will go on, it's not that important... to me, and hundreds of thousands of others like me, we don't agree with you, we want to have the choice not to pay for a non-essential service without the intimidation and threats of large fines and a possible prison sentence just for watching / having a TV.

I won't be intimidated or threatened by these shysters, and that's why I don't pay the fee, and never will.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

On the contrary, they're in favour of scraping it, sort of, not quite turkeys voting for Christmas but it's a start

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/03/...iption-service

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

You can't take a TV tax out of general taxation as some people don't have a TV at all.

Also there are other things that the BBC has to pay for, like transmitters.

And radio, lots of channels there, national and local. Not easy to move them to subscription even on DAB. And the TV channels, how do you make them subscription on Freeview? Not all boxes have card slots.

The license fee is good value and manageable. Those who don't pay, when caught, should be made to pay for say 5 years back fees straight to the BBC.

The BBC does need to get it's house in order but ... whenever that happens to any organisation they usually have to hire lots more admin/managers/bean counters to implement that change. And so much more red tape that nothing works any more.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

And the reason is simple. It's because currently it is subsidised by people who are forced to pay for something that they would happily do without if they were given the choice. Giving people the choice is something the BBC are petrified to do, because they know what the outcome will be.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Bet quite a few of the ones who don't pay use its services, though.......

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Yeh. probably 10p's worth.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

In other words you want something for nothing

---------- Post added at 17:03 ---------- Previous post was at 17:00 ----------


Rubbish ,the subscription will be roughly twice the amount of the current licence fee simply because that is the market rate set by sky and VM .

---------- Post added at 17:05 ---------- Previous post was at 17:03 ----------

:clap::clap:

---------- Post added at 17:10 ---------- Previous post was at 17:05 ----------

Why not? those without tv's subsidise CH4 by way of government grants ,it was originally intended to be funded by a share of the license fee and advertising but in the end it was decided to give grants out of general taxation

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Wrong. Now, you just be a good boy, and carry on paying for the things you want, and I'll carry on saving my money to pay for the things I want. :)

Then I'm sure you won't mind paying them the extra for such an outstanding, must have service. :)

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

IF, the BBC was pay TV service - they would go bust as no one would watch it. Most of my Tv, is BBC for Susanna Reid, and that is it.

I cannot understand why they dont have adverts like all the other channels. To my knowledge they have moved everything to Manchester, you have the large Tv studios at White City - the old one has been sold, but they studios all over London.

And they also use the studios for other companies, so why can't they use that money to cover costs.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Yes, Susanna did defect to ITV, thats where l am heading - have you seen her on YouTube - Phew.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

what a load of rubbish ,the BBC is by a country mile the most popular tv service this country has consistently taking 80% of viewing

http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly...ry?period_year[]=2014&period_month[]=3&period_week[]=2&button_submit=View+figures&period[]=201403060102

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I am sure Arthur will be dreadfully disappointed he won't be able to discuss Kierkegaard's views on philosophy and theology with her, and will be upset she won't be debating if he (Mr K) was an existentialist, postmodernist, or simply a neo-orthodoxist.....;)

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Actually i would mind ,i mind very much that people enjoy the service but don't want to pay for it ,it pushes the price up from what is very good value to a cost that some of the poorest cannot afford ,an affordable service meant for all is being eroded by greedy selfish gits using the excuse of 'freedom' and 'choice' to justify not paying the licence fee

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I would say BBC One is a national "treasure" although I detest that phrase. It's the channel that major national events are aired on, it's one of the oldest television channels in the World, it shows programs like Sherlock and so on.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Is she posting upskirt videos of herself?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I'm not :rolleyes:

Those like you are doing it to yourself .It is your choice to break the law ,nobody is forcing you

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Isnt the Fa cup final a major national event, thats not on BBC this year

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

That's the BBC through and through. You need to put the blame on them, not on the people who are being threatened and made to pay for it.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I'm not saying that the BBC doesn't need a top down reorganization ,i actually shout very loud at the waste and attitude by it's top brass because they are ruining a much needed and valuable service with their greed and 'old boys club' behavior.I do not think however that it is is a excuse to cheat the system

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

When l was a young man, there were only two tv channels going - ITV and BBC, now some 50 years later, l got a job delivering the best wine and champagne to the BBC at White City and Portman Place (the home of the Beeb) ans till they had the best stuff.

To me what has caused major problems for the Beeb, is all the money they are wasting. They wanted US, the licence payer to pay for BBC Digital, and now they are scarpping BBC3. and making it online.

What the BBC have to do is to go back to making great progs, and not the scrap they are doing now.
The Beeb, now is being beaten at everything they are bidding for yet, will spend thousands on parties for staff and simply wasting money on worthless ventures that they cannot win.

We are wasting OUR money on a channel that can quite easily advertise products.

Lets look at it this way - when they 'Advertise' there progs, aren't they advertising. Advertisers would jump at the chance to have BBC advertising.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I don't see it as cheating the system, I see it as the system cheating me.

What about people who have the means to receive live programs, but genuinely don't need a TV licence, do you see them as cheating licence dodgers?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

BBC ready to contemplate alternative to the compulsory licence fee.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...-model-changes

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I think they'll try for this alternative, in other words, no alternative what-so-ever for the public... Pay up, or suffer the consequences!

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

What has the cost of subscription set by sky or VM got to do with what the BBC charge. The fee would be the cost to run the service divided by those who choose to subscribe.

The cost per subscriber would most likely be higher than the current licence fee because there would be no subsidy from those who decide not to subscribe, plus the additional cost introduced by encryption.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

Everything ,they will be the BBC's competition ,they have set the UK market for subscription tv and the BBC can only follow Sky and VM and since the BBC is a program maker the subscription will be high

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

More enforcement less choice

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

That statement makes no sense to me at all.

Just because they go to subscription their costs will not rise as a program maker. The only rise in costs will be from encryption for their programs delivered by the local TV transmitter, and any costs incurred by sky or VM to encrypt the service.

I still stand by my statement that the price of subscription will be:

Cost to run the BBC/number of subscribers

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

It's not difficult ,2 companies in direct competition will have similar pricing structurs

You're forgetting that unlike now the BBC will have to make a profit and keep shareholders happy ,it would most likely spend years as a loss making company ,much the same as Sky did ,you may even see the BBC selling BB and phone services and going head to head with Sky and VM

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

I must have missed the part that said the BBC would have to make a profit and keep shareholders happy.

I believe the BBC could never survive as a private company. I also think they could never compete or be in direct competition with the likes of sky or VM who are service carriers. (as well as program makers in the case of sky)

The BBC could only offer what they currently offer, but they know that they currently have an unfair funding scheme where they are subsidised by those of us who don't have a choice.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence
 

How do you think a company funded by subscriptions works ? Of course the BBC will have to make a profit ,removing it's status as a public service which is obviously what you and other detractors of the licence fee want ,means it will be a private company