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Originally Posted by RizzyKing
Please don't try and use that argument Maggy because it is not the same and your well aware of that. Taxes are paid because in oneway or another we all benefit by a far greater margin then we all benefit by all paying the licence fee. Times change and things move on but the bbc isn't at anywhere near the same pace and the reason is because they have a nice cocoon called the licence to always gaurantee their revenue.
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The unique position the BBC is in is why it is a cultural force in the world. From Planet Earth to the BBC World Service the Beeb has been, and continues to be, one of the most successful exports we ever had.
We are a small island with a relatively small population but outside of the United States we probably one of the most successful content producers in the world. This is a fantastic achievement and I don't understand why we as a country as so quick and eager to dismiss that.
Look at the other channels in the UK, the BBC is by far and away the best channel for British writers, directors and actors to succeed. A lot of our most successful artists started there because, free from commercial considerations, the BBC is in a position to take more risks and produce content for everyone however niche their tastes. Far better than ITV and it's obsession with reality shows and badly scripted, clichéd police dramas. You might agree that commercial success is a indicator of quality or at least of 'what people want' but I don't agree. Planet Earth is far better in terms of culture and impact than X-Factor. Yet there is not a channel in the world that would invest in something like it. Planet Earth is an example of why the BBC matters. It can decide that creating something wonderful, important, and educating is more important than commercial success.
Alternatively we could reduce our TV culture to reality shows and American Imports.