Quote:
Originally Posted by foreverwar
They weren't comparisons, they were examples of where we, as a society, contribute to benefit others, even if we don't directly benefit ourselves.
I personally think the BBC educates and informs, mostly without bias, and so is worth keeping - ymmv.  |
I think you are splitting hairs there if you believe there's a difference so be it.
And whilst you think the BBC educates (as do other channels) there is a wide gulf between a couple of documentaries and a full country-wide school system.
Things like police, fire and schools need to be funded any way possible. TV radio and websites? No. Certainly not justifing a poll tax.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
Why can't you?
The BBC isn't 'a TV channel' by the way - a fact I'm sure you're well aware of. But if you genuinely don't understand the full reach and significance of the BBC's operations in the UK and worldwide, just say the word, I'm sure I or one or two others on here could lay it out for you.  |
See above. I said TV channel for brevity's sake and as its the most visible and costly arm of the BBC. I don't think any part of the BBC justifies a pool tax.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyboy
There is no need to be rude.
|
Trust me, I wasn't being rude. Certainly no more than you was being sarcastic.
Quote:
|
And what happens to transmissions when the adverts are on? Do they show a blank screen for five minutes, every quarter of an hour?
|
It is a simple matter of running two schedules. They will run out of alignment but who really would care? I they do want to re-align the schedules periodically they can just ommit the less commercially-viable filler stuff. And yes, even the BBC has that. Come on, its the 21st century, these things aren't that difficult.
Sure with analogue this was more difficult but with the digital age, there is no excuse.
Quote:
|
It wouldn't be sustainable anyway. If say twenty per cent didn't want to pay the licence fee wanted the BBC to show commercials, no company in their right mind would want to pay loads of money to access only twenty per cent of the audience.
|
20% of the TV market is very sizeable. And besides, if the BBC was value-for-money then everyone would pay £142/year
Quote:
|
I would love to have a state owned airline that costs me only one hundred and forty two pounds a year, if it meant I could fly anywhere I wanted, without having to pay anything more. I am pretty sure everyone in the country would be cock-a-hoop with a plan like that.
|
Very clever that you've taken my analogy out of context. OK, what if you don't want to fly?
That's the trouble here. The only attitude I seem to see from BBC supporters is that "I like the BBC so everyone else has to pay for it."