The licence fee is certainly not without its faults although I totally reject the 'well I don't watch it much' argument because the BBC, through its enormous variety of generally very high quality channels (TV, radio and online) offers such amazing diversity, quality and diversity. A life full of Sky Ones anybody? scastle made an excellent point in that the increasing fragmentation of the TV audience and the subsequent scraps for advertising revenue actually, on general terms, reduces quality because programme funds become so diluted. That's only going to get worse.
The problem with the fee is the political football the BBC becomes at charter renewal. That's not an easy one to get around as even with direct taxation (which would work psychologically in terms of people not getting hung up on an annual charge) will still be the subject to political pressure. But subscription is most definitely not the way to go; it will mean the BBC has to constantly chase ratings instead of providing a public service to complement commercial channels, and creativity and quality will suffer as a consequence as they hedge for safe bets.
__________________
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Gogogo
Yes, it is time to scrap the license fee, there is far too much duplication and waste, we do not get value for money, over £2 billion is raised annually and one wonders where that money goes. Commercials and subscription fees should be introduced. The axe should fall on the too many radion stations and duplicate services. There should be an end to contracting overpaid and pampered celebrities, the army of journalists should also be cut.
We have seen far better quality history, news, and current affairs programming from Channel 4.
Whilst it's true the BBC can produce superb drama it is equally true the commericial channels can also produce superb drama. BBC 3 should be transformed into a base sports channel. Other institutions have had to change and the BBC needs to change.
 |
Channel 4 has indeed generated some excellent programming but it is one channel - you simply can't compare it with the BBC which through its amazingly diverse output genuinely satisfies its public service remit (yes it can fall of those rails but when it produces so much......). In original drama with the excellent exception of Shameless (and some one offs) C4 has become increasingly reliant on US imports; Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Desperate Housewives, ER ; Similarly in comedy we've seen or have The Simpsons, Frasier, Cheers, Friends etc dominating output.
BBC3 a base sports channel? How's it going to compete for rights to fill airtime? Certainly won't get enough revenues from advertising to wrest stuff away from Sky. It'll get stuffed full of minority sports, have no viewers, no advertisers.....