TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Hugh

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?

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.

Originally Posted by Sirius

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

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

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

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

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

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.

[Mythica]

Originally Posted by martyh

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 .

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.

[AdamD]

Originally Posted by Hugh

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

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.

Originally Posted by Mythica

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.

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 .

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

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

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by martyh

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

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.

[Jimmy-J]

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

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

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

Originally Posted by Sirius

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.

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.

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.

[Jimmy-J]

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.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

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.

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

[tweetiepooh]

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.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by martyh

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

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.

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