tv licence guess what ?

[Boom]

Originally Posted by towny

Given that channels that didn't exist 20 years ago now have 38% of the share between them, you could say BBC2 is relatively more popular than it has ever been.

Or you could say that decent channels aren't available terrestially and that paying money for them overtop of the license fee means ppl can't afford the extra cable channels, thus they are stuck in a 4 or, if they can properly receive channel 5, 5 channel choice. So naturally BBC2 wins and, not having advertisments helps? That or, since the channel is already paid for in a sense, ppl are trying to get their money out of it?

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Defiant

You still don't get it do you. If the licence fee is scrapped then I can't honestly see BBC1 closing down. It will do just as well in the private sector. Some of their radio stations will be sold and do well too no doubt but others will no doubt disappear and good riddance.

I'm not really that bothered. Its not like the TV Licence is in the same class as our tax's

I think if the BBC showed commercials it would have more of an impact on the current commercial channels than the BBC. Advertising space would double overnight, the cost of a prime slot around Corrie would fall as there would also be competing space around enders, the big tv ad spenders would not increase their budget, but spread it around (like rep points). You would have less cash going to the BBC and ITV and all the minor cable channels.

Cable subs would need to go up to compensate for the loss of revenue, people will reduce their packs and channels will fold.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Defiant

I dont watch the crap and therefore shouldn't have to pay for other people to watch it either thanks

You watch freeview? As I said in that other thread, if the licence fee were dropped, the channels on Freeview would have to pay for the maintenance of their own transmitter network (which is done by the BBC at the mo). You'd probably end up paying for Freeview.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Defiant

I dont watch the crap and therefore shouldn't have to pay for other people to watch it either thanks

Do you really mean to say that there is nothing you or anyone else who benefits from your licence fee watch or listen to that was produced by the BBC?

Football matches, Wimbledon, Live News stories, soaps, radio, concerts.

Your viewing is richer for them, NICAM stereo on analogue terestrial broadcasts was developed by them and is used the world over.

As someone said earlier (and I concurred with) in the thread the advert free childrens chanels are a benefit for anyone with rugrats.

Originally Posted by Boom

Or you could say that decent channels aren't available terrestially and that paying money for them overtop of the license fee means ppl can't afford the extra cable channels, thus they are stuck in a 4 or, if they can properly receive channel 5, 5 channel choice. So naturally BBC2 wins and, not having advertisments helps? That or, since the channel is already paid for in a sense, ppl are trying to get their money out of it?

Not at all. Go and have a look at the statistics on the page I linked to. As C4, then satellite, then C5 became available, BBC1 and ITV lost audience share, ITV most of all. BBC2 has remained almost completely constant, so it's audience share relative to the available choice has increased. BBC1, meanwhile, has gone from the second most popular TV channel in the UK to the most popular.

As for whether people can afford the licence, it amounts to a direct debit payment of £11 a month. I'm paying NTL £18 a month for the Base Pack and anyone who takes the family pack and any movies or sport can easily be spending £30 or £40 a month on TV. Are you really saying that £11 a month is causing such financial hardship?

Your point about people wanting to get their money's worth really doesn't stack up either. It would be a bloody-minded person indeed who would st through a programme they hated for half an hour, simply because they knew they'd paid for it through ther licence. You and I only sit through a TV programme if we're enjoying it.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by towny

Now these programmes have their place, (according to the Daily Mirror, even the Queen's a fan of Kirsty Gallagher ) but are they a substitute for quality BBC drama like Waking the Dead or comedy like Have I got News for You or They Think it's All Over? And where in the schedule might there be room for quality factual programming like Watchdog and Panorama?

A touch of frost, the bill, tonight with trevor mcdonald, the sketch show, them and more have space on the ITV schedule



As for paying monthly, don't you end up paying 18months worth in the first year? How's that fair?

I quite enjoy the beeb and I don't mind paying for the licence.Just wish they would have a better attitude towards those of us who enjoy SF/fantasy and stop rearranging my favourite SF shows to fit sport around them.Like the cavalier way they kept taking Star Trek and Farscape off for a couple of weeks to show snooker.This is the only reason I even bother with DTV so I can actually get to watch SF shows.

Incog.

Originally Posted by Xaccers

A touch of frost, the bill, tonight with trevor mcdonald, the sketch show, them and more have space on the ITV schedule

Indeed they do, and if there was that much more I think ITV's ratings slide might not have been so steep.

As for paying monthly, don't you end up paying 18months worth in the first year? How's that fair?

I don't like it much, but then unlike most Direct Debits, this one was thought up by a civil servant. I guess they didn't want to risk losing a chunk of cash overnight if people who previously had paid £121 up front suddenly were only paying £10 a month and taking a year to hand over all the cash. Remember most Direct Debits are paid in advance of the service you recieve, like phone line rental or your DTV. Paying your TV licence by DD means you pay 6 months in advance and 6 months in arrears. Unfortunately in order to get there you have to pay an extra 6 months in the first year.

I'm not complaining tho' - I could well have done without the £116 bill I got the other week for my new licence so I was happy to switch to direct debit.

Originally Posted by towny

Remember most Direct Debits are paid in advance of the service you recieve, like phone line rental or your DTV. Paying your TV licence by DD means you pay 6 months in advance and 6 months in arrears. Unfortunately in order to get there you have to pay an extra 6 months in the first year.

Also not forgetting that most Direct Debits give you a *discount* if you pay in that way because it reduces admin, whereas the TV licence can cost *more*!!

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Your viewing is richer for them, NICAM stereo on analogue terestrial broadcasts was developed by them and is used the world over.

• Along with RDS (Radio Data Service, primarily used to identify radio stations)
• Parts of the MPEG2 codec (so, if you've ever watch any kind of digital TV or watched a DVD, you have benefitted).
• They were also the first company to broadcast anything digitally (they started initial tests of DTV back in the '80s and in the '90s started wider scale tests from Crystal Palace). Amazingly, this trial was conducted with the help of NTL (broadcast).
• DAB

There's a whole load of other stuff at the BBC r&d site http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd

Originally Posted by towny

Right, and you don't use the street lights in the street on the other side of town, so you shouldn't have to pay for them.
You don't use the facilities at your local old people's home, or get meals on wheels, or have any benefit out of cleaners mopping the floor at county hall, so you shouldn't have to pay for any of that either.
And what about the railways? You don't use the commuter lines into London so why should your taxes subsidise that either?
Or, a better example, the ferries linking the Hebrides to the mainland ... why should your tax pounds pay for islanders to maintain their lifestyle? No, of course not, they should all pay full fares, or move to the mainland if they don't like it.

We live in a society, Defiant. People who live in a society are supposed to support each other. That's why we pay taxes, duties and licence fees. The alternative is a selfish anarchy.

Here we go again. Somsone that thinks the TV licence is in the same league as other tax's

Whats wrong with the pro bbc brigade. You keep popping up defending them here because theirs only a few of you guys. GET IT YET

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Defiant

Here we go again. Somsone that thinks the TV licence is in the same league as other tax's

Whats wrong with the pro bbc brigade. You keep popping up defending them here because theirs only a few of you guys. GET IT YET

I wouldn't say that. I have only seen a couple of you anti BBC guys on here.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Defiant

Here we go again. Somsone that thinks the TV licence is in the same league as other tax's

Whats wrong with the pro bbc brigade. You keep popping up defending them here because theirs only a few of you guys. GET IT YET

If thats the best reasoned argument you can come up with D then I suggest that you leave it 'cos your making yourself look stupid.

Originally Posted by dellwear

If thats the best reasoned argument you can come up with D then I suggest that you leave it 'cos your making yourself look stupid.

Thats great coming from you. You haven't come up with one decent argument for keeping this unjust stealth tax

Originally Posted by Defiant

Thats great coming from you. You haven't come up with one decent argument for keeping this unjust stealth tax

I would think that the vast majority of US TV output is an overwhelming argument for keeping at least *one* broadcaster that doesn't rely on either advertising revenue or subscriptions to pay its way!!