tv licence guess what ?

Originally Posted by towny

I've tried, but I just can't think of any possible scenario which would lead to an overall increase in the quality of TV programming in this country for the simple reason of the licence fee being scrapped. So, please, could you explain how?

House holds having more money freed up to spend on channels/packs they want to watch and not what the beeb want you to watch. Channels would be fighting to attract that extra revenue and you know what. It would be things which attract viewers. Not some of the ****e the beeb make/show which attract a few thousands viewers NUFF SAID

Originally Posted by Defiant

House holds having more money freed up to spend on channels/packs they want to watch and not what the beeb want you to watch. Channels would be fighting to attract that extra revenue and you know what. It would be things which attract viewers. Not some of the ****e the beeb make/show which attract a few thousands viewers NUFF SAID

Well, no, I don't think it's nuff said at all. I do not think it's guaranteed that if everyone suddenly had £121 to spend that they would put it all into their TV pack purchases, so a chunk of money would immediately be lost to the TV programme-making industry.

Of all the digital channels, only Sky One makes a significant effort at original UK programming and what's the result? Dream Team, Is Harry on the Boat, Brainiac and Kirsty's Home Videos.

Grrrrrreat.

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?

I do not believe that the extra cash that would make it into the system would have any significant impact on the ability of channels like Sky to make good TV. And most of the rest of the digital channels don't bother to make original programming at all, preferring to show re-runs of the very shows the BBC would no longer be able to make without the licence fee.

I think you recognise this, or else you wouldn't have gone and bought a Freeview box, which is largely free of re-run-only channels like Granada Plus and UK Gold. And remember D, the reason Sky has invested in Freeview is that they realise there are a large number of households that will never go for pay-TV of any kind. Freeview boxes don't have a subscriber card in them so you can't move digital terrestrial to a subscription model. People wouldn't pay for it anyway. And what is left on Freeview if the 8 BBC channels go?

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?

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

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Defiant

Not some of the ****e the beeb make/show which attract a few thousands viewers NUFF SAID

Some of the '****e' as you put it for example, Eastenders, attract a lot of viewers, I think 12.1 million is a little bit of an advance over your stupid estimate.

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 get it alright ... yes, BBC1 will still be there, but commercial priorities will be driving it instead of issues of quality. It just won't be the same.

As for their local radio, well the sooner we see the back of the useless waste of space that is BBC Three Counties Radio (for Beds, Herts and Bucks, but mostly Luton) the better. You will get no argument from me there. Even BBC LDN (whatever that's supposed to mean) is right up itelf and considers itself to be some kind of appendage of national TV/Radio instead of attempting to get to grips with local concerns.

Originally Posted by Bifta

Some of the '****e' as you put it for example, Eastenders, attract a lot of viewers, I think 12.1 million is a little bit of an advance over your stupid estimate.

Er try switching braincell on before replying M8

I'm talking about allot of the crap shown on BBC2. Check out the viewing figures

Originally Posted by Defiant

Er try switching braincell on before replying M8

I'm talking about allot of the crap shown on BBC2. Check out the viewing figures

OK, here they are.

http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary...m?report=share

According to this graph, BBC2 out-does both C4 and C5.

Also, all digital channels taken together can't out-do either BBC1 or ITV1. This graph shows BBC1 as the most popular general entertainment channel, and BBC2 as the most popular 'minority' channel.

EDIT:
This page:
http://www.barb.co.uk/TVFACTS.cfm?fu...1&flag=tvfacts
shows how the arrival of C4, C5, satellite and cable has dented BBC1 and ITV's viewing share over the last 20 years, although ITV has clearly been much harder hit than BBC1.

It also shows that BBC2's audience share is virtually unchanged - 12% in 1981, 11.4% today. 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.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Defiant

Er try switching braincell on before replying M8

I'm talking about allot of the crap shown on BBC2. Check out the viewing figures

Maybe you should read towny's post perhaps switching YOURS on first.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Really? Since when?
Don't you remember National Lampoon's European Vacation where they mocked the fact we only had 4 channels, all of which were showing crap.

Instead if 100+ channels all showing crap.

Originally Posted by scastle

Instead if 100+ channels all showing crap.

They have choice though dont they. They wouldn't put up with a wacked out of date goverment telling them to pay for a tv licence.

Most of the programs I like are US based and movie's too so their doing something right

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Defiant

I'm talking about allot of the crap shown on BBC2. Check out the viewing figures

D, just because the viewing figures are low dosen't mean that its not a quality, valued program. You may not listen to Radio 3 but to some it is well worth the licence fee in itself.

This is the sort of mentality that has brought ITV to its knees, and created a Saturday night schedule that is nothing more then an extended pop contest. VIEWING FIGURES, VIEWING FIGURES, the management shout, but wheres the quality, its just cheap telly made to keep up the advertising figures, and thats all that will happen to the beeb if you scrap the licence fee.

You need to get over your need for everything to be just how you want it D and appreciate that others will want to watch/vote/talk about different things to you, thats life and what makes our lives such a rich tapestry. Life isn't jsut about you.

Like someone above said, if you don;t like it switch over, there are hundreds of channels to watch, I'm sure something you like will be on one of them, try Bravo!

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by dellwear

try Bravo!

Or Live TV

Originally Posted by dellwear

Like someone above said, if you don;t like it switch over, there are hundreds of channels to watch, I'm sure something you like will be on one of them, try Bravo!

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

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Defiant

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

And this is why this country is going to the dogs, I'm alright Jack!

Originally Posted by Defiant

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

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.