BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Just been reading that the BBC said that BBC2 itself would be under threat had they continued with free licenses for all pensioners aged 75 or over.

That sounds slightly hysterical. Or at least, designed to scare people into not complaining too much.

One of the unforeseen consequences of BBC Scotland, incidentally, is that a very long running gardening programme, called The Beechgrove Garden, has had its output cut. Originally it was made for BBC One Scotland, but it moved to BBC Two Scotland a number of years ago. Of course, Two Scotland no longer exists, so in order for The Beechgrove Garden to continue to be shown, it either has to go back to One (which it won’t, as its audience is far too small these days) or move onto BBC Two Scotland’s effective successor channel, the BBC Scotland Channel, which is what they have done.

But ... and here’s the kicker ... because they’re having to fund more new content to justify the channel’s existence, and to make it distinctive, The Beechgrove Garden is no longer competing for funds from what was previously available to make the relatively small number of opt-outs on BBC Two Scotland; it is instead competing for funding with everything being made for the BBC Scotland Channel. The result is that it will now only get 14 editions per series, where previously it had 26. And the show’s original presenter (who did it for 40 years) is complaining that they should have just left it on BBC Two, which simply demonstrates that a lot of people in Scotland still don’t understand the massive accounting trick the BBC has pulled off in order to make the BBC Scotland Channel happen.

BBC Two Scotland no longer exists, but nobody seems to have noticed...

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Chris

That sounds slightly hysterical. Or at least, designed to scare people into not complaining too much.

One of the unforeseen consequences of BBC Scotland, incidentally, is that a very long running gardening programme, called The Beechgrove Garden, has had its output cut. Originally it was made for BBC One Scotland, but it moved to BBC Two Scotland a number of years ago. Of course, Two Scotland no longer exists, so in order for The Beechgrove Garden to continue to be shown, it either has to go back to One (which it won’t, as its audience is far too small these days) or move onto BBC Two Scotland’s effective successor channel, the BBC Scotland Channel, which is what they have done.

But ... and here’s the kicker ... because they’re having to fund more new content to justify the channel’s existence, and to make it distinctive, The Beechgrove Garden is no longer competing for funds from what was previously available to make the relatively small number of opt-outs on BBC Two Scotland; it is instead competing for funding with everything being made for the BBC Scotland Channel. The result is that it will now only get 14 editions per series, where previously it had 26. And the show’s original presenter (who did it for 40 years) is complaining that they should have just left it on BBC Two, which simply demonstrates that a lot of people in Scotland still don’t understand the massive accounting trick the BBC has pulled off in order to make the BBC Scotland Channel happen.

BBC Two Scotland no longer exists, but nobody seems to have noticed...

Doubt many would notice if BBC2 no longer existed or day time BBC1 for that matter, endless repeats of dross that wasn't much cop first time round

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Doubt many would notice if BBC2 no longer existed or day time BBC1 for that matter, endless repeats of dross that wasn't much cop first time round

Ah, so you must watch it then Pay up old chap !

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Ah, so you must watch it then Pay up old chap !

Or I could read a tv guide every now and then

[heero_yuy]

If the BBC has to economise there's always the test card.

Probably more entertaining than daytime TV.

[Carth]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Doubt many would notice if BBC2 no longer existed or day time BBC1 for that matter, endless repeats of dross that wasn't much cop first time round

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

If the BBC has to economise there's always the test card.

Probably more entertaining than daytime TV.

Fully agree with both

In fact I have no idea why TV stations pump out the huge amount of daytime dross that they do apart from the advertising revenue of course (hands up those who actually take an interest in the adverts at any time of day)

Kind of ironic how so many keep saying how bad daytime TV is on the BBC when it's even worse on all the other channels..

Anyway it's time we got back on topic.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Kind of ironic how so many keep saying how bad daytime TV is on the BBC when it's even worse on all the other channels..

Anyway it's time we got back on topic.

How can they be worse repeats but in the spirit of keeping things on topic who is actually watching this day time dross, it's the old people getting it for free!!

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by denphone

Up to 3.7 million pensioners who previously received a free TV licence will now have to pay for it.

They should just drop it all together!!

Dont they show commercials????? -- They shouldnt also charge $$$$$$$$!!!

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

How can they be worse repeats but in the spirit of keeping things on topic who is actually watching this day time dross, it's the old people getting it for free!!

I'd quite happily get rid of daytime TV, soaps, reality TV, any programmes about fecking property buying or antiques! However some want them and as the BBC has to appeal to everyone then that's the way it is if we want TV 24/7, unless we want to pay a lot higher fee.

But yes, OAPs do watch the TV more than anyone else, which is even more reason they should pay if they can afford to. Non earning, debt ridden Students are expected to pay the licence, subsidising the rich old folk, even though they rarely watch TV ! It's bonkers.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Mr K

I'd quite happily get rid of daytime TV, soaps, reality TV, any programmes about fecking property buying or antiques! However some want them and as the BBC has to appeal to everyone then that's the way it is if we want TV 24/7, unless we want to pay a lot higher fee.

But yes, OAPs do watch the TV more than anyone else, which is even more reason they should pay if they can afford to. Non earning, debt ridden Students are expected to pay the licence, subsidising the rich old folk, even though they rarely watch TV ! It's bonkers.

Students should be studying not watching Tv. any hoo i think your totally out of touch with student recreational habits.

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

[/B]

Students should be studying not watching Tv. any hoo i think your totally out of touch with student recreational habits.

Increase the income tax to 80% on all earning's above £20000

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/bbc-tv-l...LaFwTtumRs6ttI

MPs have just begun their 17-day parliamentary recess and, while many of them will still be working hard for their constituents over the Christmas break, they do, like the rest of us, deserve a holiday. But what may seem surprising to some voters is that, amid the row over the funding of free TV licences for the elderly, it has emerged that MPs are themselves entitled to claim the cost of a licence from the taxpayer.

Just to add balance.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Ken W

Increase the income tax to 80% on all earning's above £20000

There wouldn't be any point in working with such a scheme.

[Angua]

Sorry it's a DM article link. Over-75s may claim millions in benefits for free TV licences as Age UK reveals it's been 'inundated' with calls.

This could potentially cost the government more than they saved by not subsidising the over 75 TV Licence.