BBC licence fee to be reviewed by Conservatives

[DerekDuvale]

A tax to watch tv , just think about how ridiculous that sounds

[Pierre]

All they need to do is decriminalise it.

That would appease most people.

If the BBC want to go after non-payers they can do it civilly.

Originally Posted by DerekDuvale

A tax to watch tv , just think about how ridiculous that sounds

You’re right - that does sound ridiculous...

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Hugh

You’re right - that does sound ridiculous...

The truth often does

[Mr K]

There should be some sort of discount/exemption for those who genuinely struggle to pay, given it's a public service broadcaster e.g those on income support. However rich pensioners, who probably use the BBC most, should pay (maybe double ).

[tweetiepooh]

How will they lock out all the older sets? If you've paid for a TV and watch BBC but it just has a basic Digital receiver. Or sets in places without good internet but fine aerial.

I would still maintain the license fee is good value and pays for more than simple TV. And the benefit of no ads makes it worth while.

Oh, and rich pensioners have been paying for years so why charge them more?

The fact that the BBC is irritating those in power shows that it is working. That should apply to irritating (challenging) anyone with power. If things go too far to private companies holding all the reigns who will challenge/mock them?

[heero_yuy]

Quote from tweetiepooh:

How will they lock out all the older sets? If you've paid for a TV and watch BBC but it just has a basic Digital receiver. Or sets in places without good internet but fine aerial.

Both my modern (about 5 years old) sets have a slot for the Conditional Access Module. This allows for reception of encrypted channels even on DVB T. Subscription payers would get a card to allow for BBC channels reception.

Given how cheap a TV stick or STB is those without a CAM slot could have a suitable box with a SCART, HDMI and RF output as part of the subscription.

Satellite and cable customers would pay a subscription as part of their package if they wanted BBC channels.

Such a change could be rolled out pretty quickly.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Both my modern (about 5 years old) sets have a slot for the Conditional Access Module. This allows for reception of encrypted channels even on DVB T. Subscription payers would get a card to allow for BBC channels reception.

Given how cheap a TV stick or STB is those without a CAM slot could have a suitable box with a SCART, HDMI and RF output as part of the subscription.

Satellite and cable customers would pay a subscription as part of their package if they wanted BBC channels.

Such a change could be rolled out pretty quickly.

There's a heck of a lot on TVs and boxes out there, imagine all the pensioners you'd have to explain this to. This is the group who mostly depend on and value the BBC, and, worryingly for the Govt, they are it's core support. Put at risk their access to the Antiques Roadshow and Gardeners World and there will be hell to pay at the ballot box ! .

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Both my modern (about 5 years old) sets have a slot for the Conditional Access Module. This allows for reception of encrypted channels even on DVB T. Subscription payers would get a card to allow for BBC channels reception.

Given how cheap a TV stick or STB is those without a CAM slot could have a suitable box with a SCART, HDMI and RF output as part of the subscription.

Satellite and cable customers would pay a subscription as part of their package if they wanted BBC channels.

Such a change could be rolled out pretty quickly.

On the contrary, the switch from VHF to UHF took about 25 years. The switch from analogue to digital took a little over a decade. It absolutely could not be done with any speed at all, because you just can’t simply distribute CAMs and HDMI add-ons en masse, especially to the very section of the population that has most resisted such technology, and expect everything to fall into place. The people left behind in such a move would be the most vulnerable in society.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Chris

On the contrary, the switch from VHF to UHF took about 25 years. The switch from analogue to digital took a little over a decade. It absolutely could not be done with any speed at all, because you just can’t simply distribute CAMs and HDMI add-ons en masse, especially to the very section of the population that has most resisted such technology, and expect everything to fall into place. The people left behind in such a move would be the most vulnerable in society.

I feel sure we can drag MR K out of the 1950S without too much kicking and screeming

[denphone]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

[/B]

I feel sure we can drag MR K out of the 1950S without too much kicking and screeming

Its not the Mr K's bless him that l worry about but as Chris succinctly put "the most vulnerable in society".

[tweetiepooh]

Well our 15yr old set doesn't have any cards and being an older CRT doesn't have slots for cards. Yes you could SCART a box in but why if there is a built in DTV tuner? And HDMI->SCART only works on composite which looks less than ideal.)

And if you have multiple sets? More boxes all over the place, all with own card or other mechanism to enforce payment.

The list could go on.

Do you pay per set? That could get expensive, the license is per premise so if you have a home with a few devices the license works out pretty cheap. Pay per tuner? I could imagine if by device, someone would make a multituner box with outputs per tuner that could be routed to different watching devices with some form of control feedback. (Not really bothered if this already exists, just making a point)

[Sephiroth]

Wouldn’t, foe example, a VM TV subscription cover the revamped BBC spread? Licence fee swapped for subscription? Of course it gets messy if someone wants Full House but nit BBC anything. But VM can work the bundles out. Same would apply to Sky.

For older TVs, all that’s required is SCART from the source or intermediate conversion.

[heero_yuy]

Remember that SCART defaults to composite, if the receiver can accept RGB the SCART can be configured for this usually in the menus of the source. Both Sky and VM boxes offer this option and it makes a big difference to the PQ.

The reality is that it is just too complex to do this for the section of society we’re talking about here. If the government wants to scrap the license fee then the only reasonably painless way to do it would be to remodel the BBC’s finances after the other three national PSBs, namely ITV, Channel 4 and Five. All of them operate free to air, supported by commercials. It really is the only practical option. Expect the others to squeal if it ever gets floated though. They won’t want the competition for advertiser spend.