BBC plans to increase license fee

[kiwi-in-uk]

I receive a letter about once a month -- they vary in their levels of nastiness. Until recently, they've been addressed to the occupier but the most recent one was addressed to me personally. The net is closing in...

I use a TV for DVDs but not for broadcast reception, so I refuse to have a licence. I was being hounded so I wrote a letter sometime last year & haven't heard back from them.

If the licensing authority believes that every household has a TV ergo requires a licence then why don't they draw from consolidated tax revenues and leave everyone alone? Perhaps they could all get jobs as parking inspectors instead.

Another thought. The current law requires a licence for receiving broadcast TV (regardless of medium) but not for recorded TV (DVDs etc). Where does BBC's own timeshifted service fit? They are recorded programmes - not broadcast - and the delivery medium happens to be online, rather than DVD.

 

[Xtremehkr]

The BBC does a great job compared to what I have available locally. If it helps them become an internationally respected news outlet (to the point where they have subscribers in multiple nationalities) I am all for it. If the BBC had the presence that NPR had here locally (without influences like Tomlinson) I would be all for it.

There are a lack of truly objective news media, the BBC may not be exactly that, but if they were to be the closest to it, I would support them locally. Where they originate from is irrelevant, as long as I get some real news.

 

[Aaon]

I agree with the other Americans who have posted. I would gladly pay the money for a few channels of (relatively) commercial-free programming, especially if it is of the quality that the beeb can provide. Of course, as an American, my exposure to BBC programming is generally limited to whatever they show on PBS (Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, classic Doctor Who, BBC World News, and a few dramas packaged in the Masterpiece Theatre series), but almost allt he programs I see are of high quality, entertaining, and often quite thought provoking. And the idea of seeing a show that isn't interrupted every 7 minutes for adverts is extremely appealing.

The BBC does a great job compared to what I have available locally. If it helps them become an internationally respected news outlet (to the point where they have subscribers in multiple nationalities) I am all for it. If the BBC had the presence that NPR had here locally (without influences like Tomlinson) I would be all for it.

There are a lack of truly objective news media, the BBC may not be exactly that, but if they were to be the closest to it, I would support them locally. Where they originate from is irrelevant, as long as I get some real news.

Hear Hear, Xtremehkr! NPR is a treasure in the US. Between the news and commentary provided by NPR during the day, and my public radio station's brodcast of BBC World News at night, I have a true alternative to the Fox News/CNN/network nonsense that often passes for hard news in the United States.

 

[Nermal]

Therein lies one of the main differences between a commercial company and a public broadcaster (whoever it may be). Sky only provide a free satellite service because a certain percentage of the people who sign up for the free service will eventually upgrade to the subscription service.

Interesting. Over here, Sky don't provide a free service at all - even channels which are available free via VHF/UHF are encrypted on Sky's service and require payment of a monthly fee.

I don't see why the BBC licence can't work like the old analogue Sky system - supply everyone with a set-top box, and allow them to watch BBC if they've paid the fee.

 

[dobbin]

Another thought. The current law requires a licence for receiving broadcast TV (regardless of medium) but not for recorded TV (DVDs etc). Where does BBC's own timeshifted service fit? They are recorded programmes - not broadcast - and the delivery medium happens to be online, rather than DVD.

I'm sure the law will soon catch up with the technology and watching this content will require a license.

The first Mac I ever bought for myself was a Performa 6200 CD-TV in 1995. This had a built in TV-tuner which at the time was quite unusual. The manual from Apple stated that they didn't know if a TV license was required and a call to the licensing bods revealed they didn't know either! After a couple of years, once TV Tuner cards became more common, the rules were tightened up to explicitly state that a license is required for a computer capable of receiving television. I'm sure the same will happen (if it hasn't already) for content broadcast via broadband, either real-time or time delayed.

 

[dobbin]

Another interesting point is that the BBC do restrict access to certain radio or TV streams to people outside the UK. I believe this is currently due to what they have the rights to broadcast - e.g. outside of the UK you can't listen to Radio FiveLive's coverage of the Olympics as Auntie only bought the rights to broadcast this in the UK. Its the same for some football and rugby coverage.

I think anyone outside the UK should be made to pay a small fee to listen to or watch any online BBC content. Anyone who can prove they have a TV license could be given an exception (eg Brits on holiday, travelling abroad) as well as anyone else where its in the UK public interest (eg broadcasting to people abroad that will promote Britain)

 

[kiwi-in-uk]

... After a couple of years, once TV Tuner cards became more common, the rules were tightened up to explicitly state that a license is required for a computer capable of receiving television. I'm sure the same will happen (if it hasn't already) for content broadcast via broadband, either real-time or time delayed.

Good points.
But the law states that a licence is not required for the device if it is not used for receiving broadcast transmissions. I suppose it hinges around the definition of broadcast - does it include individual view on request (almost identical to playing a DVD, which is explicitly excluded under the current definition)?

Edit: I had a look at the Act and the Regulations
They specifically exclude selection per view from a library (there are three conditions - here (Section 361, paras 2 to 5) if you are interested.

 

[mpw]

Another interesting point is that the BBC do restrict access to certain radio or TV streams to people outside the UK....

It'll be interesting to see what they do for me when they turn the analogue transmissions off in a couple of years.

As Jersey is so close to France ~10miles they can’t transmit a terrestrial digital signal due to interference. This’ll leave a SKY broadcast as our only option to receive any BBC TV content. The same is true for digital radio but I don’t know if they have a date to quit FM yet?

 

[hvfsl]

It's rare that I watch anything on the BBC, Top Gear is the only thing that springs to mind (and even then the last series was pretty dire overall) and the occasional docu like last years admittedly excellent 'Voyage To The Planets' (which was in partnership with Discovery Channel, but that is another issue entirely).

There were 1 or 2 bad episodes last series, but most of them were great. I especially liked the race where clackson was in the Maclaren and that one where they drive the van around the Nurburg Ring.

But as for the lisence fee, they only make about 4 series that I like to watch (Top Gear, Spooks, Hustle and Have I Got News for you). And even those only last about 8 episodes.

So if the BBC could make the series longer and maybe bring back classics like Red Dwarf, I wouldn't mind paying the extra.

 

[Cabbit]

Once again i will post why must i pay for channels i do not watch, i watch sky1 on occasion and sometimes the non sci fi channel, variant of channel 4, or a history/discovery channel.
Why must i pay for English soaps, English and Welsh news, and other such nonsense that i have no interest in but i am forced to pay twice for the channels i actually want to watch.
And to our American friends it is all well and good saying you would pay to have channels without adverts but it does help if these programs are of interest and relevance to yourself.
Would you be happy being forced to pay $260 a year for episodes of some Canadian soap about Canadians life's or for Canadian news and politics.

 

[yojitani]

I used to begrudge paying a license fee, but I'm beginning to think it's worth every penny. Living in the US, the ads (every ten bloody minutes!) drive me mad and the TV content is even more maddening. What I would like to see the BBC do is to allow people from outside the country to pay a fee to get streaming, live content from them.

@babyjenniferLB: Are you saying you don't watch anything on the BBC? Or are you complaining about the lack of regional content? I can't imagine you get that on Sky.

 

[Cabbit]

I used to begrudge paying a license fee, but I'm beginning to think it's worth every penny. Living in the US, the ads (every ten bloody minutes!) drive me mad and the TV content is even more maddening. What I would like to see the BBC do is to allow people from outside the country to pay a fee to get streaming, live content from them.

@babyjenniferLB: Are you saying you don't watch anything on the BBC? Or are you complaining about the lack of regional content? I can't imagine you get that on Sky.

I do not watch anything on the BBC due to lack of regional programming and programming that is of interest to me such as sci fi. Sky has world news which is far more appropriate to me than hearing if some person has died in England or they have won some sporting event.

 

[0098386]

Heh, well all I watch is BBC1 and 2. We have Sky but it's mostly cack and the image (through SCART) is fugly so I avoid that when I can.
But yea like I said 4 years ago I don't mind paying. It's a good quality service (if you disregard Eastenders and the priority to sport).

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Sky has world news which is far more appropriate to me than hearing if some person has died in London...

Fixed that for you.

If you think Scotland receives scant coverage, try living in a part of England well away from the south-east. Quite why our local news bulletin informed us of the latest developments of the London Mayoral Elections a few years back still escapes me.

 

[Cabbit]

Fixed that for you.

If you think Scotland receives scant coverage, try living in a part of England well away from the south-east. Quite why our local news bulletin informed us of the latest developments of the London Mayoral Elections a few years back still escapes me.

At least that is kinda more relevant as it is in your country.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

At least that is kinda more relevant as it is in your country.

In actual fact, it really has no relevance at all to our exciting t'Northern lives.

Hopefully you can receive BBC Alba, so there might at least be some programming that's relevant to you.

 

[Cabbit]

Hopefully you can receive BBC Alba, so there might at least be some programming that's relevant to you.

Nahh at this stage i will not watch any BBC channel in protest, and it is fast getting to the point were i will be able to go fully onto appletv only. Yet the BBC are trying to push though that if you can access the internet and therefor the iplayer you will need a tv licence just for the privilege of having internet access instead of perhaps making it that you have to perhaps log into the iplayer with your licence number.

 

[Kebabselector]

I would feel sad if I lived in a country only served by (sh)ITV and Sky. The majority of BBC programs aren't centred around the SouthEast. Maybe the National news is biased, but that's what the regional news is for. As for Eastenders, it's a soap I wouldn't care if it was based in my city of Birmingham. I'd still avoid it.

Yet the BBC are trying to push though that if you can access the internet and therefor the iplayer you will need a tv licence just for the privilege of having internet access instead of perhaps making it that you have to perhaps log into the iplayer with your licence number.

Wrong, the TV licence is only required to watch iPlayer broadcasts as they are broadcast (or near) on the TV.

Anyway, when you get independence from the UK you can scrap BBC Scotland/Licence fee.

 

[AppleMatt]

I receive a letter about once a month -- they vary in their levels of nastiness. Until recently, they've been addressed to the occupier but the most recent one was addressed to me personally. The net is closing in...

Their inspectors have got a habit of ringing the bell on Sat or Sun. mornings, but I never let them into the block.

I've never bothered to contact the TV licensing agency at all. There is no legal requirement to do so to inform them that I do not have a TV nor do they have the right to gain entry without a search warrant.

I like the idea that they think they're going to catch me out and make an example of me... one day and when I'm in the mood, I'll let them in just to see the reactions on their faces when they see that there's no TV at all, not even for DVDs.

I do this to! I own a flat that's been without a TV for three years. Soon after I bought it I received a threatening letter so I wrote and explained there was no TV, which they were free to check, but that if there had of been one in there I'd have paid a lot quicker without being threatened with prosecution straight of the bat.

Anyhoo, three years on and I'm still getting regular notices that I've been passed to their 'enforcement division', will be subject to a £xxxx fine yada yada. No-one has visited tho .

If I'm bored I might send a letter back enclosing copies of the original two letters and saying that I'm going to claim against them for unlawful harassment, just to see what happens really. I'd like the letters to stop, if they do this to everyone seems like an awful waste of money and resources.

AppleMatt

 

[Eraserhead]

I love the BBC, especially the news. Today I learnt that storm drains have the ability to prevent large river floods here in Oxford .

 

[Cabbit]

Wrong, the TV licence is only required to watch iPlayer broadcasts as they are broadcast (or near) on the TV.

My point is that there is no opt out of the ability to use this service, essentially they can claim i am watching it when i have never visited the site and whack me with a TV licence bill.
So even for having internet access one must pay the BBC tax for a service unused and unwanted.

 

[weckart]

Once again i will post why must i pay for channels i do not watch, i watch sky1 on occasion and sometimes the non sci fi channel, variant of channel 4, or a history/discovery channel.
Why must i pay for English soaps, English and Welsh news, and other such nonsense that i have no interest in but i am forced to pay twice for the channels i actually want to watch.

That is how I feel about having to pay income tax to fund schools, hospitals and the army, none of whose services I use.

Why should I pay just so that those services can exist independent of their users ability to pay for them?

I, too, dream of a world where tv programming is dependent upon securing the high costs from the few subscribers who can afford several hundred pounds a year for the privilege of watching content decided upon by the whims of advertisers.

 

[Cabbit]

That is how I feel about having to pay income tax to fund schools, hospitals and the army, none of whose services I use.

Why should I pay just so that those services can exist independent of their users ability to pay for them?

I, too, dream of a world where tv programming is dependent upon securing the high costs from the few subscribers who can afford several hundred pounds a year for the privilege of watching content decided upon by the whims of advertisers.

You are way of the beat here comparing schools and hospitals that are essential community services with subsidised television programs for the English market.

Making entertainment on the same priority of spending as schools and hospitals, services that do perform a real function.

 

[instaxgirl]

I do not watch anything on the BBC due to lack of regional programming and programming that is of interest to me such as sci fi. Sky has world news which is far more appropriate to me than hearing if some person has died in England or they have won some sporting event.

Nahh at this stage i will not watch any BBC channel in protest, and it is fast getting to the point were i will be able to go fully onto appletv only

You complain that you don't watch BBC Scotland "in protest", so you're missing out on your regional programming aren't you?

I know I'm not going to win this and I do see your point but all I thought when I read your first post was "BBC Scotland?"

I do this to! I own a flat that's been without a TV for three years. Soon after I bought it I received a threatening letter so I wrote and explained there was no TV, which they were free to check, etc etc etc

Got the same letter when I lived in student halls. EVERYONE did. Most people couldn't get through to the number. I did:

Me: I've got this letter despite not having a tv. Also it says this is the 2nd warning, but I never received a first.

TVLicense moron: You don't have a tv?

Me: No, what I do have is a letter threatening that someone is going to come round and barge into my room.

TVLicense moron: Ok then. We'll send someone round to check you don't have a tv then we'll take your name off the list.

Me: What ON EARTH was the point of this phonecall which your letter instructed me to make?!

No one came round. They sent a new letter to everyone about once every 6 weeks, even the people WITH TV licenses. In addition my halls only had about 40 people in it, no one had an unlicensed TV. Only about 2 people even had a TV to start with . . .

The letters got extremely nasty towards the end (it was quite surprising actually, how threatening they were), no one ever turned up to check us out though.

 

[SactoGuy18]

At least you can pay in monthly installments of (currently) £11.63 per month, not bad considering going out for a sit-down restaurant meal here in the USA nowadays can cost easily that much per person for ONE meal at current exchange rates between the US dollar and British pound--and we're not talking a fancy restaurant, either!