BBC license fee proposals...

[Things change I've changed]

The level of justification for evading the fee is sad. Stop being pathetic tramps and pay up.

I just want to pay for what I use whats wrong with that? I want to be able to watch add supported TV channels without being taxed, otherwise the government may as well just blanket charge everyone and call it a charge for owning 'receiving equipment' and be done with it.

 

[Tefal]

I just want to pay for what I use whats wrong with that? I want to be able to watch add supported TV channels without being taxed, otherwise the government may as well just blanket charge everyone and call it a charge for owning 'receiving equipment' and be done with it.

The equipment, broadcasting standards and technology you use to watch those add supported channels is largely or partly developed by the BBC, so you are paying for what you use.

Even if you don't watch the bbc you are using thier products

 

[Kenai]

Because I don't want to give them it. It's my choice. I don't give my details out unless it's absolutely necessary. None of these companies can be trusted with our information.

This is excessively paranoid when it comes to something as throwaway as an email address. Why restrict your own enjoyment of something because you think someone 'can't be trusted' to know that [email protected] is one of your email addresses?

 

[pastymuncher]

Sorry but I don't agree with you. My email addresses are not throwaway to me. I pay for my email addresses and have had them for many years now. I don't use the likes of gmail or free emails that come with my broadband. It is completely up to me who I give my details out to. I wouldn't give them my email address no more than I would give them my phone number. The last thing I want is a inbox full of spam not to mention that most of these companies don't keep our information secure.

 

[Kenai]

So make a throwaway one? You can make a Gmail account with zero personal information attached and ignore it forever more.

Seems bizarre to deny yourself something you enjoy for the sake of a couple of minutes setting up a dud email account. Literally zero details about you would be involved.

Still don't see that as anything other than excessive paranoia.

 

[Amp34]

Don't even need to set an email account up. Just use gorilla mail or yup mail (the latter you can just type [email protected]) and click on the registration email.

 

[Malevolence]

The level of justification for evading the fee is sad. Stop being pathetic tramps and pay up.

But aren't tramps exempt due to them having no fixed abode and therefore no TV?

 

[banja]

But aren't tramps exempt due to them having no fixed abode and therefore no TV?

Indeed, but what if said pathetic tramp had a PAYG smartphone with a TV watching app? No one ever thinks of the pathetic tramps.

 

[Tefal]

Sorry but I don't agree with you. My email addresses are not throwaway to me. I pay for my email addresses and have had them for many years now. I don't use the likes of gmail or free emails that come with my broadband. It is completely up to me who I give my details out to. I wouldn't give them my email address no more than I would give them my phone number. The last thing I want is a inbox full of spam not to mention that most of these companies don't keep our information secure.

Then use a one time email from gurillamail

 

[Pottsey]

Sorry but I don't agree with you. My email addresses are not throwaway to me. I pay for my email addresses and have had them for many years now. I don't use the likes of gmail or free emails that come with my broadband. It is completely up to me who I give my details out to. I wouldn't give them my email address no more than I would give them my phone number. The last thing I want is a inbox full of spam not to mention that most of these companies don't keep our information secure.

I can understand not wanting to use your main email address but why not make up a free email address with a fake name from somewhere like Google that hasn't got anything leading back to the real you. Then use that for all the websites like channel 4 whom you don't trust with your real email. Gmail and broadband emails are perfect for throwaway emails. There is no reason not to use them. In fact it makes sense to use them. Why wouldn't you want to do that?

The whole point of free throwaway emails is you still get access to the content but without any spam. If the companies do not keep the information secure is doesn't matter as throwaway emails are not personal information and don't link back to you in any way. Its like giving out a fake phone number.

 

[edscdk]

The equipment, broadcasting standards and technology you use to watch those add supported channels is largely or partly developed by the BBC, so you are paying for what you use.

Even if you don't watch the bbc you are using thier products

That's been developed with our money, we have the technology now... what do they need so much money for?

how can anyone justify taking so much cash from the public and giving it to a big company?

we have the technology to make the BBC a paid for / login service... but everyone knows that if the BBC fee was optional they would basically fold in a year because they would loose 90% of their "customers" overnight.

 

[Johno please?]

The level of justification for evading the fee is sad. Stop being pathetic tramps and pay up.

Of course not watching TV is a pretty good excuse though isnt it?

I don't know why I ever bothered with it, apart from nature programs and "cant pay we'll take it away' what else is there? Its 90% garbage.

Netflix and NowTV get my monies, works out about the same price as the TV license for both.

 

[Tefal]

That's been developed with our money, we have the technology now... what do they need so much money for?

how can anyone justify taking so much cash from the public and giving it to a big company?

we have the technology to make the BBC a paid for / login service... but everyone knows that if the BBC fee was optional they would basically fold in a year because they would loose 90% of their "customers" overnight.

They are still developing the technology.

Or are you still using an analogue TV?

It's part of the BBCs royal charter to spend money on research and development.

Theres new stabdars sout all the tim3.

From HD to premium UHD to include hdr etc in case you haven't notice the telecommunications/audio visual industry is a rqpidly changing beast

 

[antijoke]

This may have been discussed already, but.....

Do I need a TV Licence if I watch on a mobile device?
If you’re using a mobile device powered solely by its own internal batteries – like a smartphone, tablet or laptop – you will be covered by your home’s TV Licence, wherever you’re using it in the UK and Channel Islands.

However, if you’re away from home and plug one of these devices into the mains and use it to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, or to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, you need to be covered by a separate TV Licence at that address (unless you’re in a vehicle or vessel like a train, car or boat). It’s the law.

Source

That is frankly ridiculous.

 

[Faustus]

we have the technology to make the BBC a paid for / login service... but everyone knows that if the BBC fee was optional they would basically fold in a year because they would loose 90% of their "customers" overnight.

Does this mean that 10% of the population are intelligent and know good programming when they see it whilst the other 90% can barely rub two brain cells together?

It is a serious question based on research that suggests that although Sky has all these customers and has a myriad of channels, the vast majority of their customers still mostly watch the terrestrial channels on their "sky box"

 

[Werewolf]

This may have been discussed already, but.....



Source

That is frankly ridiculous.

I think that once it's mains powered it's classed as installed at that location and thus no longer portable, which is a specific exemption intended to allow mobile use.
I suspect it's the result of a court ruling in the 80's when the early battery powered TV's were first available.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

Is that not a result of the law being outdated compared to the portable devices?

Most places will also have a TV license associated with the premise too that extends to those devices. Also if you went to a pub that did not pay a license and you used a tablet, it would be the pub that is held accountable, since it takes place on their premise AFAIK.

 

[Tefal]

This may have been discussed already, but.....



Source

That is frankly ridiculous.

Thats how its always been since the invention kf battery powered tvs.

Othwrwise people would just have a tv/batteries watch tv then charge it when not watching

 

[Tefal]

Does this mean that 10% of the population are intelligent and know good programming when they see it whilst the other 90% can barely rub two brain cells together?

It is a serious question based on research that suggests that although Sky has all these customers and has a myriad of channels, the vast majority of their customers still mostly watch the terrestrial channels on their "sky box"

What good programing is there on the bbc though?

Theres the occasional decent thing but most of it is mediocre at best, trash at worst.

We have nothing from.the bbc that compares to say,

Friends,
Game of thrones,
Band of brothers,
Breaking bad,
The walking dead


Etc, on the drama front the bbc is very poor.

On the comedy front they are absolutely appaling.

 

[Faustus]

What good programing is there on the bbc though?

Theres the occasional decent thing but most of it is mediocre at best, trash at worst.

We have nothing from.the bbc that compares to say,

Friends,
Game of thrones,
Band of brothers,
Breaking bad,
The walking dead


Etc, on the drama front the bbc is very poor.

On the comedy front they are absolutely appaling.

I suppose it depends on your age demographic. However, the list of programmes you name above. I wouldn't give any one of them airtime. I would rather have a trip to the dentist for some light relief than watch what you are watching. Oh! and none of them are British, just American import drivel.

BBC make a feast of wildlife documentaries that I could watch all day long. They have just finished a series on New Zealand and another on Scotland, absolutely stunning.

There's a new series with Dan Cruickshank tonight about London which should be fascinating. Then there are the Prom nights which are just fantastic if you like music?

Drama - The Fall is back later this month to name just one. Comedy, Mrs Browns Boys, Two Doors Down.

I could fill pages and pages of the very excellent programming the BBC produces - need I go on?