TV Licence Super Thread

MissChief · 7 Dec 2023 at 12:46

Prepare yourself everyone. Licence increasing by £10.50 per year. Remember if you don't watch live TV you don't need one! Simply tell them you don't. They hate this one simple trick.

Stretch · 7 Dec 2023 at 12:49

413x said:
The NHS is very different. Most if not all of us use it/need it. And many would like it scrapped for a USA system.

People need the BBC becuase the alternative is a USA system.

steve_c · 7 Dec 2023 at 12:49

MissChief said:
Prepare yourself everyone. Licence increasing by £10.50 per year. Remember if you don't watch live TV you don't need one! Simply tell them you don't. They hate this one simple trick.

Or better still, don't tell them anything as it's none of their business!

MissChief · 7 Dec 2023 at 12:50

steve_c said:
Or better still, don't tell them anything as it's none of their business!

And then complain about the letters and potential visits! Genius!

steve_c · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:00

MissChief said:
And then complain about the letters and potential visits! Genius!

Or don't do either?

The notion that you need to inform a company you aren't using their services is completely absurd.

The moment people stop doing as you suggest, the more difficult and costly it becomes for the BBC to enforce their ridiculous licence.

Sorry to use the old adage but you're part of the problem.

Jono8 · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:06

JonRGV250 said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1732709482264674591

Imagine believing that excuse.

I hate how people like her insult everyone's intelligence with complete excrement like that.

Semple · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:21

Stretch said:
People need the BBC becuase the alternative is a USA system.

What's the USA alternative? The majority of TV channels that are broadcasted over the UK are fully funded by advertising. Not having the BBC, or having a BBC funded by advertising wouldn't make a slight bit of difference to anyone's lives.

keyser van someone · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:23

Matthew.M said:
I haven't had a tv license for 5 years and never had a visit. They send me a letter every couple of years asking if the situation has changed - notify them that you don't want/need a tv license and you won't have any bother.

The harassment is usually when people don't buy a license but also don't notify them that you don't need one.

This whole thread can be shorterned to this back in 2015 btw

I told them I don't need one as I realised I never watch live TV, don't really watch much iplayer stuff. Stuff can be acquired elsewhere.. like my sister! she has a license so we watch Bake Off there. oh wait, not live, not bbc, maybe she can cancel too! but they won't as family etc.

I've canceled mine about 2 years ago, not had a peep from them since. If I really wanted to I would buy a license for the year, maybe if I wanted to watch Planet Earth III etc but I'm not in a rush.

willhub · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:24

Is there anyone in here / on OcUK that has ever worked as a TV License Enforcement Officer?

413x · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:27

Stretch said:
People need the BBC becuase the alternative is a USA system.

What do you mean?

Because the BBC is just a few channels that cost 160 a year.
Most other stuff wouldn't be affected.

You have Netflix, prime, other freeview stuff, sky etc.

There's no much content now losing the BBC would only affect those who heavily watch it

413x · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:28

Looks like it's going to a 170 a year now.

413x · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:32

BBC News - TV licence fee to rise by £10.50, government announces

TV licence fee to rise by £10.50, government announces

The annual fee will rise by 6.6% - less than the BBC hoped for - based on September's rate of inflation.

www.bbc.co.uk

Wonder how man will cancel vs the price rise?

Nutty667 · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:32

MissChief said:
Prepare yourself everyone. Licence increasing by £10.50 per year. Remember if you don't watch live TV you don't need one! Simply tell them you don't. They hate this one simple trick.

Gotta keep paying Lineker's salary somehow!

The thing I don't get is why the BBC spends soo much money on celebrities like Lineker to front a TV show.
Since the BBC doesn't do adverts, it has absolutely no need to compete for ratings. It they switched Lineker out to someone cheaper and they lost viewers, it wouldn't make the slightest difference to their income. So why do they keep insisting on paying him Millions for an hour a week ?

Nasher · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:40

All of their top paid celebrities are replaceable. There used to be a few standout personalities in the old days but they are long gone now.

Some of the personalities on BBC are so irritating and in the wrong jobs. Zoe Ball on the radio at 7:30 is migraine territory.

Stretch · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:42

Semple said:
What's the USA alternative? The majority of TV channels that are broadcasted over the UK are fully funded by advertising. Not having the BBC, or having a BBC funded by advertising wouldn't make a slight bit of difference to anyone's lives.

The USA alternative is a system where media (most significantly news media) is owned executively by a small number of very wealthy individual (and increasingly foreign states) for the primary purpose of corrupting the domestic democratic process for their own gain.

The BBC acts to keep the rest of the industry reasonably decent.

So it would make a very significant difference to all of us.

Kelt · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:46

Nasher said:
All of their top paid celebrities are replaceable. There used to be a few standout personalities in the old days but they are long gone now.

Some of the personalities on BBC are so irritating and in the wrong jobs. Zoe Ball on the radio at 7:30 is migraine territory.

And Gary Lineker.

MissChief · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:46

Stretch said:
The USA alternative is a system where media (most significantly news media) is owned executively by a small number of very wealthy individual (and increasingly foreign states) for the primary purpose of corrupting the domestic democratic process for their own gain.

The BBC acts to keep the rest of the industry reasonably decent.

So it would make a very significant difference to all of us.

Also because of the way the BBC is funded it can cater to smaller niche interests rather than having to pander to advertising income and making a profit as a commercial entity.

visibleman · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:54

413x said:
Because the BBC is just a few channels that cost 160 a year.

visibleman said:
Unfortunately, most in here think TV and only TV when in reality the BBC offers a lot more.

413x said:
Roll the infrastructure spending into broadband/CT/another tax and let the BBC go against other entertainment and news sources.

Missed this but their infrastructure spending is minute and as i keep stating, the BBC is more than "...entertainment and news sources".

Personally i think moving the TV side, given that's what a lot in here believe all the BBC does, to a subscription model with their commercial arms helping with funding and everything else gets rolled into a national tax would be the way to go. As that might help to actually save some useful services (education, world services etc) but, i suspect the "i'm alright jacks" would still froth over that unfortunately

Nasher · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:56

MissChief said:
Also because of the way the BBC is funded it can cater to smaller niche interests rather than having to pander to advertising income and making a profit as a commercial entity.

But mostly cheap to make shows, like chat and panels shows, news.

LuckyBenski · 7 Dec 2023 at 13:59

willhub said:
Is there anyone in here / on OcUK that has ever worked as a TV License Enforcement Officer?

Ew, Capita. No thanks. One of the scummiest companies I've ever known. For context they've also handled things like benefits, visa/immigration tracking, and parking/road fines. Terrible track record for mishandling their business.