TV Licence Super Thread

Hades · 21 Feb 2026 at 17:33

darkgen said:
It operates under a Royal charter.

The juries out on whether there will even be a royalty this time next year

jpaul · 15 Apr 2026 at 13:29

10% redundancies in bbc - LOL Nandy thinks it is the second most important organisation in the UK after the NHS.
(has she heard of the war, or education system)

m4rmite · 15 Apr 2026 at 13:59

jpaul said:
10% redundancies in bbc - LOL Nandy thinks it is the second most important organisation in the UK after the NHS.
(has she heard of the war, or education system)

They're getting ready for when they have to raise their own money, if they don't get government support for it to be a tax.

shifty_uk · 15 Apr 2026 at 14:09

In before the gloating over a potential 2,000 job loses.. by people who don't even pay the damn licence fee.

If only making it a mandatory tax (like Germany) wasn’t political suicide..

Oh well, there's always GB News, the future looks bright.

JonRGV250 · 15 Apr 2026 at 14:27

You ok dear?

JonRGV250 · 15 Apr 2026 at 14:33

jpaul said:
10% redundancies in bbc LOL

Disappointing, they surely could have gone for more.

jpaul said:
Nandy thinks it is the second most important organisation in the UK after the NHS.
(has she heard of the war, or education system)

Yes, well, that’s hardly surprising from someone with the intellect of a parsnip.

Nasher · 15 Apr 2026 at 14:34

I haven't had a letter for at least a month now. Maybe they have cut back or there is now a quota for how much they are willing to **** away pestering one person.

m4rmite said:
They're getting ready for when they have to raise their own money, if they don't get government support for it to be a tax.

They need to do a lot more than sack a load of people. They are 20 years behind the curve.

GIBURROWS · 15 Apr 2026 at 14:39

JonRGV250 said:
You ok dear?

I'm fair to middlin' how about you darling?

JonRGV250 · 15 Apr 2026 at 14:41

Schweet as nut my good man.

do_ron_ron · 15 Apr 2026 at 15:18

shifty_uk said:
In before the gloating over a potential 2,000 job loses.. by people who don't even pay the damn licence fee.

If only making it a mandatory tax (like Germany) wasn’t political suicide..

Oh well, there's always GB News, the future looks bright.

Except it is a mandatory tax and always has been. It is a license to receive TV signals NOT the BBC as the trashy tight wing tabloids would have you believe.

A TV license is mandatory in the UK if you watch or record live TV on any channel (terrestrial, satellite, cable, or online streaming) or use BBC iPlayer. It is a legal requirement under the Communications Act 2003, and failing to have one can result in a fine of up to £1,000

If only GBNews was broadcast you would still have to pay the license by law. The only difference is there is almost zero enforcement.

Vulcan · 15 Apr 2026 at 17:13

Nasher said:
They need to do a lot more than sack a load of people. They are 20 years behind the curve.

Bring back F1? Top Gear? Brilliant comedies from back in the day? Stop ruining Doctor Who?

These are crazy ideas of course.

NetMan · 15 Apr 2026 at 17:50

shifty_uk said:
In before the gloating over a potential 2,000 job loses.. by people who don't even pay the damn licence fee.

If only making it a mandatory tax (like Germany) wasn’t political suicide..

Oh well, there's always GB News, the future looks bright.

I’m not gloating being made redundant isn’t fun and they will probably get rid of the people at the bottom of the food chain instead of the small percentage that are on huge salaries.

They used to have a small number of programs I enjoyed and I miss things like the Proms but it simply wasn’t worth what they charged vs what the streaming platforms offered.

I haven’t watched live broadcasts or the BBC for years other than when visiting people that still have a TV / licence and I strongly disagree with requiring a licence to watch other channels.

The streaming channels Disney, Netflix, Prime etc are taking the mick with their constant price increases, introduction of adverts and in some cases restricting broadcasts to 720p depending upon what device you use the whole sector is in a mess.

People are being squeezed for more and more money and many simply can’t afford it; if the BBC offered monthly subs like the streaming platforms do I would likely grab a sub now and again they are shooting themself in the foot with their current policies.

Rainmaker · 15 Apr 2026 at 18:21

NetMan said:
People are being squeezed for more and more money and many simply can’t afford it; if the BBC offered monthly subs like the streaming platforms do I would likely grab a sub now and again they are shooting themself in the foot with their current policies.

I don't have a TV license as I don't need one, and I have my own issues with the whole BBC situation. However, your comment instantly made me think you can buy a subscription now if you really wanted — it'd cost you about £11 a month (cheaper than Netflix), and they call it a TV license. :cry:

Dis86 · 15 Apr 2026 at 18:45

Sadly i doubt it will be those responsible for the state of the BBC that go.

shifty_uk · 15 Apr 2026 at 19:34

NetMan said:
I’m not gloating being made redundant isn’t fun and they will probably get rid of the people at the bottom of the food chain instead of the small percentage that are on huge salaries.

They used to have a small number of programs I enjoyed and I miss things like the Proms but it simply wasn’t worth what they charged vs what the streaming platforms offered.

I haven’t watched live broadcasts or the BBC for years other than when visiting people that still have a TV / licence and I strongly disagree with requiring a licence to watch other channels.

The streaming channels Disney, Netflix, Prime etc are taking the mick with their constant price increases, introduction of adverts and in some cases restricting broadcasts to 720p depending upon what device you use the whole sector is in a mess.

People are being squeezed for more and more money and many simply can’t afford it; if the BBC offered monthly subs like the streaming platforms do I would likely grab a sub now and again they are shooting themself in the foot with their current policies.

Don’t disagree with anything you’ve said tbh and you’ve made a choice not to watch or pay for it, which is fair enough.

It’s the crowd who don’t pay, don’t watch, but still treat the BBC like it’s personally wronged them that does my head in.. Always a bit strange to be that invested in something you claim not to use.

Always lazy, undefined criticism.. and when you try to argue, the response comes down to ‘aye but Savile’..

GIBURROWS · 15 Apr 2026 at 19:46

shifty_uk said:
Don’t disagree with anything you’ve said tbh and you’ve made a choice not to watch or pay for it, which is fair enough.

It’s the crowd who don’t pay, don’t watch, but still treat the BBC like it’s personally wronged them that does my head in.. Always a bit strange to be that invested in something you claim not to use.

Always lazy, undefined criticism.. and when you try to argue, the response comes down to ‘aye but Savile’..

Yeah but Huw Edwards

Vulcan · 15 Apr 2026 at 21:10

shifty_uk said:
It’s the crowd who don’t pay, don’t watch, but still treat the BBC like it’s personally wronged them that does my head in.. Always a bit strange to be that invested in something you claim not to use.

Don't want to watch the BBC, but may want to watch other TV channels or even watch a live news broadcast on Youtube, but can't without having to pay the BBC. It is wrong.

shifty_uk · 15 Apr 2026 at 21:31

Vulcan said:
Don't want to watch the BBC, but may want to watch other TV channels or even watch a live news broadcast on Youtube, but can't without having to pay the BBC. It is wrong.

That’s factually incorrect.. You’re not paying the BBC, you’re paying for the legal right to watch live TV broadcasts. The licence fee simply gets put to use by funding the BBC. A good use if you ask me.

Systems like this aren’t unique to the UK either, the same broadcast fees exists in many other countries eg Germany, France, Japan etc where public broadcasters are funded through mandatory fees. I believe countries like Spain and the Netherlands use taxes.

The BBC aren’t out to get you.

Mysterae_ · 15 Apr 2026 at 21:44

I wonder what departments the redundancies affect; perhaps not the best way to fix an ailing system.

If the rumours are true about the next Charter in 2028 you'll need a license to watch any and all streaming services including youtube, live or not.

I still grudgingly pay the license fee (because family) but I don't watch/listen to any of it and see it as very poor value for money. I'm tempted to block access to the BBC at router level and if nobody in the house complains after a month then just cancel it

.

GIBURROWS · 15 Apr 2026 at 21:55

Mysterae_ said:
I wonder what departments the redundancies affect; perhaps not the best way to fix an ailing system.

If the rumours are true about the next Charter in 2028 you'll need a license to watch any and all streaming services including youtube, live or not.

I still grudgingly pay the license fee (because family) but I don't watch/listen to any of it and see it as very poor value for money. I'm tempted to block access to the BBC at router level and if nobody in the house complains after a month then just cancel it .

It certainly won't be the paedo department!