Oh really, so people who dont drive should also pay road tax then?
Watching TV is not compulsory you know.
TV licence
- Thread starter _Jimlad_
- Start date
Oh really, so people who dont drive should also pay road tax then?
Watching TV is not compulsory you know.
Oh really, so people who dont drive should also pay road tax then?
Watching TV is not compulsory you know.
To be fair, neither is using hospitals or having an army, but we pay for that stuff too. It's just how our country works at present. I don't personally think the quality of the BBC merits its fee - but, I pay it anyway 'cause it's the law. If I cared enough I'd try and do something to change it - this is a democracy, after all!
Caporegime
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I'd rather watch the beeb than any other channel with adverts every five minutes.
![[TW]Taggart](/styles/overclockers/avatars/4.png){kind=avatar}
Associate
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I am bias as I have worked for the BBC as a freelancer but:
Don't blame the BBC for the licence, it was the government who brought it in. Before we just paid it amongst our other taxes, then Iraq war mk1 happened and the TV licence came about.
The problem with the BBC at the moment is the interference from government(read: BBC trust) It all started once the BBC revealed Tony Blair lied about Iraq mk2 WMD (which I cant believe he got away with tbh). Now we have to many people in suits that have no idea how to make a TV program, hence the drop in quality people are complaining about.
I can see the BBC going Commercial, but in some ways it already is. BBC in the USA has adverts. They get a lot of money from exports and co producing, Planet Earth was funded in part from Discovery Channel and this is the same with most of the Natural History programming.
The BBC is great, we do get value for money (I would say that though wouldn't I!) except the rehash crap of course, but no one forces you to watch it. I can name at least 10 series that I've watched throughout this last year on the BBC. The iplayer is awesome and I just cant wait for F1 on BBC.
But as I said, commercial BBC isn't to far off IMO (analogue signal turn off 2012 maybe?!) I see 3 channels Natural History, Drama and soaps, comedy(edit forgot about sports, NM) buy 2 get one free with adverts I'm afraid to say(all HD Though).
The thing that I hate about SKY/Cable, you pay all this money to be force fed ads every 5 minutes. Personally id rather pay the licence fee and have no ads on 4 channels + iplayer + radio stations + websites + all the other commercial TV channels that come with freeview.
oh and to the people who don't pay the TV fee, think of the 1000+ people who lost their jobs earlier this year at the BBC.
Don't blame the BBC for the licence, it was the government who brought it in. Before we just paid it amongst our other taxes, then Iraq war mk1 happened and the TV licence came about.
The problem with the BBC at the moment is the interference from government(read: BBC trust) It all started once the BBC revealed Tony Blair lied about Iraq mk2 WMD (which I cant believe he got away with tbh). Now we have to many people in suits that have no idea how to make a TV program, hence the drop in quality people are complaining about.
I can see the BBC going Commercial, but in some ways it already is. BBC in the USA has adverts. They get a lot of money from exports and co producing, Planet Earth was funded in part from Discovery Channel and this is the same with most of the Natural History programming.
The BBC is great, we do get value for money (I would say that though wouldn't I!) except the rehash crap of course, but no one forces you to watch it. I can name at least 10 series that I've watched throughout this last year on the BBC. The iplayer is awesome and I just cant wait for F1 on BBC.
But as I said, commercial BBC isn't to far off IMO (analogue signal turn off 2012 maybe?!) I see 3 channels Natural History, Drama and soaps, comedy(edit forgot about sports, NM) buy 2 get one free with adverts I'm afraid to say(all HD Though).
The thing that I hate about SKY/Cable, you pay all this money to be force fed ads every 5 minutes. Personally id rather pay the licence fee and have no ads on 4 channels + iplayer + radio stations + websites + all the other commercial TV channels that come with freeview.
oh and to the people who don't pay the TV fee, think of the 1000+ people who lost their jobs earlier this year at the BBC.
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This thread just reminded me that they recently sent me a letter stating that as I had recently purchased a TV I needed to pay a licence.
Annoying thing is, this is the 2nd letter I received from them. After the first one, I used the number/system provided to provide them with my existing TV licence.
And this would explain why I hate automated system such as this, because I like to ask someone at the end of my call :"Are you sure it's update? Are you really, really sure? So I won't be bothered by you again?"
But no... and I have had so much hassle with large companies in the last couple of years that I just can't face any more.
Annoying thing is, this is the 2nd letter I received from them. After the first one, I used the number/system provided to provide them with my existing TV licence.
And this would explain why I hate automated system such as this, because I like to ask someone at the end of my call :"Are you sure it's update? Are you really, really sure? So I won't be bothered by you again?"
But no... and I have had so much hassle with large companies in the last couple of years that I just can't face any more.
I got something through not long after buying my plasma (like ffallic).
It went on about not having a license registered in my name at the address. It was done by my Mss, and if the retards cannot see that my address got a license around that date on their system, then they can waste time sending me letters and getting in a twist.
Soldato
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i thought the licence is for you to have a TV in the house not to receive the signal
so makes no odds that the tv cant pick up the signal, its the fact you have the tv than means you need the licence
so makes no odds that the tv cant pick up the signal, its the fact you have the tv than means you need the licence
Soldato
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Not paid for years. Don't intend to either, if anyone comes round I'll tell them to **** off.
Associate
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Nononono. You need a licence ONLY if you watch / record a TV signal as it is being transmitted.
You do NOT need a licence to have a TV.
You do NOT need a licence if you watch recorded TV shows or iplayer, etc.
Caporegime
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Because someone needs to pay for those hippos and wheelchair bound dancers.
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I was in my student house when the TV license man actually came round to check out if there is any TV's in the house.
My stupid friend let the guy in and study his TV, luckily his TV was not tuned to any channels and had no aerial (was used for wii only).
The man then threatened to fine him 300 if he didnt remove the TV or buy a license.
So the TV man does exist, he had grey hair!
My stupid friend let the guy in and study his TV, luckily his TV was not tuned to any channels and had no aerial (was used for wii only).
The man then threatened to fine him 300 if he didnt remove the TV or buy a license.
So the TV man does exist, he had grey hair!
I hope your flatmate told him to **** off then
Nah, I don't get confrontational with them at all. The one and only time that they've actually knocked on my door I just said something along the lines of "Sorry mate, I'm afraid he's not home at the moment." Pretty boring really as it lacks bravado.
Soldato
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I'm happy to pay the license as the BBC makes the best programmes on tv. Drama on BBC is far superior to the tosh on ITV, their news is much better than that of Sky (although I admit it shows a worrying bias towards the government) and they do a better job of what sport they have than other terrestrial channels. That's without even getting onto the subject of Top Gear...
