What exactly is a TV license?
Posted by NoUDidntGurl@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 125 comments
What is it for? What happens if you don't pay it? Is there various levels or packages like our cabel or satellite services here in the US?
RobertTheSpruce@reddit
Think of it this way: All live broadcast TV in the UK is essentially a subscription model.
If you want to watch live TV in the UK, you are required to pay a fee to licence it.
In the same manner as paying a netflix subscription is a licence to access netflix content.
Awellknownstick@reddit
It's a tax for an outdated institution that should have introduced adverts like every other damn station but no they bully.
Leenesss@reddit
The TV Licence is literally a tax that payes for the government to pipe propergander directly into your home. Non payment leads to fines and potentally prison time. Luckilly like most things the government does it has loopholes so you can refuse to talk to the inspectors and refuse them entry. Claiming to not watch or listen to live TV or Radio means you have no legal need for a TV licence.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
lol
__Charlie93@reddit
It is a way to chip in the to BBC peado club
Sate_Hen@reddit
It's really a taxation system. If you watch live TV you have to pay a flat licence fee that pays for everything the BBC does including radio, their websites and of course add free TV channels
LondonLeather@reddit
t works out about £31 a year more than Spotify, and honestly, I think the BBC is great value. I use BBC Sounds all the time. iPlayer sometimes shows the BBC’s tight budget (lots of co-productions), but I’d still rather have a broadcaster that’s obliged to reflect the nations and regions of the UK.
IntravenusDiMilo_Tap@reddit
Great that you think its great value but why do you think others should subsidise your viewing habits?
The bbc should be funded by subscription & advertising
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
My take is that it's a national service - far more than just primetime viewing and the 6 o clock news.
Educational services that are good for the whole, not the individual. Global - and globally localised - news services that stand us in good stead. Not being driveb by profit so that programming and services and deliver what other platforms can't is fantastic.
It's a UK flagship product, as it were.
StreyyK@reddit
You say it's far more than primetime viewing but that's where the biggest chunk of the budget goes. I'd be all for a trimmed down free that covers content that other platforms can't deliver - but I'm not subsidising Strictly Come Dancing and football coverage.
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
There's always stuff you don't want to watch on all platforms. Hopefully you are not going to advocate for PPV for every episode/series on all platforms...
StreyyK@reddit
No - that would be a silly extreme. But I can pay for Sky Sports but not for Sky Cinema...or I could choose not to watch Sky and pay nothing at all. BBC only has one option - all-in if you watch any live TV at all.
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
I know where you're coming from in that regard and it was a bit contrives, but it's not "the BBC" enforcing this, like they are a commercial entity. It's essentially a state system - but don't get all China or Russia or NK on it based on those words. It's a million miles apart. But also don't get all American about it either - I think we have the best of both extremes.
My take on it is we are richer as a nation for having it (it benefits society which benefits you - just like paying for roads via general taxes if you don't drive), and I'm behind that.
IntravenusDiMilo_Tap@reddit
Hmm, its a flagship service the world enjoys for (almost) free but the brits pay for whetger they want it or not?
I like some of the BBC stuff but its a bit shit these days. I want it to survive but it will fail if its not a proper subscription model & privatised
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
For free? BBC Worldwide licences products to other broadcasters and takes in cash from it. Sure, World Service on LW is free if it's still about, but that's fine by me
maceion@reddit
It is to keep the BBC FREE of obligation to any advertisers or political party funding, so they can be impartial in reporting, that the licence fee exists. Having lived ina country where all broadcasting was under political control, I can assure you the BBC
StreyyK@reddit
Ofcom requires all news reporting to be impartial does it not? is there any recent evidence that ITV News (for example) has reported something differently to the BBC because it's funded by advertisers?
One_Of_Noahs_Whales@reddit
Yes every station must present news in an impartial manner, but they are not obliged to cover a story, so for example if a company is a big spender at the network and does something really really bad, they can put pressure on the broadcaster to not cover the story.
IntravenusDiMilo_Tap@reddit
That's great for you but why should I pay for something you like?
I like the BBC as it happens but it will not survive on TV licenses alone which is now and honesty box method of funding.
I think we need a subscription model with advertising and a higher subscription can be paid for those who want to go add free. The subscription should be sold worldwide and the BBC can be privatized.
gustycat@reddit
Haha, fuck off
You pay a licence fee if you want to watch what those channels pump out, but you're under no obligation to if you don't watch terrestrial TV...you say you do watch terrestrial TV, so you're not paying for someone else to watch TV, you're paying for programmes to be funded for yourself
IntravenusDiMilo_Tap@reddit
So, in your world, I should pay to watch ch4, itv, babestation & bukakke galore to subsidize your viewing??? That's not exactly a good idea.
I happen to think the bbc will get more revenue from a subscription model and adverts. Dell the package abroad and it will do better than Netflix (with commercially aware management).
We both realise the current 'honesty box' model does not work but i cant agree that taxation should pay for it. In 1920s, tv was expensive to produce and had few customers. Now its cheap to make unless you waste it on 'talent' & the audience is worldwide.
gustycat@reddit
I can't tell if you're dense, or not
I'm 99% sure you're just posting to rile up discourse, as you post in basically all the different subreddits for each political party, so I don't fancy indulging you further
But, I'll indulge you with one further comment:
The current licence is £14 a month... using the current subscription models of other services, that's about on par with what a single channel charges for premium content...so instead, let's charge a tenner for BBC, a tenner for ITV, a tenner for C4...yeah, this is really bringing the costs down, brilliant work
I proposed a small tax increase. Let's say you're min wage, I suggest that's roughly 40/50 a year, which would be less than £5 a month...you're not beating that with a subscription, especially as then the wealthy then contribute more (as they can afford it)...if anything, it'll improve the quality of the content, and will make people who are on the breadline less squeezed (albeit, minimally), and more affluent people aren't going to have an issue with a few extra quid a month anyway
Do you pay for netflix? Do you watch every single fucking show? No, of course not...do you complain that your subscription should be cheaper because it pays for stuff that doesn't interest you?
Nope, good quality TV costs...just look at HBO numbers
Tf does that even mean
Now fuck off back to whichever corner of the internet you came from and spread your vitriol somewhere else
IntravenusDiMilo_Tap@reddit
Yiu clearly don't have the brains to discuss anything with grace and decorum so i'm afraid i shall not be educating you any further.
happyhippohats@reddit
The BBC already has a subscription streaming service outside the UK, it's called Britbox.
elementarydrw@reddit
Then the news, which is one of the most trusted in the world, will become biased towards and influenced by the shareholders and advertisers. The radio stations will be bought by the record labels, so that artist's will be boosted by paying more. And the sports coverage will become US style, with brand names slapped over everything. Wanna watch the Olympics, sponsored by BetFred?
Acrobatic-Shirt8540@reddit
Well, that's working well then, eh?
I refuse to pay for a licence while the BBC continues to act in contradiction to its own Charter.
Kcufasu@reddit
I think it's great value and might well choose iplayer over netflix, it's the being forced to do so even if I never use bbc (but want to watch something else) that I don't like
One_Of_Noahs_Whales@reddit
The thing is every country has some way of funding a state broadcaster, some have a licence you need to have, this means if you don't use it, you don't pay.
Others have it as a part of general taxation, property/council tax, income tax etc.
At least with the licence fee you do have an option to not watch live tv and avoid it, whereas with any form of funding you have to pay regardless of if you use the service or not.
Goatmanification@reddit
I personally don't think it's comparable to Spotify. If you don't pay for Spotify you get ads, if you don't pay for the TV licence you still get... The BBC exactly as it is. Short of moral/legal obligation there's no need
happyhippohats@reddit
You don't need a TV license to use BBC Sounds so that shouldn't really be a factor in determining the value you're getting from it.
Senior_Sentence_566@reddit
Yes but BBC sounds wouldn't exist without it
happyhippohats@reddit
Yeah that's true but not really relevant if you're comparing how much value you're getting for your money compared to a Spotify subscription, which is what the comment I replied to was about.
CalligrapherShort121@reddit
Except you pay it even if you don’t watch the BBC. A tax for the right to watch independent TV who receive absolutely zero benefit from the fee.
It’s like paying Asda for the right to shop in Tesco.
Cakeo@reddit
Zero benefit is a lie, and it is incredibly easy to not pay it anyway.
CalligrapherShort121@reddit
How is it a lie? What does ITV or Sky get from the license fee?
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
Staff with experience for starters
CalligrapherShort121@reddit
I think they might have managed to produce some of their own skilled people by now, don’t you? Sky TV launched in 1989. ITV in 1955!
Hey_Scoobs@reddit
The BBC finds a huge eco system of independent production companies, so it does actually find other things you watch, even though they're not broadcast on the BBC.
Sate_Hen@reddit
There are lots of taxes that are paid by people who don't use that service. I don't have kids and my money's been spent on schools for example
MichaSound@reddit
It also subsidises educational programmes and ‘public good’ programming on ITV and Channel Four.
For OPs benefit, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are like our networks - the channels everyone has. BBC channels are the only ones that carry no ads.
With digital TV, there are a plethora of other free-to-air, as supported channels.
You can also pay extra to companies like Sky (owned by the same people as Fox) or Virgin Media to get premium sports, movie channels, etc.
And of course, we have Netflix, Prime, Apple+, etc.
The BBC is fully funded by the licence fee. iTV and Channel 4 are mostly ad supported, but also receive a little of the licence fee to support educational programming (which is a very stretchy definition and can include popular shows like ‘Jamie Oliver’s School Dinners’, where he went on a campaign to improve the quality of school canteen food.
AndTheBeatGoesOnAnd@reddit
Sky is not owned by Murdoch and hasn't been for a long time.
SurgicalSlinky2020@reddit
Fact. Now it's owned by goddamn Comcast...
Which_Yam_7750@reddit
It also goes into Channel 4 as well I believe. Also important to note it’s a legal requirement to receive any live broadcast, not just BBC, that (used to, not sure if it still does) includes radio reception. And it doesn’t matter the method of reception (aerial, satellite, cable, streaming). It’s needed if you have the ability to receive - so live streaming through apps like iPlayer and Now TV count.
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
That's not quite right. Lots of us have the ability to receive live television but aren't required to have a television licence.
Hey_Scoobs@reddit
You are correct:
"It is an offence under section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 to watch TV channels on any TV service, watch live TV on streaming services, or use BBC iPlayer, on any device, without a valid TV Licence.
Section 365 of that Act requires a person to whom a TV Licence is issued to pay a fee to the BBC."
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-legal-framework-AB16#:~:text=It%20is%20an%20offence%20under,a%20fee%20to%20the%20BBC.
Which_Yam_7750@reddit
First line install or use not install and use.
Hey_Scoobs@reddit
It's actually a grey area, because while you're correct that it does state "install" the only part that has criminal sanction (i.e. is stated as an actual offence) is the "use" part.
I'm not trying to be argumentative or fussy:
Laws are often more vague than one might expect, sometimes to provide common sense leeway for police and courts dealing with bad faith actors at one end, or innocent mistakes at the other.
For example, if somebody was obviously watching telly, and obviously switching it off whenever an enforcement person was around, then the "install" clause might be useful.
But it might be considered unreasonable to prosecute somebody for having an old TV in the garage. Swings and roundabouts!
Another example: not all of the UK Highways Code is enshrined in law.
In that respect, the 'latitude' afforded by some laws is a feature, not a bug.
Which_Yam_7750@reddit
Yes, basically all I was trying to get at. In theory it’s not what the device itself is capable of, or how you use it, it’s how it is installed. If it’s installed in a manor that can receive then you should have a license, even if you don’t use. That said I think you are right in terms of grey area where you can prove that you do not use.
ithika@reddit
What if I don't have a manor?
Sate_Hen@reddit
You haven't needed a radio license since the 70s
Which_Yam_7750@reddit
I’m sure it was incorporated into the TV licence, at least through the 80s. Like I said, didn’t know if the TV licence was still needed for radio.
luffy8519@reddit
Other way round, the TV licence was incorporated into the existing radio licence in 1946, and then the radio element of it was scrapped in 1971. You do still need a licence to broadcast on radio (including amateur radio etc.), but not to listen to the radio.
Which_Yam_7750@reddit
Thought, like black and white Tv licence, a separate radio licence was still available into the 80s for those without TV. Honestly thought the radio element lasted longer.
Probably just a case of Mandela Syndrome.
colin_staples@reddit
You believe incorrectly, as Nadine Dorris (then Culture Secretary) found out when she had her arse handed to her at a public enquiry into the Tories wanted to privatise Channel 4 and got her facts wrong.
Channel 4 IS state-owned, but it is NOT funded by the licence fee / the taxpayer. It is entirely funded by commercial activities (adverts, selling programs, and so on)
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_4
Also :
Source : https://www.channel4.com/corporate/about-4/operating-responsibly/freedom-information/frequently-asked-questions
luffy8519@reddit
The licence fee does fund S4C though, which may be where some of the confusion comes from; as S4C airs in place of Channel 4 in Wales (i.e. on 104 on Freeview, with Channel 4 being on 107), it's easy to assume that S4C is the same organisation as C4.
josh5676543@reddit
No it doesn't go to channel four. Channel four is publicly owned but is founded by advertising and doesn't get anything from the TV licence
Which_Yam_7750@reddit
My bad, thought it did. I know C4 is a public service broadcaster.
TaffWaffler@reddit
It also goes beyond tv. It helps find a good number of arts and music schemes
Brilliant_Ad2120@reddit
Why isn't it just paid for by the government through tax revenue?
No-Onion8029@reddit
No judgement either way, but, as a yank, my first introduction to the concept was a skit with a van rolling around, locating someone watching TV without paying the fee, and the equivalent of a SWAT team raiding their house. I paused and went to Wiki thinking "There's no way this is possible in any sense..."
Killahills@reddit
It's actually pretty good value for me and I'm happy to pay it. I watch BBC TV, listen to BBC radio, use the websites and iplayer.
People will moan about the licence fee but pay £80 a month to Sky and get adverts too.
amBrollachan@reddit
Yes, and I think it's valuable to have a service that is not (as) beholden to commercial interests. Has historically allowed the BBC to commission projects that profit-focused broadcasters wouldn't touch.
icklepeach@reddit
And things like BBC Alba that wouldn’t be commercially viable
azkeel-smart@reddit
It's because Sky doesn't send goons to threaten you when you don't need their services anymore.
Killahills@reddit
Because if you don't pay for Sky you don't get Sky. Why would they need to send anyone?
proaxiom@reddit
Why is the onus on us to pay for a service we don't want just because the BBC refuse to bring in technology that would allow them to do exactly what sky do?
maceion@reddit
To keep it free of political or buyer influence
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
Sky is a choice
lonehorizons@reddit
So’s watching TV.
Killahills@reddit
And if you don't pay, you don't get it.
hooligan_bulldog_18@reddit
Optional. It's definitely worth rolling the dice & saving £200 a year (not paying) as the consequences are quite mild.
MarkWrenn74@reddit
A TV licence is an annual payment in the UK that enables you to watch live TV, record, and download programmes on any device, including TVs, computers, and tablets, on services like the BBC iPlayer, ITV, and YouTube. Currently, the rates (and there are no levels, they're just flat rates based on the technical specifications of the set) are £174:50 for a colour set, or £58:50 for a black-and-white one (though these are increasingly rare; according to TV Licensing (which operates and enforces the scheme¹) and the Taxpayers' Alliance, only 3,600 were issued in 2024).
The cost can be paid in one lump sum or spread out through Direct Debit, with options for weekly, monthly, or quarterly payments. A 50% discount is available for people who are legally blind, and people over 75 who receive Pension Credit can get a free TV licence.
The UK is not the only country, BTW, to use a TV licence system: ⅔ of European countries and ½ of Asian countries operate one. In such countries, some broadcasts are funded in full or in part by the licence fees. Licence fees are effectively a hypothecated tax to fund public-service broadcasting.
¹ Intentional non-payment is illegal, and publishable by a fine of up to £1,000
EUskeptik@reddit
It’s a TV licence.
Licence is the noun, license is the verb.
You’re welcome. 🙂
-xx-
Bearded_Viking_Lord@reddit
A stupid thing the BBC have put in place on anything with live TV in the UK including Netflix. It's basically a money making scheme so they can hide and protect paedophiles
Sad_Masterpiece_56@reddit
Back in the old days when tv first came about there was only a few channels if you owned a tv you had to pay a.Tv license for those channels run by the bbc British broadcasting, later more channels came about and they used advertising for funding so didn’t require a liscense but just owning a tv means you still have to pay the bbc , if you don’t pay they drag you to court and make your life hell with people knocking your door to check you haven’t got a tv, they don’t have any powers but pretend they do gangsta tactics , whilst the bbc is a scummy system they do produce programmes and series that have been copied and loved worldwide . When digital came about you could get many more channels and people stopped paying but most people pay just to not have them bothering you all the time and trying to take you to court. When you get to 70 or pension age you can get your tv liscence free because your eyes are not so great so that one good thing I guess
BastardsCryinInnit@reddit
The TV license pays for the BBC.
You don't have to listen to random internet people, you can always have a mooch at the official TV license website.
The BBC doesn't have any commercials. At all. Yes, you read that right. The programming/radio has no commercials.
It gets it money from the license fee, and selling it's programmes and formats globally.
Crucially, this is not unique to the United Kingdom. Plenty of countries have a public service broadcaster funded by a TV license model.
The TV license pays for, but not limited to:
It really supports the education arm (which is anyone remembers lockdown, how many of your kids were being taught not by you, or schools, but the BBC?) as well as local channels like local language channels as well as niche programming.
How UK telly is broken down:
And my two pennies worth about the license fee are if you’re raging about the licence fee, chances are it’s not really about Top Gear or Mrs Brown’s Boys... Hating on the BBC has become a convenient outlet for whatever else shitt is going on in people's lives. The licence fee isn’t some Netflix style subscription where you only pay if you like most shows, it’s what keeps an incredibly valuable, world class public service alive. News, education, kids’ TV, culture, radio, online, the lot. People being nobby about it because they hate Mr Tumble is like refusing to fund the NHS because you don’t like your GP’s carpet.
Douglas______@reddit
You've raised some good points about the TV licence, and I agree that public broadcasting is a valuable asset. However, I can't support the current funding model. The TV licence is essentially a regressive flat tax that disproportionately affects low-income households. It's not fair that someone on minimum wage has to pay the same as a millionaire, especially when failure to pay can lead to a criminal record. I believe a fairer and more modern system would be to fund the BBC through general taxation. This way, everyone still contributes, but those with more would pay more. It would also eliminate the need for aggressive enforcement and criminalising people for simply watching TV. Several other countries have already successfully adopted this approach. It's not about being against the BBC.
box_frenzy@reddit
Amen to this comment
luffy8519@reddit
Well said. There's also a reasonable argument that the BBC World Service is an important part of the UK's soft power projection, which helps us continue to have more influence on the world stage than we perhaps deserve in modern times.
davus_maximus@reddit
The TV License fee also contributes to the emergency broadcast infrastructure, which is still maintained but not been used in my lifetime as far as I know.
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
There is a high chance the snooker will have gone to a final frame, so wouldn't be broadcast anyway - I'll be in person.
See: Adrian Edmondson's "How to be a complete bastard"
davus_maximus@reddit
Wasn't that an old game for the Speccy?
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
Ooh if it is I missed it at the time! I remember it from the book at my mates house (he had a c64, but we were still mates...)
importantmaps2@reddit
It was set up to pay for the BBC TV network and radio. But they make enough money now that we shouldn't need to pay to watch TV (although having no commercials during shows is fantastic) they make enough money selling their programs abroad and off DAVE that it is making a profit now. Worth noting a friend of mine who used to be a TV licence enforcement officer told me he left back in 2000 because over 8 million people had not got a TV licence and over a million are waiting for legal action against them and a very low percentage actually pay the fines.
kh250b1@reddit
This is not a unique British thing
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licence
GooseyDuckDuck@reddit
It’s a tax to cover national free to air broadcasting. It covers the cost of the BBC.
OkTechnologyb@reddit
How is it paid? Do you get a bill in the post? I assume most people pay it online these days? Walk me through the details.
montymole123@reddit
When ppl move to a new house they generally contact TV licensing to inform them and set up a direct debit. They were probably paying in the previous house so just transfer the address. If you don't you'll get a letter saying no license recorded at this address and giving details of how to pay. Ignoring further can result in a visit to check if you are using tv and a court case if so (criminal offence not to pay). However tv license inspectors have no actual right to enter your home so it can become a stand off. The tax is per household not per person. Not sure if students in student accommodation have to pay, there are some grey areas...
LordAxalon110@reddit
Google is your friend. It's the same as any bill you pay, you can pay it by direct debit.
OkTechnologyb@reddit
Unnecessary rudeness. This sub exists so people can ask questions. Bye!
DropDeadDigsy@reddit
A way to fund the bbc to platform right wing politicians and views. In other words not worth paying and I’ve never paid it and never will. Had a few letters and knocks and I always say the same thing. I don’t own a tv the one you saw through the window is a reflection in the mirror on the wall of an animated seance involving two dwarves and a Jehovah’s Witness step inside and I’ll show you but leave your pants at the door.
Amazing-Stand-7605@reddit
It's a bit like a cheeky nandos
thebigfil@reddit
It's a way of taxing the uneducated.
mellonians@reddit
I'll declare an interest as the TV licence fee pays a large portion of my wages and also I benefit from the small part of the licence fee that goes to the other commercial broadcasters that aren't the BBC.
Essentially, the TV licence mostly pays for the BBC. We have 4 main TV networks in the UK. BBC, ITV, C4 and C5. They are the public service broadcasters. ITV, C4 and C5 are funded by ads and are normal broadcasters like you're used to except they have public service obligations which include things like having to reach 98% of the population for free terrestrially - that's what you call OTA TV and that's why TV through an aerial is the normal way to get TV even though satellite and cable exist too. It's called Freeview. PSB obligations also include a certain amount of religious programming, minority sports, experimental programming etc.
Back to the BBC. The BBC being funded by the TV licence which is basically a tax on watching TV has to cater for most audiences. The easiest way to see this is to look at the TV channels and the radio stations. TV you have 4 main channels each with a different "flavour" including arts heavy and young adult targeting, a toddlers TV channel, children's, parliament and news. BBC radio you can hear for yourself if you can, spend half hour listening to Radio 1,2,3,4&5, 6music & Asian respectively and see if you can guess their audience.
Effective_Quality@reddit
I don’t mind paying it but forcing to charge the over 70s is a bit of a swizz.
proaxiom@reddit
Retired people are the ones who are most likely to have substantial savings, mortgage free properties. Why should working people subsidise the people who have the time to sit at home all day using the BBC?
prustage@reddit
It is, in principle, a licence to operate a television receiver.
You need it if you have a TV irrespective of what you watch; that includes paid commercial services (like Netflix, Sky) free commercial services (like ITV, Freeview) and public broadcast services (like the BBC). If you have a TV in your home then you need a TV licence. If you dont get one you will be fined.
There are no packages, it's one licence for everything but if you are over 75 or blind you get one for free or heavily discounted.
The money from licences is used to fund the many broadcast services the BBC offers. This includes:
It also includes the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds streaming services.
Because the money goes to the BBC many people think the licence is only necessary to watch the BBC, but this is wrong. You need a licence to watch anything on a television receiver.
proaxiom@reddit
The license is only necessary for any BBC content (live or on demand) or any other LIVE broadcast.
You don't need a license if you only ever watch non-BBC on demand content, and absolutely no live broadcasts from anywhere.
If you're like me and use YouTube, Netflix etc for on demand content but don't have satellite, cable or Freeview, you don't need a license.
lonehorizons@reddit
You can have a TV and no licence, the TV Licencing people are fine with it.
fsv@reddit
You can have a TV without a TV licence. But you must have one to watch live TV as it is broadcast, or watch content on iPlayer.
You don’t need a licence to watch non-live content from other streaming services like Netflix or All4, for example, but you would need one to stream, say, Sky News live on YouTube.
Kickkickkarl@reddit
It's essential a license for receiving live television transmissions.
Where the money ends up isn't really the license purchasers business. They have chosen to purchase a licence to receive live television transmissions regardless of which transmitting station being received.
If you choose to receive live transmissions of a station transmitting the selling of gems and gold jewellery then you need a license to legel view these transmissions.
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
The TV licence exists to separate funding from government. In this way, the BBC isn't beholden to government ministers and remains neutral. Plus no commercials is a bonus.
The left-wing agenda that the BBC always seems to have is a bit grinding for my tastes.
sbaldrick33@reddit
Lol, yeah. If you assume that the agenda is demonstrated by what pundits on light entertainment shows say as opposed to how current affairs are reported.
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
Like Question Time?
sbaldrick33@reddit
So, to be clear, you're saying that Farage being in the top 5 most repeated guests on question time (and largely being allowed to run off at the mouth whenever he's on) in spite of only becoming an MP last year is a clear example of a lefty bias? Good one.
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
I didn't mention Farage.
sbaldrick33@reddit
I did, though. He is an example I have chosen to refute your broader claim. Whether you mentioned him is immaterial.
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
You're imagining my political preference and railing against what you think I might support. Interesting to observe the left in meltdown against imaginary positions.
sbaldrick33@reddit
All I've done is refute your claim. I haven't made any comment about you or what your political position may be or gone into meltdown (feel free to go back and check).
Interesting that you've chosen to characterise it that way if you're ~pretending you're~ not Right Wing, though.
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
I mentioned a left wing bias and you spouted off, out of nowhere, about Nigel Farage whilst failing to note that the Presenter Fiona Bruce is openly contemptuous towards and right leaning guests or questioners.
sbaldrick33@reddit
When you think about it, what you just said is "I claimed the BBC had a left wing bias and you contradicted me."
Hate to break it to you, but that isn't making any assumptions about you (although I now have) nor melting down.
The fact that you're so affronted by the fact I had the temerity to gainsay you says more about your attitude than mine.
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
So, to be clear, you're saying that Farage being in the top 5 most repeated guests on question time
Thats making things up to argue against. Quite immature.
sbaldrick33@reddit
I've explained how this works already. You're wasting my time.
Infinite_Crow_3706@reddit
So, to be cleaer, you're saying that Tuchel has no idea how to get the best out of Jude Bellingham?
sbaldrick33@reddit
You see, you've tried to be clever (and failed) but the difference is that your non sequitur has no bearing on anything I've said, whereas Farage's disproportionate number of appearances on QT do have a bearing on the claim "the BBC have a Lefty bias." It's actually not that difficult. I'm undecided whether you realise that it's not that difficult and are just being obtuse, or whether you genuinely struggling with the basic tenets of argument.
Cakeo@reddit
You do realise that people also claim they have a right wing bias?
This means they are doing a good job in staying neutral in my opinion, even if some of their editorial decisions are questionable at times.
RockSignificant@reddit
A rip-off. It's a rip-off.
LargeSteve69@reddit
It's pretty good value imo
RockSignificant@reddit
If you watch a lot of BBC programming, sure, since that is who the license fee goes to in its entirety. I'd say the BBC makes up only about 5% of my total viewing, so for me, it's enforced payment.
tb5841@reddit
Originally, you pay £X amount per year and that have you the right to watch live TV. That money was then used to fund the BBC (TV, Radio, internet news etc).
In return for being funded this way - and without adverts - the BBC is obligated to have a certain amount of content that informs/educates people, and it's not allowed to be a pure entertainment channel.
It actually worked very well until streaming services became common. At one point I was watching BBC IPlayer almost every day, reading the BBC News website every day, and listening to BBC Radio in the car, yet paying nothing as I didn't watch live TV. So they changed the rules, to say you needed a TV License to watch BBC IPlayer as well.
Back in the day, an inspector could tell whether you watched live TV by whether you had a TV arial connected to your TV. Now that you can watch live TV through the internet, proving that someone does/doesn't watch live TV is almost impossible - and increasingly, people are opting out of paying and using services like Netflix instead.
Felgar36@reddit
Another er form of government taxation for an awful lot of repeated programmes
sbaldrick33@reddit
"Is a tax like a subscription service?" may be the most American thing I'll read today.
CalligrapherShort121@reddit
A protection racket. It’s a tax we pay to use the services of businesses that see no benefit from a fee that’s given to their competition.
m-1975@reddit
It's an historic fee that has been badly adapted to the modern world. But it continues and we all continue to pay it because our society is one of quiet compliance.
qualityvote2@reddit
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