Do I need a TV licence?

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Mr Thropwimp
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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Mr Thropwimp » Sun Dec 07, 2008 5:21 pm

Lucien wrote:
Fishfingers, Stuffing and Gravy wrote:
Lucien wrote:
chalkitdown wrote:I don't know about the law in Britain, but over here, if you have any device capable of recieving a television signal, you need a license.


It's the same here.

Reasons why you shouldn't pay? The BBC rakes in more than 3 billion pounds per year. Can you see where all of that is being spent? 3 billion per year? You could look into the origins of the BBC as a one of a kind nationwide information service at it's roots, which then became a multi-branched waste of money.

Here's something odd, the BBC operates in other countries, yet they don't pay for the service anywhere near as much as we do.

The main point is though you're being forced to pay to watch BBC.


This post is full of fail. Firstly, you only need a licence if you watch TV at the time of broadcast (aka "live"). Secondly, the broadcast of BBC shows in other countries makes the licence so much cheaper for us - the networks which show the programmes abroad pay a fortune for the privilege and this subsidises the corporation massively. If they didn't buy the shows, the licence fee would be far higher.


I know you need it if you watch TV at the time of broadcast, our law does state any device capable of this though as he said.

Also, how much does the average American pay to watch BBC? And are they forced to pay for it? As for it being cheaper here because it's broadcast elsewhere, even if that were true, it's not a justification of us having to pay.


You can't really watch TV in America unless you subscribe to a cable service or whatever. Which, of course, you have to pay for.

I'd say that it's not too different from our license.

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degoose
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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by degoose » Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:12 pm

Slartibartfast wrote:
Wiggy G32 wrote:
Merry Christmas, Noobs! wrote:
Lucien wrote:
Also, how much does the average American pay to watch BBC? And are they forced to pay for it? As for it being cheaper here because it's broadcast elsewhere, even if that were true, it's not a justification of us having to pay.


About 20 minutes of adverts per hour of programming. And yes, they are pretty much left with no choice in that.


thats what i was thinking. Why this hatered for the bbc? We should count ourselves lucky to have such a great service in this country.


Too many people take it for granted without realising just how good it really is.



i think its the factor that some people actually dont use the bbc at all, i hardly ever watch programs on the bbc i dont use there websites and i think ive used the iplayer a couple of times. So somehow me having to pay £120 a year for hardly any use is a bit of a con but of course we dont really have a choice because you can go to prison for not paying.

The bbc really does have some terrible tv shows and for a company that is funded youd think they could do better tv than Strictly Come Dancing.

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by SEP » Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:19 pm

degoose wrote:The bbc really does have some terrible tv shows and for a company that is funded youd think they could do better tv than Strictly Come Dancing.


Again, they do. They have one of the widest varieties of programming in the world. They are one of the principal documentary makers in the world, and they can afford to do that by not being reliant on commercials. Yes, they do a bit of "common" TV, but they would be fools not to. Everyone pays, so they have to cater for everyone, to the best of their ability.

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Slartibartfast
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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Slartibartfast » Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:35 pm

degoose wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:
Wiggy G32 wrote:
Merry Christmas, Noobs! wrote:
Lucien wrote:
Also, how much does the average American pay to watch BBC? And are they forced to pay for it? As for it being cheaper here because it's broadcast elsewhere, even if that were true, it's not a justification of us having to pay.


About 20 minutes of adverts per hour of programming. And yes, they are pretty much left with no choice in that.


thats what i was thinking. Why this hatered for the bbc? We should count ourselves lucky to have such a great service in this country.


Too many people take it for granted without realising just how good it really is.



i think its the factor that some people actually dont use the bbc at all, i hardly ever watch programs on the bbc i dont use there websites and i think ive used the iplayer a couple of times. So somehow me having to pay £120 a year for hardly any use is a bit of a con but of course we dont really have a choice because you can go to prison for not paying.

The bbc really does have some terrible tv shows and for a company that is funded youd think they could do better tv than Strictly Come Dancing.


There's certainly nothing to stop you from disabling reception of BBC content and avoid paying the fee, if you personally pay it.

However, do you listen to Radio 1 through to 7? Do you watch the 'protected' sports on the BBC service - football, rugby and tennis at match times? Do we, as a nation, benefit from the overseas work of the World Service (although this is paid for mainly by the Foreign Office it would not be possible without the license fee)? (Actually I'd better answer that. Yes we do, it's one of the last things that actually puts forward an alternative voice to many of the oppressive regimes around the world and it's something that keeps the UK's credibility ever-so-slightly above that of America's.) And do you value the contribution the BBC makes towards keeping the rest of the media's news independent, of a high quality and freely available? And if you don't - you should.

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by SEP » Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:39 pm

Very well put, Slartibartfast. There is much, much more to the BBC than Strictly Come Dancing, and to judge the entire corporation on the basis of one strawberry floating program is quite frankly ridiculous. If you do that, then you don't deserve an opinion, as you are totally misinformed.

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Stig » Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:39 pm

Slartibartfast wrote:There's certainly nothing to stop you from disabling reception of BBC content and avoid paying the fee, if you personally pay it.


TV License covers all TV reception though.

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Slartibartfast » Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:18 pm

Stig wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:There's certainly nothing to stop you from disabling reception of BBC content and avoid paying the fee, if you personally pay it.


TV License covers all TV reception though.


I must admit I did think you were entitled to not pay the license fee if you were not capable of receiving BBC television, but after a quick search I can't find much to back that up.

You can definitely use a TV free of charge as long as it isn't live broadcast, though.

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Vermin » Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:40 pm

At the moment, it doesn't cater well for my tastes in most of its output, but that maybe my fault as I'm probably thinking too hard. But the joy that its comedy shows (eg Gimme Gimme Gimme, My Family, Clone, etc), dramas (the wonderfully accurate, and not at all ridiculously full of any anachronisms - 'The Tudors', for one), and entertainment shows (like the superb perennial Fame Academy) have brought me over the years is considerable.

And what would my Saturday mornings have been like without the shopped-in American cartoons with characters based purely on already-existing action toys, as a cheaper option to the display of any home-grown childrens' entertainment?

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coldspice
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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by coldspice » Sun Dec 07, 2008 10:59 pm

Slartibartfast wrote:
Stig wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:There's certainly nothing to stop you from disabling reception of BBC content and avoid paying the fee, if you personally pay it.


TV License covers all TV reception though.


I must admit I did think you were entitled to not pay the license fee if you were not capable of receiving BBC television, but after a quick search I can't find much to back that up.

You can definitely use a TV free of charge as long as it isn't live broadcast, though.


The TV licence is paid if you have any equipment capable of receiving a television picture, doesn't matter wether you get BBC or not.

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Stig » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:05 pm

Minty14 wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:
Stig wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:There's certainly nothing to stop you from disabling reception of BBC content and avoid paying the fee, if you personally pay it.


TV License covers all TV reception though.


I must admit I did think you were entitled to not pay the license fee if you were not capable of receiving BBC television, but after a quick search I can't find much to back that up.

You can definitely use a TV free of charge as long as it isn't live broadcast, though.


The TV licence is paid if you use any equipment capable of receiving a television picture, doesn't matter wether you get BBC or not.


Fixed! :D

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Skarjo » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:18 pm

The licence fee? £100ish for some of the best TV around, one of the worlds best news services, a comprehensive radio service and one of the pioneers of fantastic online service?

Gladly.

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Nook29
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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by Nook29 » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:28 pm

I think BBC has some excellent programs, and it's probably one of my most watched channels.

However, I agree with those who don't watch it who don't think they should pay for something they're not using. Why should they?

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PostRe: Do I need a TV licence?
by bear » Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:29 pm

We pay €160 for our TV license fee and don't get ad free channels. :(


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