TV Licence

**Tugmistress** · 01-Jun-06, 12:27

Fact of today

The TV licence is introduced in the UK for the first time today in 1946. A much disliked, commonly avoided and arguably necessary levy, the licence pays for the BBC broadcast service, thereby avoiding the need for commercials and advertising revenue.

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personally i don't agree with the licence i think it is a load of crud, so i don't own a telly. I am glad to see it was not popular when it was brought out either

krieve · 01-Jun-06, 12:33

I don't like paying it but needs must i'm affraid.

I agree tugmistress it's a load of crud.

**canuck** · 01-Jun-06, 13:18

Originally Posted by Tugmistress

Fact of today

The TV licence is introduced in the UK for the first time today in 1946. A much disliked, commonly avoided and arguably necessary levy, the licence pays for the BBC broadcast service, thereby avoiding the need for commercials and advertising revenue.

.................................................. ..............................................

personally i don't agree with the licence i think it is a load of crud, so i don't own a telly. I am glad to see it was not popular when it was brought out either

Tugmistress - Hi, haven't "spoken" to you for ages. For the North American reader, could you explain the TV licence concept. That was one part of my Caithnessian education that was missed.

**Chillie** · 01-Jun-06, 13:47

Originally Posted by Tugmistress

Fact of today

The TV licence is introduced in the UK for the first time today in 1946. A much disliked, commonly avoided and arguably necessary levy, the licence pays for the BBC broadcast service, thereby avoiding the need for commercials and advertising revenue.

.................................................. ..............................................

personally i don't agree with the licence i think it is a load of crud, so i don't own a telly. I am glad to see it was not popular when it was brought out either

If I remember, having no TV does not excuse you from having a licence, a computer can download the BBC programmes.

**Geo** · 01-Jun-06, 13:58

You don't need a license if legally downloading programs after they were shown as far as I know.

**Tugmistress** · 01-Jun-06, 14:16

and it also helps if it is not set up to do as such

Canuck, you pay a ridiculous amount of money (not sure how much now) to obtain a TV licence for a year so you don't get a hefty fine

if you get caught watching telly without one. the money is supposed to go towards making programmes for the BBC as far as i am aware, though i personally don't know why they just don't go the route of ITV and gain the revenue through adverts etc and save the average household a chunk of dosh.

**Doolally** · 01-Jun-06, 14:19

I don't mind the paying of a licence as such.

What I do mind is the cost of it and the amount it seems to go up each year!

**Billy Boy** · 01-Jun-06, 14:30

Originally Posted by Doolally

I don't mind the paying of a licence as such.

What I do mind is the cost of it and the amount it seems to go up each year!

well said lol,also they show the same old rubbish year after year,hardly watch the bbc these day's all way's watching something on sky,there's another expense

**Axis of Ignorance** · 01-Jun-06, 15:15

The BBC is a publicly funded body and, in this respect, it differs from most other broadcast organisations in the world. Because the BBC draws its revenue from the UK government (who generate the funding by means of the licence fee) it is duty bound to produce content that appeals to a wide spectrum of the population.

It could be argued that organisations such as ITV, who rely upon advertising revenues for their bread and butter, have a tendency to produce 'lowest common denominator' content. Put more simply, they make and show programmes that appeal to the largest audience, witness the plethora of reality and makeover shows. In contrast, the BBC remains committed to a diverse range of programming including excellent nature shows, acclaimed dramas and largely unbiased news commentary.

I realise that the licence fee is quite high and has certainly increased substantially recently but I don't mind paying it. I think the BBC represents value for money and it is world famous for high quality programming.

**jay** · 01-Jun-06, 15:21

TV licence costs £131.50 pr year or 0.36p per day, compared to what we pay for sky etc it's not a lot, also bear in mind that pensioners over 75 get it free. I personnaly would rather pay the 0.36p every day than have programmes interupted by innane ads all the time

**scorrie** · 01-Jun-06, 15:55

Originally Posted by Axis of Ignorance

It could be argued that organisations such as ITV, who rely upon advertising revenues for their bread and butter, have a tendency to produce 'lowest common denominator' content.

I realise that the licence fee is quite high and has certainly increased substantially recently but I don't mind paying it. I think the BBC represents value for money and it is world famous for high quality programming.

I agree with your view completely.

ITV is a channel I have hardly ever watched since I left school. Much of the output has always been Pap for the those with an appetite for unchallenging viewing. Inane game shows, soap operas, "hilarious" camcorder, outake shows and hot off the presses this week comes "Pro-celebrity wifeswoppers lose weight in order to control their children better special cosmetic surgery edition series five" Surely a contender for the longest show title ever?

At least the BBC do provide the occasional good quality drama, often terrific documentaries and at less than £12 a month there is value for money for what equates to a packet of crisps per day.

Compare that to Sky and you get a load of channels but 90% of them are absolute nonsense. If you take away the shopping channels, the endless music channels and the tidal wave of porn and sleazy output channels and you are left with very little worth looking at. Much of what is left is repeats of old BBC shows on UK Brass (downgraded from Gold under orders from the trades descriptions people) et al

I remember one of our neighbours in the 1970's-80's who never purchased a TV licence and who stated that the reason was that the TV seemed to work just as well without one!!

I dare say if you do get the guys at the door you could always do a Vivian from the Young Ones and eat the TV!!

**sjwahwah** · 01-Jun-06, 16:01

You don't need a licence to download programs of course but, I don't own a telly but, do have a TV tuner on the computer which picks up VERY fuzzy BBC1, 2 & ITV for emergency news watching and the odd football game. My understanding is that if you have any type of recieving equipment.. you've gotta pay the licence. In North America it is far more expensive paying for a telly service than having a licence here.. but, you get more channels tho in NA.

**Ricco** · 01-Jun-06, 16:12

Originally Posted by Mr & Mrs Billy Boy

well said lol,also they show the same old rubbish year after year,hardly watch the bbc these day's all way's watching something on sky,there's another expense

I don't know about Sky (I won't pay a penny towards that Aussie chap!) but I do have Freeview. Everything seems to be repeats these days, no matter what the channel.

The reason I like the Beeb (and don't mind the fee) is that they produce all those wonderful (and world acclaimed) nature programmes. What would David Attenborough and Bill Oddie do if it weren't for these progs? And some of the repeats are good second time round - eg Open All Hours.

**Billy Boy** · 01-Jun-06, 16:31

A TV licence van pulled up alongside a house in Liverpool. As the inspector was walking up the path, the lady of the house came walking down. "Can I see your TV licence, madam," asked the inspector. "Well, we do have one but I'm in a hurry," was the reply. "I'm sorry, madam, but I need to see your licence." "Well, my husband is in the house. He'll let you see it. If he doesn't know where it is, tell him it's behind the clock on the mantelpiece." The inspector knocked on the door of the house and the husband appeared. "Can I see your TV licence, sir?" "I know we have one," said the man, "but I'm afraid I don't know where it is." "It's behind the clock on the mantelpiece, sir." "Blimey, your detector vans are brilliant!"

**canuck** · 01-Jun-06, 17:00

Originally Posted by Tugmistress

Canuck, you pay a ridiculous amount of money (not sure how much now) to obtain a TV licence for a year so you don't get a hefty fine

if you get caught watching telly without one. the money is supposed to go towards making programmes for the BBC as far as i am aware, though i personally don't know why they just don't go the route of ITV and gain the revenue through adverts etc and save the average household a chunk of dosh.

Thanks Tugmistress. I guess that I was watching TV illegally while I was in Wick. Concerning the shows I seem to have stolen, would it redress things a little if I gave back that month long cricket game and the fifty-nine re-runs of the UK defeating Canada by inches in the rowing at the Olympics?

**George Brims** · 01-Jun-06, 17:12

Jay, you should maybe tune in late at night and see if you can find some OU maths programmes. The licence costs 36p a day, not 0.36p.

**fred** · 01-Jun-06, 19:16

Originally Posted by Ricco

I don't know about Sky (I won't pay a penny towards that Aussie chap!) but I do have Freeview. Everything seems to be repeats these days, no matter what the channel.

The History channel does tend to repeat itself.