BBC Should Axe Licence Fee, Think Tank Says

[KeithD]

STORY (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/BBC-Should-Scrap-Licence-Fee-To-Stop-It-Being-Scaled-Back-Adam-Smith-Institute-Report-Suggests/Article/201008115675061?lpos=Politics_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_6&lid=ARTICLE_15675061_BBC_Should_Scrap_Licence_Fee_To_Stop_It_Being_Scaled_Back%2C_Adam_Smith_Institute_Report_Suggests)

I wish they would, nothing more than a tax...... and why do we have to pay for the web sites that are free to everyone else on the planet? :NoNo:

[mistermatty]

Dont effect me as i have not owned a TV for nearly 2 years and yea it should be scrapped !

[KeithD]

No TV :omg::omg::omg::omg: .... I'd die :cwm24:

[Arthur Little]

I wish they would, nothing more than a tax......

:iagree: ... for all WE ever watch, it's hardly cost-effective! :NoNo:

[KeithD]

:iagree: ... for all WE ever watch, it's hardly cost-effective! :NoNo:
I bet your considering getting a colour TV soon eh? ;) .... snooker will change forever :D

[Dedworth]

The bloated BBC should be slashed in size and have strict financial controls imposed on it by the Govt, it's a haven for grossly overpaid trough feeding bureaucrats and so called stars

[Arthur Little]

I bet your considering getting a colour TV soon eh? ;) .... snooker will change forever :D

Nah ... already got one. But we're usually both too "snookered" :NEW5: to be bothered with it.

[Arthur Little]

Nah ... already got one. But we're usually both too "snookered" :NEW5: to be bothered with it.

Besides - for ME, at least - there's generally much more entertainment going on HERE :Jump: ... than on ANY television channel!

[KeithD]

More entertainment that the racing channels? :omg: HERETIC :cwm24:

[Arthur Little]

More entertainment that the racing channels? :omg: HERETIC :cwm24:

:Erm: ... well ... I mean we could always start laying odds :REGamblMoney01HL1: on which of our members will be next to get their visas ... and who will be fastest! :222:

[Scouse]

Why not abolish it and let Murdoch charge even more for Sky. He deserves it more than anybody as he has nothing

[KeithD]

Why not abolish it and let Murdoch charge even more for Sky. He deserves it more than anybody as he has nothing
Why not, I'd happily pay £200 a month for my package, it'd cost me that to attend 1 race meeting :omg:

[James Hubbard]

I'd happily pay £200 a month for my package:omg:

now that's just boasting ;)

[bornatbirth]

tv is great, get yourself a HD tv and sit back and relax, havent you watched sport in HD yet, me and my wife watch any sport in HD because it looks so good!

i think the bbc is great value for money and would pay more :D

[Sim11UK]

I really begrudge paying a TV license, as I rarely watch it, mainly just watch the news & the odd programme.

My license has just run out & I'm really in two minds whether to renew it?
The sound is terrible & speech is all out of sync, since the digital switchover. I really can't be :action-smiley-081: with it...I just want to throw it out of the window. :NoNo:

[KeithD]

i think the bbc is great value for money and would pay more :D
I think we need to run another round of forum drug testing :Cuckoo:



The sound is terrible & speech is all out of sync, since the digital switchover.
That's not the TV, that's age related, your brain is out of sync :D

[bornatbirth]

The sound is terrible & speech is all out of sync, since the digital switchover. I really can't be :action-smiley-081: with it...I just want to throw it out of the window. :NoNo:

how are you getting the digital signal?, get yourself a humax box either freeview or freesat box :D


I think we need to run another round of forum drug testing :Cuckoo:


free night out on the boss :icon_lol:

[Sim11UK]

That's not the TV, that's age related, your brain is out of sync :D

Thanks for the vote of confidence. :D


how are you getting the digital signal?, get yourself a humax box either freeview or freesat box :D


I got given a box, otherwise I doubt I'd have bothered...it obviously dosen't work very well though? :Rasp::Rasp:

[bornatbirth]

try resetting it and updating the firmware, maybe getting the aerial checked, are you sure its for digital freeview because if its cheap you will be surprised how a much difference a decent box can make :D

[Pete/London]

i think the bbc is great value for money and would pay more :D

I think the BBC is great, much preferred watching the world cup on BBC to ITV. The first episode of Sherlock Holmes was good, not so sure about the 2nd. They do need good competition to keep them on their toes. F1 has improved, cricket has improved.
Would not like to pay more though as there is room for cost cutting such as the likes of the huge contracts they give to people like Jonathon Ross, foul mouthed and over rated, and they could cut what they pay for Wimbledon.

[bornatbirth]

did you watch the winter olympics in HD and super slow-mo, HD on the bbc is far better than itv, even thou sky is even better but im watching with free sat.

chris evans is getting a big wedge now :cwm23:

[Pete/London]

Dont have HD yet,is it worth it? manage to get a deal with sky for full package at half price for 6 months, may have another go for their HD:)

never listen to BBC radio only LBC in the morning and Talksport from 1 am :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[KeithD]

I think the BBC is great, much preferred watching the world cup .. F1 , cricket ... Wimbledon.
Most of these sports, and others, are protected by law to appear only on terrestrial TV only, which is actually against European monopoly laws :Erm:

Horse racing on the Beeb is now a joke in the racing world :NoNo:

[fred]

Just about the only thing I miss about not being in the UK is the BBC.. If I could continue to pay and receive service abroad i WOULD WITHOUT A DOUBT..You dont miss it till its gone..:yikes:

[James Hubbard]

Just about the only thing I miss about not being in the UK is the BBC.. If I could continue to pay and receive service abroad i WOULD WITHOUT A DOUBT..You dont miss it till its gone..:yikes:

All my fave shows outside of wrestling are on BBC.

I love it :D

[fred]

James..BTW..Who is that in your avatar pic?? Looks a bit like a 45 year old David Beckham?:icon_lol:

[KeithD]

It costs me whatever the fee is (£130!!!!) a year just to watch Dr Who, and that's it :doh .... and the new series was pretty crap :NoNo: .... that's more than £10 an episode.... what a :furious3: rip-off

[James Hubbard]

James..BTW..Who is that in your avatar pic?? Looks a bit like a 45 year old David Beckham?:icon_lol:

haha, it's the professional wrestler "Chris Jericho"! He's the best in the world at what he does! lol! ... oh and I think he's actually about 39 lol!:icon_lol:

[KeithD]

haha, it's the professional wrestler "Chris Jericho"! He's the best in the world at what he does! lol! ... oh and I think he's actually about 39 lol!:icon_lol:
So you like watching hunky sweaty men groping each other and rolling around the floor...... THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE :D

[fred]

Yeah,but a lot of Brits watch BBC1/BBC2 documentaries and drama and sport coverage (worlds best) and listen live to hear BBC local and national radio stations either at home or work every day..
If you see the Yank dross that is aired by the cable and satellite channels here and across the world you would be begging the BBC to just accept a check!!
Fortunately,I can get family to send me BBC stuff on DVD.
I can still download podcasts from various sources for when I fancy a day off from going to the beach and BBQ`s etc..
Again..You dont miss it till your gone!!

[Pete/London]

Couldn`t agree more Fred, the first news I watch when abroad is BBC world service, never watch horse racing Keith so can`t comment on it but it done them good to lose F1 as its come back better then ever. Pity you cant get BBC iplayer abroad. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[KeithD]

I use Sky Player out of the country, and the racing channels online, no need of the Beeb. :O) .... and I can get Catchup TV in any country, all through a UK VPN

[fred]

So you like watching hunky sweaty men groping each other and rolling around the floor...... THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE :D

Yeah..About the best thing on Satellite TV here is UFC !!

http://www.mmaspot.net/mmaspot/files/image/article%20images/cote2.jpg

[James Hubbard]

So you like watching hunky sweaty men groping each other and rolling around the floor...... THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE :D

I don't "like" it! I LOVE it :xxgrinning--00xx3::action-smiley-081::hubbahubba:

[stevewool]

if thet axe the tv fee something else would come along:yikes:

[fred]

i
f thet axe the tv fee something else would come along:yikes:
Compulsory digital technology licence.:xxgrinning--00xx3: Sounds clever so costs more!!:icon_lol:
One thing I dont miss is all those brown envelopes! with red writing on them!!!!!

[Pete/London]

I use Sky Player out of the country, and the racing channels online, no need of the Beeb. :O) .... and I can get Catchup TV in any country, all through a UK VPN

That sounds great, what is UK VPN?

[Sim11UK]

try resetting it and updating the firmware, maybe getting the aerial checked, are you sure its for digital freeview because if its cheap you will be surprised how a much difference a decent box can make :D

I'm not interested, as I don't watch it. TV is dead...long live the internet
(Might watch shooting stars later :D)

[Dedworth]

I use Sky Player out of the country, and the racing channels online, no need of the Beeb. :O) .... and I can get Catchup TV in any country, all through a UK VPN

Can you post details of the VPN my mate in Australia is after one

[James Hubbard]

I'm not interested, as I don't watch it. TV is dead...long live the internet
(Might watch shooting stars later :D)

i watch shooting stars on I player.

that show is hi-:censored:ing-larious! lol

[KeithD]

UK VPN is cheap compared to others and I've never had a problem with speed http://www.hideipvpn.com

(http://www.hideipvpn.com/)


I think I pay about $10 a month

[Dedworth]

UK VPN is cheap compared to others and I've never had a problem with speed http://www.hideipvpn.com

(http://www.hideipvpn.com/)


I think I pay about $10 a month

Looks like the Hide My Ass lot are doiing a special deal $78 for 12 months http://www.hidemyass.com/vpn/............ would this let my man watch iPlayer, 4od etc in Oz ?

[KeithD]

I tested Hidemyass... wasn't that reliable.

...as long as it is UK based all sites just see you as in the UK.

[Pete/London]

I tested Hidemyass... wasn't that reliable.

...as long as it is UK based all sites just see you as in the UK.

Do you have to set it up from the UK, why I ask is I have a daughter living in the middle east and she would be very interested in this

[KeithD]

You just sign up, and follow the instructions, the VPN is setup as a network on your own computer.... you get online as normal, go to your Networks, and click on VPN, login.... you're then in the UK :Rasp:

[James Hubbard]

I wish I would have known about that when I was in the Philippines :NoNo::doh:rolleyes:

retrospect huh?! lol:icon_lol:

[David House]

Who cares about horse racing on TV? Not me? Now golf is a different matter. Which only goes to prove that we are all different.
However I regard the BBC as one of our greatest treasures, on a par with the NHS. If you have spent any time in the USA, or indeed the Philippines, watching the drivel which passes as TV there then you know what I mean. Don't mention any of the Murdoch channels as having any value either. I hate Fox with such passion. It is the most irresponsible right wing nonsense ever to have been broadcast.
The BBC may not always match your own views but because it is really free of influence can, and is, trusted around the world as an unbiased source of information. Funding this through a licence fee is far far better than anything else I can imagine so no changes please. That is not to say I approve of the high fees paid to prats such as Jonathon Ross, but hey, we can all get things wrong.

[fred]

I wish I would have known about that when I was in the Philippines :NoNo::dohretrospect huh?! lol:icon_lol:

Not much good to me as all this stuff would have to stream in on not much more than a dial up connection.:doh

[walesrob]

As a ex-broadcaster myself, the beeb has always been held in high esteem around the world, and we can all agree the corporation is probably the best at public service broadcasting.

However, times have changed. More TV stations, the internet, digital radio, etc have diluted the Beebs share of viewers/listeners, and it needs to justify the licence fee. Remember, the BBC is first and foremost a public service broadcaster, so it has a remit to show a wide range of programming to cater for all people, but its the cost of delivering these services to increasingly small markets thats the problem here. In Wales, S4C is in big trouble, its costing £100m a year to run, but has very few viewers.

[KeithD]

.... In Wales, S4C is in big trouble, its costing £100m a year to run, but has very few viewers.
I'm not surprised, all I ever seem to get on it are Welsh messages instead of programs.

[Dedworth]

I'm not surprised, all I ever seem to get on it are Welsh messages instead of programs.

I watch BBC iPlayer and am hacked off at the amount of programmes in Gaelic, Irish and Welsh that are on there. BBC are throwing public money at producing programmes only a handful of people can watch.

[James Hubbard]

Not much good to me as all this stuff would have to stream in on not much more than a dial up connection.:doh

What provider do u use? We used Smart Bro and it was almost as fast as the broadband I have here ... and it was 1000PHP or so per month! lol:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[fred]

We use Smartbro in an internet dead zone!!
The signal is CRAP.



http://www.speedtest.net/result/902470911.png


Say no more.

[James Hubbard]

We use Smartbro in an internet dead zone!!
The signal is CRAP.



http://www.speedtest.net/result/902470911.png


Say no more.

That's a real bummer mate.

I was in a popular subdivision where i lived, so the signal needed to be strong lol