Why O why.....

[Maple]

Well, I guess I’m in the minority of one here. I find it sad and disheartening that a number of people feel my right of choice is unimportant compared to the BBC having adverts and what in their opinion, is having quality TV. Also that it is dismissed as simply ‘that is life’. It may be a minor thing to them, and it might be in the scheme of the world today, but it is one of many rights that are slowly being eroded and together they ultimately make up the quality of our lives.

If we don’t like bombs being made or want more money to go to schools and hospitals, you can vote for this – maybe not very effectively – but then maybe that again is because we don’t care any more and have become so insular. I cannot vote or choose for the licence – it is enforced upon me with threat of a heavy fine or even a prison sentence. I’m trying to stay away from politics as I hate it, but unfortunately it’s hard to sometimes get away from as it touches all our lives and including wildlife.

If the licence goes, the BBC will not collapse, there is still ABC, CBC etc and they don’t have a licence. Last year they commercially made nearly 90 million in profit alone! That’s without, WITHOUT the licence, so where’s all this money going?? When I was a kid, my parents watched mostly the BBC because it had the quality TV – great comedy, Morecambe and Wise, etc but now it’s just like ITV without the adverts. Yes they still make good wildlife programmes but if you don’t like them, you better like soaps, quiz shows, antiques, house repairs/hunting and so on.

I wont try and change your opinions nor would I want to but please, while you are sitting down happily content watching the BBC, remember there are those of us who have been forced against are will, to help pay for this.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Maple

it is one of many rights that are slowly being eroded

The BBC has always been funded by licence. Even before TV was invented you needed a license to receive radio broadcasts. I don't see where erosion comes into it - it's always been this way.

Dave P.

[kshotton45]

I remember many many years ago, when there were only 4 channels, a televised Oxford Union debate about advertising on the BBC. The motion failed on the grounds that there was only so much advertising revenue about, and if the BBC started advertising it would dilute this source of income and the quality of TV programs would fall.
How many commercial channels are there today ? and it hasn't taken a reduction in funding to degrade the quality of programmes !
Come off it BBC, start advertising and free us from this compusory licence fee. Some of us don't want to watch your rubbish !!

Keith.

[Ipso Facto]

Originally Posted by kshotton45

I remember many many years ago, when there were only 4 channels, a televised Oxford Union debate about advertising on the BBC. The motion failed on the grounds that there was only so much advertising revenue about, and if the BBC started advertising it would dilute this source of income and the quality of TV programs would fall.

May there still not be some truth in that. Perhaps the pot is bigger than originally imagined but I believe that some of the channels on air today are struggling due to lack of advertising revenue. There have been reports of some serious cut-backs or potential cut-backs in a number of sectors.

Originally Posted by kshotton45

... Some of us don't want to watch your rubbish !! ...

... I can accept that but it would be interesting to know how many people who own/use a TV never watch a BBC programme or watch less than say 1 hour per week through choice. It would aslo be equally interesting to know how many people do not listen to the BBC radio channels. (I can't imagine a Radio 4 with adverts, or should I say I'd rather not!)

I don't know whether you have noticed but a number of internet music channels allow "members" to pay a subscription in order to avoid being continually bombarded with adverts. I would suggest that If the BBC were to change, rather than introducing adverts or pay per view, all programmes (TV/Radio) should be encrypted and only available to license payers (better value than Sky IMHO) leaving thhe rest of the population to do their thing but then ... where is the public service in that?