End of the Red Button....

[Alex1975]

People pay £146 a year - £11 a month for four channels - countless amount of radio shows and some of best telly without it being interrupted by an advert every 5 mins - imagine watching The Hunt and it being disturbed constantly by an advert. The BBC gives us the one bunch of programmes that can be shown without the need to advertise Pringles etc etc etc

People like Clarkson earned the BBC millions due to the amount of money they earned by selling the rights to other countries and will continue to earn the BBC millions which then goes back into the pot to make more television. Add in all the countless projects and funds they have to encourage musicians and emerging talent giving them a platform to display their talents. The BBC does so much work for the future as well as the present. All from people's ten pound a month - peanuts. You can't even watch a film or buy a DVD for that these days.

I would pay double that to keep the adverts away

I fully concede to the later, I had not thought that through. However the former is of no consequence to me, I never watch live tv so the adds just get fast forwarded. I think my feeling are they no matter the cost, I should have the option to not pay and not receive those channels. Its an outdated model in my opinion.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I wonder how much money we shall get if we sell the BBC off.

I used to be a big fan of the BBC until their coverage of the Scottish referendum.
Now I see them for what they are and no longer trust them to report the truth. Very sad.

Do the BBC not report the truth then ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

To be honest I only use the Sky Sports one and then to watch golf etc? Its clearly seen as a drain on resources but I could think of plenty of other things the BBC could do away with other than the red button

 

[Robster59]

People pay £146 a year - £11 a month for four channels - countless amount of radio shows and some of best telly without it being interrupted by an advert every 5 mins - imagine watching The Hunt and it being disturbed constantly by an advert. The BBC gives us the one bunch of programmes that can be shown without the need to advertise Pringles etc etc etc

People like Clarkson earned the BBC millions due to the amount of money they earned by selling the rights to other countries and will continue to earn the BBC millions which then goes back into the pot to make more television. Add in all the countless projects and funds they have to encourage musicians and emerging talent giving them a platform to display their talents. The BBC does so much work for the future as well as the present. All from people's ten pound a month - peanuts. You can't even watch a film or buy a DVD for that these days.

I would pay double that to keep the adverts away

Agreed. £11 a month for all that? And people pay £60, £70, £80, £90 a MONTH for Sky + adverts and don't bitch that they are being overcharged. We have Sky and to be honest no matter how many channels there are, most of it is tat.

The BBC is a magnificent institution but the Tory government have NEVER liked it and would love to get rid of it. Example? They decide that 75 and over get a free licence BUT the BBC must pay for it.

People see the BBC as a TV only channel but it is far more than that. They have in the past, and continue to this day, produce ground breaking drama, documentaries, comedy etc. and should continue. People spend more than £11 a night in the pub, at the bookies, on the lottery and those who think that making it commercial or selling it off would make it a better service are very short sighted indeed.

It genuinely worries me that we will lose the BBC which is a broadcaster that is the envy of the world.

 

[Alex1975]

Agreed. £11 a month for all that? And people pay £60, £70, £80, £90 a MONTH for Sky + adverts and don't bitch that they are being overcharged. We have Sky and to be honest no matter how many channels there are, most of it is tat.

The BBC is a magnificent institution but the Tory government have NEVER liked it and would love to get rid of it. Example? They decide that 75 and over get a free licence BUT the BBC must pay for it.

People see the BBC as a TV only channel but it is far more than that. They have in the past, and continue to this day, produce ground breaking drama, documentaries, comedy etc. and should continue. People spend more than £11 a night in the pub, at the bookies, on the lottery and those who think that making it commercial or selling it off would make it a better service are very short sighted indeed.

It genuinely worries me that we will lose the BBC which is a broadcaster that is the envy of the world.

I would like the choice not to have to be part of the institution.

In my opinion all those programs that the bbc do well would still be made if the bbc was abolished.

HID and I have a set of programs we want to watch and are all on the planner. They get recorded or download and we watch them when we want to so it does not matter that there is a lot of dross as we will not have recorded that. TVs does not happen to us, we use it to fit in with us.

The radio is not to my taste.

No matter the cost, if it's £1 or £100, it's my money and I should have the choice to not subscribe.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I would like the choice not to have to be part of the institution.

In my opinion all those programs that the bbc do well would still be made if the bbc was abolished.

HID and I have a set of programs we want to watch and are all on the planner. They get recorded or download and we watch them when we want to so it does not matter that there is a lot of dross as we will not have recorded that. TVs does not happen to us, we use it to fit in with us.

The radio is not to my taste.

No matter the cost, if it's £1 or £100, it's my money and I should have the choice to not subscribe.

Don't buy a telly license and don't have a telly capable of watching telly - it is possible but I'm guessing there is programs you do watch from the BBC ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Agreed. £11 a month for all that? And people pay £60, £70, £80, £90 a MONTH for Sky + adverts and don't bitch that they are being overcharged. We have Sky and to be honest no matter how many channels there are, most of it is tat.

The BBC is a magnificent institution but the Tory government have NEVER liked it and would love to get rid of it. Example? They decide that 75 and over get a free licence BUT the BBC must pay for it.

People see the BBC as a TV only channel but it is far more than that. They have in the past, and continue to this day, produce ground breaking drama, documentaries, comedy etc. and should continue. People spend more than £11 a night in the pub, at the bookies, on the lottery and those who think that making it commercial or selling it off would make it a better service are very short sighted indeed.

It genuinely worries me that we will lose the BBC which is a broadcaster that is the envy of the world.

Put like that it's hard to argue. I don't use the red button personally but as I said, plenty of things they could do away with first. My concern would be how much further they will cut and whether they will bother bidding for sporting rights when they come again. Could it get to a point where the olympics or Wimbledon go to another channel, especially with Channel 4 already covering the paralympics

 

[Alex1975]

Don't buy a telly license and don't have a telly capable of watching telly - it is possible but I'm guessing there is programs you do watch from the BBC ?

I should not have to go to those lengths should I?

I am guessing I do watch some bbc now and then. I'm not saying I would stop paying for the licence either but I do think it should not be forced on me.

If it's all that then it won't have a problem standing on its own feet though hu?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I should not have to go to those lengths should I?

I am guessing I do watch some bbc now and then. I'm not saying I would stop paying for the licence either but I do think it should not be forced on me.

If it's all that then it won't have a problem standing on its own feet though hu?

It's all that because of everything it does and without the need to have an advert every 5 mins

Again it's not forced on - you have a choice - watch telly on BBC then pay for it or don't watch telly and don't pay for a license

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I should not have to go to those lengths should I?

I am guessing I do watch some bbc now and then. I'm not saying I would stop paying for the licence either but I do think it should not be forced on me.

If it's all that then it won't have a problem standing on its own feet though hu?

Interesting point. Should we be forced to still pay the licence irrespective of the amount of BBC output we watch. I do watch BBC, mainly news and documentaries, both areas I think they still rule the world in. However there is not a great deal else, and I only ever listen to 5Live as a radio channel. Shoudl we not have some sort of way of paying for what we consume?

 

[Pin-seeker]

Don't buy a telly license and don't have a telly capable of watching telly - it is possible but I'm guessing there is programs you do watch from the BBC ?

So I could have a TV& just not watch BBC & not be forced to pay for a license?

 

[Pin-seeker]

Agreed. £11 a month for all that? And people pay £60, £70, £80, £90 a MONTH for Sky + adverts and don't bitch that they are being overcharged. We have Sky and to be honest no matter how many channels there are, most of it is tat.

The BBC is a magnificent institution but the Tory government have NEVER liked it and would love to get rid of it. Example? They decide that 75 and over get a free licence BUT the BBC must pay for it.

People see the BBC as a TV only channel but it is far more than that. They have in the past, and continue to this day, produce ground breaking drama, documentaries, comedy etc. and should continue. People spend more than £11 a night in the pub, at the bookies, on the lottery and those who think that making it commercial or selling it off would make it a better service are very short sighted indeed.

It genuinely worries me that we will lose the BBC which is a broadcaster that is the envy of the world.

But no one forces you to pay for sky just because you have a tv.
Surely you can see the difference.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

So I could have a TV& just not watch BBC & not be forced to pay for a license?

Are there TV's that are capable of not showing BBC by default? If not, I don't think anyone would have the BBC on there and not watch it at all throughout the year, therefore making the viewer eligible to pay the licence fee. I would prefer a way of paying for what you used. Not sure how that would be policed. Equally as difficult as getting a TV not utilising BBC or not watching

 

[Alex1975]

Are there TV's that are capable of not showing BBC by default? If not, I don't think anyone would have the BBC on there and not watch it at all throughout the year, therefore making the viewer eligible to pay the licence fee. I would prefer a way of paying for what you used. Not sure how that would be policed. Equally as difficult as getting a TV not utilising BBC or not watching

Pay per view, it's done with movie channels and sports...

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Pay per view, it's done with movie channels and sports...

And will end costing a damn sight more than what you would pay for a telly license

 

[delc]

What are the wider social benefits that the Beeb provides that aren't available from independant tv and radio (and free)?

Advert free television! The Tory party unfairly regards the BBC as a subversive left wing organisation which dares to question its policies, which is why it under attack. Also part of the private sector good, public sector bad thing!

 

[Hobbit]

Advert free television! The Tory party unfairly regards the BBC as a subversive left wing organisation which dares to question its policies, which is why it under attack. Also part of the private sector good, public sector bad thing!

Soooo, if you don't show adverts you are considered to be a subversive left wing organisation? Does that make Sky, with its 7 minute long advert breaks far right!?

 

[Fyldewhite]

Soooo, if you don't show adverts you are considered to be a subversive left wing organisation? Does that make Sky, with its 7 minute long advert breaks far right!?

Ever heard of Fox News?

 

[Hobbit]

Ever heard of Fox News?

Yes thanks

 

[Fyldewhite]

Yes thanks

If a news channel depends on advertising revenue to exist. Advertising revenue predominantly from big business who tend to benefit most from right wing policies and right wing administrations......which way do you think they will lean? The point of the BBC is that it's neutral and tries to be balanced in it's coverage. Now, that is admittedly very difficult to achieve and they will inevitably get some things wrong but at least it's an objective starting point. To someone on the right the coverage may appear left biased, to someone on the left it may appear right biased. With a very right wing government in power I believe they have an agenda to weaken or change the BBC because it is really the only voice not subject to the commercial pressures that bring about right wing bias above. It's a constant thorn in the side of the Tory party which I'm sure they would prefer wasn't there.