If the BBC license fee were optional...

[GrumpyGregry]

... would you pay it?

Say the BBC pledged "no adverts" (and please no adverts for BBC programmes either), and abolished the mandatory fee, would you pay if it were a voluntary subscription, i.e. pay or not the programmes are still free-to-air?

 

[Ganymede]

Yes.

 

[Archie_tect]

Depends how much and how many people joined in.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I can't see how they could afford to make the programmes without funding. I'm happy to pay the fee at the moment as it is excellent value.

GC

 

[numbnuts]

I hardly watch TV so dead against paying a licence fee

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Depends how much and how many people joined in.

assume 100% - 150% of current fee in my new world order.

 

[AndyRM]

I'd probably not to be honest. Most of the TV we watch is on paid for channels and pre-recorded so adverts are no longer an issue.

I'd happily pay for a radio only subscription as all I listen to is 5Live and Radio 4 while my wife is big a 6 Music fan.

 

[ianrauk]

I have so many other (crap) channels through my cable box that I wouldn't miss the BBC ones. So if optional I would opt out.

 

[Beebo]

What about their other services?
I listen to loads of BBC local and national radio, use their website, Iplayer and watch loads of TV as well, so would be sad to see it change.

 

[swee'pea99]

Yes. It's one of the very few national institutions I actually believe in, and I believe in it massively. And I think it's a miracle it's survived as long as it has, given the power and resources of those who would love to see it gone. I suspect it's doomed, but I'd certainly 'do my bit' to maintain it - for all its undoubted faults - for as long as possible.

 

[stephec]

Surely a lot of people wouldn't if they didn't have to?

When you look at how the BBC aren't able to compete for the rights of some big events it makes you wonder how much we're actually paying for freeview commercial TV in the purchase price of goods that are advertised on there.

 

[accountantpete]

No.

I occasionally watch the news, the odd sporting event and the one episode of Sherlock that is any good - other than that BBC sucks the big one.

 

[User269]

Well worth the fee just for Radio 3, including 'listen again', live simultaneous broadcasts from the NY met, ROH, etc., and all in HD stereo. Then add Radio 4 and you've an absolute bargain.
(Radio is mostly funded by the TV license fee).

 

[Markymark]

Can't really do it that way. If you got people to pay what they thought the NHS was worth, it'd be decimated.

EDIT Yeah, the new acceptable meaning of 'decimated' rather than the original, I know.

 

[Crackle]

No.

I occasionally watch the news, the odd sporting event and the one episode of Sherlock that is any good - other than that BBC sucks the big one.

And is getting suckier. Costume dramas, which are getting worse, terrible unoriginal dramas, radio 2 (ffs), radio 1. Sherlock is about it recently.