If the BBC license fee were optional...

[vernon]

No; I pay vehicle excise duty.

The pedantry is unnecessary. It's still an essential expense that accompanies car use irrespective of its title.

 

[CopperBrompton]

It is optional for me, as I don't have a telly, and for two years I did pay it voluntarily as a kind of Radio 4 subscription. However, when a friend without a telly started getting the same hassle I used to virtually accusing her of being a criminal for the offence of not owning a telly, I decided sod that.

 

[John the Monkey]

Yup. Test Match Special, In Our Time & so on, and more watchable TV stuff than I've ever found on subscription services, personally. I wish it would stand up for itself a bit more.

 

[mustang1]

I'd like to think i would but in praxtice. I wouldnt

 

[vernon]

The simplest solution is to mandate that the licence fee objectors use equipment incapable of viewing/receiving any BBC produced and/or transmitted material via cable, satellite, radio, Internet and terrestrial TV transmission.

 

[stephec]

The simplest solution is to mandate that the licence fee objectors use equipment incapable of viewing/receiving any BBC produced and/or transmitted material via cable, satellite, radio, Internet and terrestrial TV transmission.

I've always thought that's a good idea as well, but I bet it never happens.

 

[Brandane]

The simplest solution is to mandate that the licence fee objectors use equipment incapable of viewing/receiving any BBC produced and/or transmitted material via cable, satellite, radio, Internet and terrestrial TV transmission.

In the same way as works for SKY presently? What a splendid idea; and it would save me £12 per month.

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 3167579, member: 259"]This would involve massive nuclear attacks on much of mainland Europe - do the detector van people even have that kind of budget any more?[/QUOTE]

Seeing that mainland Europe doesn't have to pay for receiving BBC material, those in the UK who don't want to pay a license fee yet watch BBC programs can always emigrate.....

 

[Booyaa]

I would not pay a licence fee. I don't find the BBC good at anything in particular, particularly not journalism on unbiased reporting. I only ever really watch the BBC when my friend directs a show on it.

 

[Crankarm]

I think the BBC is fantastic. I would happily sell all my possessions and house to pay the licence fee.

 

[Alien8]

As Father Ted would say - chewing gum for the eyes. So that will be a "no".

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I watch virtually zero broadcast tv as most is total shite. Then again the BBC make the best nature documentaries of anybody just IMVHO. Having said that I would still opt out and not pay it and buy the nature programs via BBC DVD or blu ray boxsets so the BBC would still get some form of payment. Would be nice to have a choice.

 

[Salad Dodger]

On balance, I think I would still pay the fee.

I am a bit of a news junkie, and prefer BBC's coverage - even though it's far from perfect. And I listen to Radios 2 or 4 all the time in the car. I can't stand commercial radio.

 

[mcshroom]

Yes, though as much for the Radio channels as the TV. Also their big dramas (not soaps) tend to be better than most of the commercial offerings IMHO, and you get programmes like the Adventure Show: -


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW9RbrV7PNE


The news tends to be a bit pro-establishment but having seen some of the American networks it is far better balanced than a lot of people give it credit for.

 

[summerdays]

Yes I would pay, 95%+ of what I watch is on BBC, and I find watching the cycling on ITV, I keep noticing how much is adverts! I'd rather pay for continuous TV that isn't drivel (in my opinion of course). The stuff on the other channels if I watch it, I record then fast forward over the ads but it's still annoying.