I heard it announced on the news this morning that the T.V. Licence Fee is to be done away with. About time too, I hear you say.
End of the licence fee: BBC to back radical overhaul of how Corporation is funded - TV & Radio - Media - The Independent
However, there are a couple of 'Buts'...
First, this doesn't mean an end to paying what I consider to be an enforced tax paid to an illegal Monopoly, rather than a change to what it's called & how the funding is gathered. Instead of paying for a licence it means that all households will have to pay a 'levy', whether they have a television or not. I imagine that in theory this should make the actual cost less for the average user, as it would mean the overall share of the cost would be less, and the cost of detecting & prosecuting non-licence payers would be obsolete. However, in reality I doubt the savings would be passed on to the end user at all.
I do see some advantages, though. Depending on how it's administered, it could end up being means tested because as things are, proportionately speaking, those who can least afford it, as usual are paying most.
It also specifies a 'Household Levy'. Would this mean that Business Premises would be exempt?
The other big 'But', though, is that the plan is not likely to take effect for at least another 10 years, so best not consider cancelling your Direct Debits just yet.
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
The news item is a BBC announcement of its own proposal "paving the way for the end of the current system of funding the state broadcaster", it's not an announcement of the end of the TV licence at all. The BBC is incapable of making such a decision, it's a government matter.
If this becomes a tax which cannot be opted out of then I, for one, shall be annoyed. I opt out of the current licence fee. I have no TV, I have blocked access to the live internet broadcast on my router and consequently, under the current law, I need no licence. If the rules change to say that I must pay, despite my continuing refusal to possess a TV, I may even write to my MP about the injustice, even though by the time it starts I'll be age-exempt.
There's a relevant comment below the article:Article heading reads: 'END OF THE LICENSE FEE'
Heading should read: 'BBC TO BACK UNIVERSAL LEVY'Quite so.
If this becomes a tax which cannot be opted out of then I, for one, shall be annoyed. I opt out of the current licence fee. I have no TV, I have blocked access to the live internet broadcast on my router and consequently, under the current law, I need no licence. If the rules change to say that I must pay, despite my continuing refusal to possess a TV, I may even write to my MP about the injustice, even though by the time it starts I'll be age-exempt.
There's a relevant comment below the article:Article heading reads: 'END OF THE LICENSE FEE'
Heading should read: 'BBC TO BACK UNIVERSAL LEVY'Quite so.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
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AnneBoleyn
- Posts: 6631
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End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
When I lived in England, I always found creepy when trucks would roll by at night with big antennas, or whatever, on their roofs, hunting for those evading the license fee.
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
AnneBoleyn;1475060 wrote: When I lived in England, I always found creepy when trucks would roll by at night with big antennas, or whatever, on their roofs, hunting for those evading the license fee.
I understand they were phony.
They appeared in an area and everybody rushed out to buy a licence, thinking they might be detected, the antennas were just for show.
The BBC in my opinion is worth a lot more than a measly 3 quid a week per household.
What on earth can you buy with £3 these days ?
I understand they were phony.
They appeared in an area and everybody rushed out to buy a licence, thinking they might be detected, the antennas were just for show.
The BBC in my opinion is worth a lot more than a measly 3 quid a week per household.
What on earth can you buy with £3 these days ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
How does this work? Do you folks pay the government like I pay dish or comcast?
I expressly forbid the use of any of my posts anywhere outside of FG (with the exception of the incredibly witty 'get a room already' )posted recently.
Folks who'd like to copy my intellectual work should expect to pay me for it.:-6
Folks who'd like to copy my intellectual work should expect to pay me for it.:-6
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
flopstock;1475090 wrote: How does this work? Do you folks pay the government like I pay dish or comcast?
As best I understand it, the licence fee is collected by and for the BBC with no government handling at all. If it were collected by the government then the BBC would never see it, no government tax is ring-fenced for the nominal purpose for which it was collected. The road tax doesn't go toward the roads, the state pension contributions don't go toward the state pension, it all melts into the one pot and services interest payments on government debt. The reason we have a BBC is that they get to collect their dues themselves.
As best I understand it, the licence fee is collected by and for the BBC with no government handling at all. If it were collected by the government then the BBC would never see it, no government tax is ring-fenced for the nominal purpose for which it was collected. The road tax doesn't go toward the roads, the state pension contributions don't go toward the state pension, it all melts into the one pot and services interest payments on government debt. The reason we have a BBC is that they get to collect their dues themselves.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
flopstock;1475090 wrote: How does this work? Do you folks pay the government like I pay dish or comcast?
Exactly what spot said, and I expect most of the rest of the world gets to see some truly good BBC TV programmes.
I like BBC because it carries no advertising, other than pushing it's own schedule.
Exactly what spot said, and I expect most of the rest of the world gets to see some truly good BBC TV programmes.
I like BBC because it carries no advertising, other than pushing it's own schedule.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
spot;1475098 wrote: As best I understand it, the licence fee is collected by and for the BBC with no government handling at all. If it were collected by the government then the BBC would never see it, no government tax is ring-fenced for the nominal purpose for which it was collected. The road tax doesn't go toward the roads, the state pension contributions don't go toward the state pension, it all melts into the one pot and services interest payments on government debt. The reason we have a BBC is that they get to collect their dues themselves.
It was collected by the Government until fairly recently (1991 I believe), when the responsibility of gathering it went to the BBC.
Television licensing in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The thing is that the vast majority of TV channels available in the UK are independantly funded either by commercials and/or subscription, but it is only the BBC that benefits. There is no choice available for provider, which I see as being contrary to the Monopolies laws.
The BBC claim to be non commercial, yet they are a primary shareholder in UKTV, which consists of both Commercial & Subscription channels, made up almost entirely of programmes which have been made by the BBC at the expense of the Licence Payer.
As for reaching the age at which you're going to be exempt - don't be so sure about that either. Cameron's been making promises that the TV Licence, Winter Fuel Allowance & Bus Passes won't be made Means Tested. And you know what that means...
BBC News - No means testing for pensioner benefits - David Cameron
It was collected by the Government until fairly recently (1991 I believe), when the responsibility of gathering it went to the BBC.
Television licensing in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The thing is that the vast majority of TV channels available in the UK are independantly funded either by commercials and/or subscription, but it is only the BBC that benefits. There is no choice available for provider, which I see as being contrary to the Monopolies laws.
The BBC claim to be non commercial, yet they are a primary shareholder in UKTV, which consists of both Commercial & Subscription channels, made up almost entirely of programmes which have been made by the BBC at the expense of the Licence Payer.
As for reaching the age at which you're going to be exempt - don't be so sure about that either. Cameron's been making promises that the TV Licence, Winter Fuel Allowance & Bus Passes won't be made Means Tested. And you know what that means...
BBC News - No means testing for pensioner benefits - David Cameron
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
Don't think the BBC is claiming to be non commercial these days, the following from your link shows on top of licence income another one and a third billion on top.
The total income from licence fees was £3.7261 billion in 2013–14 of which 607.8 million or 16.3% was provided by the Government through concessions for those over the age of 75. Thus, the licence fee made up the bulk of the BBC's total income of £5.066 billion in 2013–2014.
The BBC export of TV shows is a big earner for the country and subsidises the service.
The total income from licence fees was £3.7261 billion in 2013–14 of which 607.8 million or 16.3% was provided by the Government through concessions for those over the age of 75. Thus, the licence fee made up the bulk of the BBC's total income of £5.066 billion in 2013–2014.
The BBC export of TV shows is a big earner for the country and subsidises the service.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
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AnneBoleyn
- Posts: 6631
- Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:17 pm
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
Bruv;1475111 wrote: Don't think the BBC is claiming to be non commercial these days, the following from your link shows on top of licence income another one and a third billion on top.
The BBC export of TV shows is a big earner for the country and subsidises the service.
I watch BBC America & PBS, which features BBC A LOT! I'm so grateful. Love BBC!
The BBC export of TV shows is a big earner for the country and subsidises the service.
I watch BBC America & PBS, which features BBC A LOT! I'm so grateful. Love BBC!
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
AnneBoleyn;1475114 wrote: I watch BBC America & PBS, which features BBC A LOT! I'm so grateful. Love BBC!
So do I, it comes in second to the National Health service as a uniquely British institution worth being proud of
So do I, it comes in second to the National Health service as a uniquely British institution worth being proud of
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
Bruv;1475118 wrote: So do I, it comes in second to the National Health service as a uniquely British institution worth being proud of
Only if sherlock and doc martin come back
Only if sherlock and doc martin come back
I expressly forbid the use of any of my posts anywhere outside of FG (with the exception of the incredibly witty 'get a room already' )posted recently.
Folks who'd like to copy my intellectual work should expect to pay me for it.:-6
Folks who'd like to copy my intellectual work should expect to pay me for it.:-6
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
Bruv;1475111 wrote: Don't think the BBC is claiming to be non commercial these days, the following from your link shows on top of licence income another one and a third billion on top.
The BBC export of TV shows is a big earner for the country and subsidises the service.
I have no problem with the BBC exporting programmes. What I object to is their being the owners of UK subscription & commercial channels where I am expected to pay subscriptions & watch commercials in order to watch repeats of programmes for which my Licence Fee has already paid for. Furthermore, you will notice that in such programmes as QI, Mock The Week & Have I Got News For You there are frequently quips about viewers watching the programme on Dave, indicating that the programmes are being made with that market in mind from the start.
The BBC export of TV shows is a big earner for the country and subsidises the service.
I have no problem with the BBC exporting programmes. What I object to is their being the owners of UK subscription & commercial channels where I am expected to pay subscriptions & watch commercials in order to watch repeats of programmes for which my Licence Fee has already paid for. Furthermore, you will notice that in such programmes as QI, Mock The Week & Have I Got News For You there are frequently quips about viewers watching the programme on Dave, indicating that the programmes are being made with that market in mind from the start.
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
FourPart;1475109 wrote: It was collected by the Government until fairly recently (1991 I believe), when the responsibility of gathering it went to the BBC.
If you go back just another twenty years we had a radio licence[1] too. I was describing the current position, not the history of state broadcasting.
[1] It ended up costing 25 shillings, and was abolished when we decimalized, and had nothing to do with the BBC. The TV licence is being destroyed by the rise of the Internet just as the radio licence was destroyed by the rise of the trannies.
If you go back just another twenty years we had a radio licence[1] too. I was describing the current position, not the history of state broadcasting.
[1] It ended up costing 25 shillings, and was abolished when we decimalized, and had nothing to do with the BBC. The TV licence is being destroyed by the rise of the Internet just as the radio licence was destroyed by the rise of the trannies.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
End Of T.V. Licence Fee... But...
FourPart;1475143 wrote: I have no problem with the BBC exporting programmes. What I object to is their being the owners of UK subscription & commercial channels where I am expected to pay subscriptions & watch commercials in order to watch repeats of programmes for which my Licence Fee has already paid for. Furthermore, you will notice that in such programmes as QI, Mock The Week & Have I Got News For You there are frequently quips about viewers watching the programme on Dave, indicating that the programmes are being made with that market in mind from the start.
You are not EXPECTED to pay subscriptions, you have the option if you so want to pay to view previously seen programming.
By the same logic, would you object to the BBC's DVDs and Box sets making money and so lower your Licence fee?
Comedy shows often quip about football match or election results by the time that weeks repeat is shown, what that indicates is that they are comedy programmes living in the real world.
You are not EXPECTED to pay subscriptions, you have the option if you so want to pay to view previously seen programming.
By the same logic, would you object to the BBC's DVDs and Box sets making money and so lower your Licence fee?
Comedy shows often quip about football match or election results by the time that weeks repeat is shown, what that indicates is that they are comedy programmes living in the real world.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth