Time to scrap the TV licence fee ?

[joe_bloggs*]

Plans to decriminalise the non-payment of the TV licence fee are being considered by government departments in a move designed to ease pressure on the courts,

Offenders at present face a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as the prospect of jail if fines are not paid. More than 180,000 people appeared in court last year after being accused of not paying the £145.50 fee – accounting for over one in 10 of all criminal prosecutions. Of those, 155,000 were convicted and fined.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who is spearheading Commons efforts to change the law, said for some cash-strapped families the current law was "criminalising them for being poor".

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/08/tv-licence-fee-decriminalise-miller-bbc

Of course if you do not watch or record Live tv you don't need a licence

[electric*mayhem*band]

Due to the number of repeats, I am seriously considering asking the BBC if they will consider accepting last year's TV licence, in lieu of my forthcoming (April) one.

[bankhaunter]

Given the way that TV programmes are made and delivered to the public these days, the fact viewing without a licence is a criminal act, is as archaic as being sent to prison for debt.

However the licence will be scrapped and will be replaced by a tax on internet connections as soon as a goverment will think they will get away with it.

That's my prediction.

[sir_arthur_strebe-grebling]

Why should I have to pay a TV tax to fund the loony lefties at the BBC, the broadcasting wing of the Labour Party?

[joe_bloggs*]

Don't pay it on principle then

[blackburn_stevie]

I know one thing for an absolute fact.

If a TV manufacturer comes up with a TV that simply cannot receive any BBC channels, they'll make a killing.

[5129frederick]

Ssshhhh!  Don't tell anybody this, but if you turn on your television it will work whether you have a licence or not!    Many people prove it works.  If you're a big enough a dummy to buy one in the first place, they've got all your details.  If you've got a satellite dish outside your sittingroom window then you're asking for it.  A £1000.00 fine or jail or BOTH

Here's a direct challenge to the television licencing authorities, under the freedom of information act:

Of the 155,000 convicted and fined HOW MANY PICKED UP THE MAXIMUM £1000.00???

IT'S ABSOLUTE BUNKOM - IT'S JUST A GAME OF BLUFF, as are the shock/horror! if you avoid paying your tube fare money you too will end up with a £1000.00 fine and a criminal record.  Let's hear it from them, on this thread.

Our company employed people with criminal records - it depended on the circumstances.  If it was in connection with political demonstrations it meant nothing.  It is so easy to pick up a criminal record these days, there's no stigma attached to it.  Drunk and disorderly,  drug abuse, driving without insurance.  Receiving stolen propety.  Good grief, the list is endless.  I wouldn't have any qualms about associating with any of those mentioned above.      

[joe_bloggs*]

What a lot of people are now doing is buying an android TV box,downloading XBMC onto it as well as a few "add ons" this allows them to watch unlimited films and documentaries,so saving on a tv licence fee,I bought a box a while ago for fifty quid,best buy in a long time,when my grandson comes to visit we just search for any kids films for him to watch,keeps him quiet while he eats his sunday dinner!

[*.*..lola..*.*]

I agree with Stevie - I rarely watch BBC and if I could choose between buying a licence and not having access to BBC TV and radio, I would choose the latter everytime.

I really, REALLY resent being forced to pay for something that is effectively OPTIONAL grrr!!!

[tommy.irene]

In most parts of Spain people dont get BBC or ITV programes and have lernt to live without it.. The only way i can get BBC is down the internet ..

[rose2008-2008]

As someone mentioned above,, i am sick and tired of paying V***N for their C**P service. EXTORTIONISM. They want more money and the channels just churning out endless repeats!!!!!!. All the satellite terrestrial channels have new things on here and there but you get extra channels thinking their going to be different. THEIR JUST THE SAME. Repeats,repeats repeats. I have complained to several channels for putting on series and stopping them halfway through. They say its lack of funding!!!!. WE PAY OUR LICENSE. Something should be done about it. We should not have to pay ANYTHING. They give nothing in return.

[spawnjohnuk]

How did a company end up entangled with the law and prison offence in the first place ? I always wondered that one .

I agree with bank that the plan is to tax or licence internet connections instead.

[blackburn_stevie]

Is there anybody that doesn't know how to watch free films?

Not BBC, or Sky.

If you want to know, just PM me for the info.

[blackburn_stevie]

Well, nobody contacted me so I guess nobody wanted to watch free films.

EIther that or you all know already.

[lhasa.two]

Are your 'free' films legal?

[blackburn_stevie]

Honestly, (Injured look) do I look like the kind of person that would offer iffy info to the good folk of the RT?

Of course it's legal.

[al**bear]

The Licence fee is worth every penn

(though People on Benefits and OAPs shouldn't have to pay the full amount)

No adverts and a wide range of programmes, just look at the state of the fodder spewed out by ITV, Channel 5 and Channel 4

[blackburn_stevie]

Al ..... You've hit on a point that somebody asked me about just after it was revealed how much Johnathon Ross andRussell  Brand were paid by the Beeb!!  The question asked was this in a nutshell, If they were paid £1,000,000 for a show shown on the BBC  BY the BBC on another channel, DAVE for example, was the BBC paid a lump sum by DAVE to off-set that initial £1,000,000 fee paid?

I didn't know the answer then and I still don't

[sir_arthur_strebe-grebling]

---

@al**bear wrote:

The Licence fee is worth every penn

(though People on Benefits and OAPs shouldn't have to pay the full amount)

No adverts and a wide range of programmes, just look at the state of the fodder spewed out by ITV, Channel 5 and Channel 4

---

I am sick of hearing that the BBC has 'no adverts'. Before and after every programme they show several adverts, for other programmes, or how to pay the TV tax, but strangely they never advertise how much they're paying themselves, how to complain about their relentless left-wing propaganda, or indeed why they fill the magistrates courts with prosecuting poor people.

[lhasa.two]

 I think it should be decriminalised and made a civil offence, much like utilities if they are not paid.

Quote from a director of the BBC in the Guardian this morning:

"The key question we need to think about is how do you persuade people to pay for something you can't stop them receiving. "

I LOVE the BBC for all it's idiosyncratic ways. Overall the quality of programming is fantastic compared to many other stations. It's acknowledged around the world for its quality news reporting among other programmes - ok I do think some issues go unreported and the bias sometimes shows these days but overall I would tend to believe the news reporting from the Beeb more than any other station. Their Live coverage of Ukraine was pretty good.  

Try living abroad and note the difference and quality of TV in your host country, I can assure you from what I've seen over the years it's generally abysmal.  Even the US PBS is way behind on its programming and buys progs from the Beeb!