Public survey: 40 per cent think BBC license fee is good value

[spacein_vader]

Nice positive title. Shouldn't it be "60% per cent think that the BBC licence fee is another form of tax, forced onto people, by a virtually criminal government!"?

Yes, that's a much more balanced title.

[Saracen]

The Brittish are not the smartest bunch when it comes to polls.

52% (in round figures) are.

[ik9000]

52% (in round figures) are not.

corrected that for you, as the farce rolls on I'm amazed people are still claiming that vote to be a good decision.

[Saracen]

corrected that for you, as the farce rolls on I'm amazed people are still claiming that vote to be a good decision.

Just because politicians can't get their act together and organise a boose-up in a brewery doesn't invalidate the decision of the people. I'm amazed that some people haven't yet reconciled to the fact that we're leaving.

But, let me ask a question .... do we REALLY want to rehash all the arguments again? It seems you've not changed your mind, and I certainly haven't.

[ik9000]

But, let me ask a question .... do we REALLY want to rehash all the arguments again? It seems you've not changed your mind, and I certainly haven't.

well I have changed my mind. At first I thought maybe some good might come of it. Now I'm fairly certain nothing good will come of it. But no, there is no point repeating the debate, but I disagree with your comment that 52% made a good decision. Economic ruin and international belittlement, plus the power grabbing for further devolution were not the misguided reasons people selected for voting leave, but that is what the outcome will be - for all of us.

[Saracen]

well I have changed my mind. At first I thought maybe some good might come of it. Now I'm fairly certain nothing good will come of it. But no, there is no point repeating the debate, but I disagree with your comment that 52% made a good decision. Economic ruin and international belittlement, plus the power grabbing for further devolution were not the misguided reasons people selected for voting leave, but that is what the outcome will be - for all of us.

At risk of rehashing, I'd point out the possibility that those in prominent positions, in both politics and media, predicting doom and devastation are likely to be those that, a) didn't want to leave, and b) are now trying to water down what leave means, as far as leaving while remaining in everything that matters, if they get their way.

As far as I'm concerned, and I'd be interesting in your basis for disputing this, if indeed you do .... nobody knows what the future holds. And I mean, NOBODY.

Will there be some short-term disruption in leaving? Perhaps, maybe probably. But how big, and for how long, nobody knows. We're told trade with the EU will be hit hard. Again, maybe. But if do, it'll hit both sides. So both sides have good reason to reach a pragmatic soluution, despite all the posturing currently going on as part of the negotiation.

We're told a "no deal" is a cliff-edge disaster. Well, Barnier would like us all to accept that, becsuse it makes his position stronger. Yet, even today, Iceland's foreign minister raised the possibility of a UK fast-track re-entry into EFTA. After all, we were a founder member. Why? Because the uK then gains immediate access to 27 free trade agreenents with 38 partner countries, and the EFTA members gain beneficial access to the UK, whichnis still one of the largest economies in the world, and EFTA as a group would gain clout on the world stage with the added heft of the UK indide it.

It serms to me that all the Cassandra voices are playing up the year or three after we leave where, yes, there's a credible risk of negative impact. But, Brexit is not about a year or three, but rather, about the next several decades. And, we may yet reach a mutually beneficial relationship with the EU, and either strike the fast deals countries like Australia (even if you discount Trump's comments about the US) say they want, or join a body like EFTA. Or both.


Yes, there's a risk of Brexit having a serious negative impact, but there's also a chance of it being seriously positive, snd nobody knows.

Also, of course, it's about more than just trade, or the economy, important though that is.

[Corky34]

Not another Brexit debate please.

[aidanjt]

Economic ruin and international belittlement

Economic ruin is a bit of an exaggeration. Britain was a bombed out (literally and economically) ruin after WWII, but bounced back relatively quickly. This is just leaving an economic bloc turned into an authoritarian political union. There might be a bit of upheaval during the transition, but that'll settle with the dust. And of course most of the former colonies are delighted that they're going to be able to resume direct ties with Britain. Many more countries are going to follow suit considering Britain is the 7th largest economy in the world. The only 'international belittlement' going on is coming from the EU power players because they're butthurt that they're losing one of the few net-contributing states they have. Not that they weren't belittling Britain beforehand because of Britain obstructing their illiberal plans.

[Dashers]

It is really good value for money, when you consider it's more than just the two channels (that produce original content). It's probably worth that alone in the amount of time I spent on the BBC News website!

The TV license probably should get bundled up into income tax to make it more progressive. Access to BBC content should be a right for all members of society, not just those who can afford the license. Sure you need a TV too, but you can get those for less than the license!

[vicar]

People should have the option of subscribing to the BBC, like any other media provider.

[devBunny]

This leads to some nasty letters from <TV Licensing>. It's almost like a criminal organisation bullying people!

I find that they're only nasty if you open them and read them. I treat mine as if they have this printed on the outside: "TV Licensing. Please help us recycle this paper"

[shaithis]

I'd have no issue with the license fee if ALL programs were kept on iPlayer all the time.

Move with the times or stop holding me ransom.

[spacein_vader]

I'd have no issue with the license fee if ALL programs were kept on iPlayer all the time.

Move with the times or stop holding me ransom.

If it's programmes made by a 3rd party they probably don't have the rights, much as the Premier League won't let them leave Match of the Day on as their agreement with Sky/BT gives them the rights over the longer period.

For their own stuff that makes sense, assuming they haven't sold the rebroadcasting rights on to somewhere like Dave.