Grow Your Own Magazine

I'm sure I heard the TV licence fee is going up to £130 odd pounds. I hardly watch TV but if I do it usually is the BBC but I think that's just because I know what time the news etc is on. I'm just wondering if this licence fee is any kind of value for money from the BBC. There are plenty of other channels. So, what do other grapes think. Is this just a tax on having a TV or an investment in first rate broadcasting. And if so, what can we do about it.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Alice
I think it's simply that if you don't have a tv licence, then you can't watch any of the other channels!
Ch 1, 2& 4 are the most worn out buttons on my zapper , and I always seem to be watching BBC nature programs sold to other channels.
I HATE adverts ( stick out tongue with a frown smile.....)
I have to pay nearly £60 a month just to be able to watch other channels with natural history/cooking/archaeology/science/french programmes anyway....on Sky!
In comparison, I think the fee is reasonable, and would be happy to pay more- as long as the £ is going on programmes and not huge salaries!!
Every one to their own of course!!

I concur Nicos, I have sky plus for the rugby and cooking progs and pay £58 a month. On some of the channels the adverts are so bad we always watch the programs after they have been on so we can fast forward.

Personally I think the BBC is going too far away from its core remit of providing quality programmes by trying to get involved with video on demand etc but nethertheless is still the Gold standard of television worldwide and should be protected.

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Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated lots - Sunday 28th at 1640hrs

Please don't forget that anything you buy which is advertised on tv has the cost of advertising incorportated into the price. I object to paying extra for channels which receive funding from advertising which is why we went for a freeview box. Don't get as many channels, but do find 24 hour news and UK TV History interesting. Mostly don't watch much tv anyway, but £150 pa is only £3 per week. If only I could believe that the BBC was free from governmental control!!

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

Don't watch much TV, work full time and evening programmes seem designed to send one to sleep. Exception is Friday evenings when we are supposed to have gardening or wildlife progs on BBC2, I suppose when you work it out the license fee isn't too bad, just about £2. 50 a week, but why should we have to pay the BBC so we can use our televisions, after all some people never watch the BBC programmes.

You don't, strictly speaking you buy a licence for recieving equipment ( Wireless telegraphy act 1941 I think) and this funds the BBC. If they did away with the funding you'd end up paying £5 per week for the BBC and £130+ per year to that tight fisted scottish son of a milkman @ No.11. Do you honestly think they would give up another "tax"

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I wonder when they will bring back the "window" tax or "hearth" tax they had years ago! DDL

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

It's the tax on nookie that's worrying me!!
~then there's the ones on breathing and thinking - should be fun!

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

I think the 5% tax on gas and electricity is already a hearth tax in all but name only. Thats why we try to only use wood for heating.

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Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated lots - Sunday 28th at 1640hrs

Love the description of the Chancellor, Nick. I know what you mean about taxes though - they keep on about the harm that tobacco and alcohol do to people, but they won't make them illegal because they get so much revenue from the tax.

We have to pay for Sky as a wind farm blocked out our terrestial. I bet the government didn't think about that when they granted it permission.

Hi
I've got a television but only use it for video and DVD watching. After a long to and fro managed to convice the Licence people I wasn't able to actually view any live programmes and after that they stopped bothering me for the fee.
I'm quite happy without one and if there's anything I really want to see like Bleak House, I can rent the DVD
I never watched it much anyway, hated the adverts and inane and repeated links so much preferred to save the money. It does mean I'm hopeless when it comes to discussions on the latest in Big Brother etc but quite like being out of this particular loop.
Sue

I think the Council Tax is a window tax in all but name.


"Love the description of the Chancellor, Nick."

Sorry Nick, I didn't love the description of the Chancellor. I can't see what his Scottish origins or fathers occupation has to do with anything.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

As there is so much rubbish on TV I was wondering what's the cost (if you can still get one) of a radio only licence?

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Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

I'd complain to the local planning officer ...... hang on, isn't that.......

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

We here in Ireland pay 150Euro per year for our liscence which is about £120. For this we get BBC1 and 2, UTV, Channel 4 and Channel 6. We also have 3 homegrown stations,RTE1 and 2 and TV3 and one irish speaking station.
We pay 35Euro monthly to Sky and get ALL the digital stations.

You don't need a radio licence these days Digger-07, just tune in and turn on. Personally I could live without TV but really value my radio. Only problem is they are going digital to and you will have to get one of those DAB things that fizz and crackle and cut out ever so often.

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

It was the Scottish Ministers (or the then Minister for Scotland) otherwise I would have committed a nasty deed - like wrung his neck!

Thanks Madderbat, Maybe I can wean the OH off the TV drama (and casualty) get some proper entertainment, or even the radio. I hope the DAB thing warms up quicker than the old valve set.

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Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

I just wish they would get their act together. I got terrible reception in my kitchen, so treated us to a DAB radio last Christmas, which is great - in part. Trouble is, just when Radioo 4 gets to an interesting bit it starts burbling and then sometimes cuts out. b***dy annoying I can tell you. I am assured that once they get the signals sorted out things will be better.

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

Maybe you need another shilling in the meter.

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Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

It may well be a legal requirement to have a TV license but if you have sky you are paying twice. Does not make a lot of sense to me but then no one said it was fair!!
I cancelled Sky after my sons moved out, it was not easy, there should be classes in sky cancelling. But I do get a lot more done now .