Licence To Frill? (TV Licence)

Member Name: flutel

Product:	TV Licence
Date:	05/08/09 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Expensive, old fashioned idea, not enough costume dramas in my opinion!

A colour TV licence costs £142.50 this year. A black and white licence costs significantly less. A licence can be bought in a number of ways - a one-off cost which can be paid by post or on-line, direct debit with the cost spread over a year and monthly payments. The licence can be issued by post or by e mail. Once bought, you are issued with a unique licence number on a certificate type licence.


There are a number of conditions attached to a tv licence. These are: you must inform TV Licencing if you move house, the licence only covers the household - children of the household who are students moving away must purchase their own licence, free TV licences are available to the over 75s.


The licence supposedly pays for the quality programming that the BBC creates. The BBC do not use advertising revenue so there are no advert breaks. I'm not sure if this is the wonderful unbroken viewing opportunity that it is made out to be. When training to be a teacher, I was told that students have an attention span of not more than 20 mins and I think that this is true of many of the population. Advert breaks may be not that bad after all. I like to have a break to nip to the loo or the kettle without missing anything and I know I'm not alone in that.


In terms of quality, there are only a few programmes that I rate. The current series of 'The Steet' written by Jimmy McGovern, I believe to be an example of quality. In my opinion, there is not enough of this type of programming. I personally wish there were more costume dramas and adaptations of classics - but then I am quite fond of a frill or two.



It is a cost that I resent paying. Firstly, it is hugely expensive and the cost increases significantly every year. Secondly, there is no choice to opt out of BBC programmes. Thirdly, I think it is a silly old-fashioned idea to have a 'licence' for a machine - a bit like the idea of a dog licence. It is only kept in place because it is a lucrative form of 'tax'.


I worked for the BBC on a number of short contracts some years ago. I was struck by how little diversity there was in the workplace; in a huge workforce there was only one black person, men dominated all of the top jobs and everyone was from a higher socio-economic group. I found it quite depressing and always felt that I was not out of the 'right drawer'. It felt a bit like an elite club - and now I cannot lose the idea that my licence fee continues to support that arrangement. There has been recent noises in the BBC to increase diversity.


In a world of increasing internet access, I feel that the BBC may not be able to completely control who watches their programme. I am pleased that cash-strapped students can avoid a TV licence by only watching i player on their pc's and having no TV.

Personally, I would rather have adverts and no licence fee. I don't think it is value for money.

Summary: You must buy a BBC licence to watch any channel on a TV!