Is it worth it?

[MarkyMark76]

The BBC was once regarded as a great British Institute and provided some great quality programming. Is it still worth the 120 odd bucks that they ask for as a licence fee?

I appreciate that local radio is also funded by the licence fee, but would it be missed?

Should the BBC look to have advertising? Is the idea that you are forced to pay for something you may not necessarily want or need archaic?

[Mark]

Good to have tv without adverts IMHO. Though some of the programmes are rubbish. Also have sky, but do watch a lot of BBC as well.

[bradders]

Originally posted by vman1000cc
All gonna change in a few years anyway, when the switch EVERYONE to digital, you will be able to choose what channels you want and dont want...

Bye Bye BBC...

still have to pay the fee tho:(

[rcgbob44]

I personally do not think we should pay for a TV licence when its only in support of one channel and many people watch sky etc and do not watch the beeb!

[chris.p]

Why do we have to pay for SKY when it has more adverts than ITV etc:mad:



Chris.:roll:

[pedro]

sky,you carnt go wrong!

[Ray]

BBC + an old free to air Dish setup for Eurosport.

£360 a year for SKY? no thanks I can see it for free out the window thanks!!

Ray

[antonye]

I pay £40 per month for the full Sky package as we just can't get out to the cinema these days with the two young kids, and being able to watch a fairly recent movie when I want is a godsend!

I really can't stand the daily routine of repeats on the BBC, but it does produce some quality programs at times. The Euro 2004 coverage was good, but the same matches shown on ITV? What is that all about? And how about the constant rip-off of ITV shows (like Pop Stars = Lame Academy) ? Plus they have adverts on the BBC anyway - how many times have you watched a program only to see a plug for a BBC magazine, book or video/dvd that is "now available"?

The BBC are also losing the race to other channels when it comes to getting imported programs - "24" on Sky One is a prime example. The Simpsons went the same way, although it doesn't stop the BBC showing the same few episodes it still has rights to over and over again!

The licence fee gets diverted into too many other mediums which anyone can receive whether they pay the licence fee or not - radio, website, advertising, concerts, funding for films, etc - all this comes from the licence fee.

I think the way to go is to regulate the spending at the BBC much more and cut-back on the waste, especially the ludicrous salaries that some of the so called "stars" of the channels get paid. Freezing the cost of the licence for the next five years or so would mean a reduction in real terms and this may make the BBC refocus on where they need to cut back.

Just some thoughts...

[Felix]

Oh, Ray, you're a bl@@dy Yorkshireman, arn't you!

[Mark]

Ground Force, now that is a quality product from the BBC, and with the Archers.

I was fuming about 24, I'm hooked on it from episode 1 series 1. Loved Sunday evenings, bottle wine, and 45 mins of gripping tv. No adverts, and if you wanted, click on to BBC3, was Choice and watch the next weeks show if you wanted. No adverts, nothing.

Now i see bbc are dropping WSBK. Not that i watched it on BBC, or Moto GP, watch it on Eurosport. I mean, James bloody boring Haydon says it all!!!

:flame::flame::flame::flame::flame::flame:

I fell much better now, i can see the wonderful fields, flowing in the wind, the flowers and the butter flies, the odd dragon fly passes by............

[Jools]

I got a telly again recently after not having one out of choice for 3 years. It's depressing.

I can only get terrestrial channels, due to a pi55 poor signal stopping me getting free to air digital, living in a place where NTL won't run a cable, and having trees with preservation orders on them stopping a dish getting a clear view of the southern sky to get Sky.

All that seems to be on terrestrial channels these days is non-stop soaps (ITV seems to run Corrie all night every night), ludicrous game shows, repeats of US sitcoms (does C4 ever show anything except re-runs of Friends?).

Then there are programs for the brain dead - endless reworkings of the 'fly-on-the-wall' documentary where cameras follow a group of medical students, vets, RAF pilots, army recruits, sewage workers or whatever.

Then there is the totally contrived 'reality' stuff. Wife Swap? Oh...peerleeeez and the abysmal Big Brother...God how I hate that.

Then, you've got programs for hopeless people who can't do anything for themselves (it seems) without calling in the TV experts. Endless variations of Ground Force to tell you how to lay slabs and gravel, Changing Rooms to show you how to use MDF, Location, Location, Location if you're to stupid to find your own house, Supernanny if you're too wet to bring kids up properly, "You are what you eat" if you're too thick to understand that a diet of Cola and Chips will make you a lardarse....There are even a couple of old hags running round telling people how to clean their bog and put rubbish in bins instead of throwing it round the house

Then of course a load of re-runs of clapped out old comedy 'classics', some of which (Yes Minister, The Good Life, whatever that crap with Hyacinth Bucket was called) were complete shite in the first place and even the best of them like Porridge, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses don't bear watching 30,000 times over...

Oh good grief....does anyone want a 6 month old Telly?

[Edited on 14-7-2004 by Jools]

[Steve M]

Feel better now Jools having got that off your chest?:lol::lol::lol:

Sure made me laugh, nice one.