Valid Reasons Why the BBC TV Licence Fee Should be Scrapped
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Having to pay an annual TV licence fee to the BBC is not only morally wrong, but could it also be against the law as a civil rights discrimination issue?
Why should the citizens of the United Kingdom be forced to pay an annual licence fee to watch the BBC, when the rest of Europe can enjoy watching BBC channels for free?
In this day and age it’s totally ridiculous that one single broadcasting company is allowed to charge for the pleasure of watching its programmes when the rest of the TV and radio production companies earn their keep by selling advertising space.
It also seems unimaginable that the U.K. government allows this to continue and will happily prosecute by law anyone caught watching TV without a valid licence. If you live in the U.K. and are poor and can’t afford to buy a TV licence, then you aren’t allowed to watch it. There are many families existing below the poverty line today who have a simple choice – watch TV without a licence and face the consequences or go without proper meals for a few weeks to pay for the TV licence. And government continues to allow this to happen, year after year. It’s wrong to penalise the less well-off in society and deny them a basic pleasure. It’s wrong and unfair of the BBC to expect to be supported by the viewing public. Advertising works and the BBC is well aware of it.
Not only is having to pay the BBC an annual licence fee morally wrong, it’s also wrong from a human rights point of view – U.K. citizens are being discriminated against. Wouldn’t you agree that any Europeans who receive and watch the BBC channels should pay some form of licence fee?
It’s time the TV licence fee was scrapped!
5 Comments
I don’t know about scrapping the license fee. It also pays for the radio stations, and well, I just don’t see Fox news being a provider of an ‘Archers’ alternative.
But certainly food for thought.
Well Bick,
we all know the reason behind this…The government allow it to happen because they’re too busy fiddling their expenses to be bothered with it. What’s a few measly quid stolen from people below the breadline to a few thousand to swell their own quaffers from those very same people…
The strange thing is, our government can happily go along their way knowing full well what they’ve done, with just a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again meanwhile not giving a thought to the TV licence because those people below the breadline are the ones who are probably paying for our Members of Parliament to own a licence too…
Ginky
x
The points you raise are keenly felt in many of the poorer corners of Britain. I have diced with unlicensed viewing in the past myself, the fees are certainly extortionate.
However, when I’m watching Match of the Day I do feel comforted somewhat by the knowledge there will be no advert breaks between matches. Although, this does mean putting up with more Mark Lawrenson than is healthy for a young mind……..
Good piece, I liked it
Well Bick, the confused poem is my day every day, so we have something in common there…
The more I think about this TV licence thing the more I think how wrong it is…
I have to say though, I’m not sure how it works because don’t people who pay for a subscription to sky get BBC included in the package and if so, doesn’t that mean they’re paying twice for the priviledge? I’m not sure about that.
Anyway, thanks for the names, I’m slowly getting there, will pop around the place a little over the weekend and have a nosey… don’t have much time in the week.
Ginky
x
I agree.Using a TV without the correct licence is a criminal offence. If you use a television or other equipment capable of receiving broadcast television programmes – such as a TV-enabled computer – without a licence you could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
To be branded a CRIMINAL for that is disgusting. I have always paid but hated every penny. The no advertisement argument holds no weight either as the BBC spends a significant amount of time promoting itself during the ‘breaks’ between programs. However ,I agree with Mr Williams that some sports programs are better without ad breaks (FI in particular!) – However, that is one hell of a lot of money to pay for that. In the end it is about choice and we are not given the right to exercise it. When it comes to the amount WE pay for the exorbitant salaries of some of the ’stars’ like Jonathan Ross….I could go on. So thanks for writing this piece and instigating this diatribe!