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[Ass of Can Whooping]

hilarious

I still have some of those enfrorcement letters somewhere. No hyberbole you'd think they were phishing letters with how threatening they are.

 

[poppabk]

The TV licence is a fucking joke. The prospect of paying it is even more ridiculous these days with streaming. It's more relevant to consider getting rid of, not find ways to keep it. The BBC should be standing on their own two feet.

Yeah just let them have ads at this point, it would be a shame to lose things like the world service and esoteric shows that could never be made if they had to match audience to cost - but the license fee is just a tax on the honest.

 

[Putonahappyface]

And me, haven't paid it in years

Cancelled mine in December and immediately pulled the tv cable out from the wall. No regrets.

 

[Tams]

They send me shit 3x a month in the mail. It's always addressed to the "legal occupier" because they don't have my details, and never will.

It threatens visits from the police, "enforcement agents", court action etc. I was going to make a thread about it ages ago.

They've had their boss of my region ready to kick my door down any day for decades.

Funnily enough, it's the game guy all over the UK! The man, the myth, the legend - Scott Robson!



They also love to spread FUD that sadly works on stupid, elderly and vulnerable people like how they have magic "detector vans" with super magic technology that will scan through your house and show them what you're watching on TV.

Stupid fucken cunts acting like Bob Lazar was working for them.

They used to look like the Dr Who props department did them up:

Now they look like a special school's minibus on an outing:

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I live in Washington and I watch CBC for the hockey. I only have cable for hockey. My wife was asking if we could cut the cord. The problem is I can't get the Canucks if I do. This season, I am completing cutting the cord over cutting my qrists over how terribley inconsistent the Canucks have been this year. Took much f'ing primadonna drama...

Just get a streaming box, pay $10-15/mth and get everything you can imagine. I did. Of course to max out savings, you can get a box and do your own plex and searching shit for free channel service. I dont have the interest to do that, so I just signed up to a store's shady service and everything is there.

But before that I had cable TV, prices kept going up, they didnt want to give me a break when I tried wheeling and dealing with them if I can just stick with the promo price. Spoke to 3 people, nada. They knocked off..... $5. So I said forget it, bumped up my monthly price by $30 so I said fuck it.

Best decision I made. Also got rid of matching internet service and go with an independent last miler. Same internet to me. Costs $30 less too.

Then maybe 3 weeks later, I get a knock on my door and it's Rogers door to door assholes trying to sell me service back with promos. Where the fuck were these deals on the phone and live chat? I even told the guy (not his fault), if your company's CSR just matched my promo price, I would had been lazy and just stuck with your company instead of going through the hassle of signing up elsewhere and returning the Rogers gear to the nearest store.

If you just wanna stream some internet feeds, go to Reddit NHL Bites. When I'm on my laptop and dont want to dick around flipping TV channels on my box, I do NHL or NBA Bites on a smaller window.

As for youre Canucks, WTF. They might not even make the playoffs. Nobody has a clear picture what the Petey and JT drama is aside from speculation they are butting heads as JT is pissing off people in the locker room as usual and Petey is involved. One loud guy vs one soft guy. Two centres. Two point producers. Bound to be conflict.

 

[calistan]

The BBC is kind of okay, it still makes a lot of stuff that couldn't be done in a commercial environment. I'd rather spend my money on Netflix though.

The thing I really dislike about the Beeb is that in recent years they've DEI'd all their announcer jobs to people with thick regional accents. Speak the King's English or get thee to Channel 5.

 

[Makoto-Yuki]

They can go and take a flying fuck to themselves. I only watch BBC iPlayer for the odd TV show. Don't even have an aerial in my TV.

TV license is a rip off.

They should offer a subscription for anyone who wants to watch/listen to BBC.

What they'll probably do is raise taxes and force people to pay for it that way.

 

[thefool]

I'm more annoyed about playing for Sky when the football that they used to have a monopoly on is spread between 3 companies now, so I miss a lot of games a week

There are alternatives.

 

[Dr.D00p]

I haven't paid the licence fee in 6yrs.

Their service is completely unnecessary in the streaming age.

Anyway, this will not happen, lots of stuff gets floated to avoid scrapping the fee at the national level but always gets put off for another time.

 

[Artoris]

Sooner BBC gets closed down the better it's a lost cause

 

[Mistake]

Japan does a similar thing with the NHK. Still weird

 

[fran.fernandez]

In Japan we pay if we have a tv , doesn't matter if is all day off or even broke

 

[Kenneth Haight]

Fuck the BBC apart from Attenborough

 

[StabbyStabStabStabStab]

I read somewhere that the government pays people to drive around and try to find people who are watching TV without a license so they can fine them. Is that actually true?

Indeed - in vehicles that look like they'd been rejected from a Doctor Who set, full of detecting equipment and cables in the back which purportedly don't actually work (i.e. they're just for show to SHIT YOU UP).

 

[ValiantTraveler]

Imagine living in a country that does this. LOL

 

[lee50_10]

 

[Dr.Morris79]

No regrets.

Same here, I would kick up more of a stink if there was anything even worth watching on there for a start..

As for their News, Jesus, a total cess pit. I'll never pay for it again. Not fit for purpose and a totally corrupted organisation.

I'm surprised as many people are paying for it.

 

[ReBurn]

Indeed - in vehicles that look like they'd been rejected from a Doctor Who set, full of detecting equipment and cables in the back which purportedly don't actually work (i.e. they're just for show to SHIT YOU UP).

Not gonna lie I want that van as-is. I want to drive while the whirlygig is spinning. Like a propeller on my beanie, but on a van.

 

[StabbyStabStabStabStab]

Not gonna lie I want that van as-is. I want to drive while the whirlygig is spinning. Like a propeller on my beanie, but on a van.

Never really considered it before but yes it would be cool running down the highway in one of these bad boys. I mean look at this chick magnet:

Edit - just seen someone lese posted this little beaut. Still, it deserves to be posted twice I think...

 

[P:axMagellanic]

Haven't paid for like 5 years at this point, they just sent a nasty letter through the door saying I have to re-confirm my prior cancellation and that I don't watch the telescreen anymore or they'll send someone 'round.

They really are disgusting cunts, that'd shit my dad or the elderly up which is why they do it.

I cannot describe the hatred I have for the BBC. Slaaneshi baby rape organisation ran by commie twats.

 

[calistan]

If you're pretty far to the right, I get that you won't like the BBC much because it might tell you things you don't want to hear. If it wasn't around, though, and all you had was GB News and whatever Murdoch wants to serve you, that would be a sad state of affairs.

Interesting thing from the Wikipedia:
Licence fee evasion makes up around one-tenth of all cases prosecuted in magistrates' courts and 0.3% of court time.

If it isn't a political decision and you're just too cheap to get a licence, apparently they still sell black and white licences for a third of the cost. And you get half off again if you claim you're blind.

 

[ValiantInstance]

Why is all the news coming from the UK just straight up terrible? Just a never ending stream of dystopian awfulness.

What is going on there?

Politicians finally realised they are completely unaccountable to the taxpayer around 2020. The general population is largely inoculated to it all.

 

[INC]

Fuck the BBC, I refuse to fund pedos and propaganda

 

[Drew1440]

There was some discussion that a TV licence would be required with an internet connection, the justification being since the new BBC channels would be streamed using multicast (Freely) they would count as TV broadcasts.
Personally I can't wait until the BBC dies, nothing on that network interests me.

 

[Tams]

In Japan we pay if we have a tv , doesn't matter if is all day off or even broke

Not if you hide from the NHK man or slam the door in his face.

One of those fuckers tried to say my phone dongle meant I had to pay the fee.

 

[AJUMP23]

If it has any life tax it.

 

[Boss Mog]

"Please fund our propaganda"

 

[fran.fernandez]

Not if you hide from the NHK man or slam the door in his face.

One of those fuckers tried to say my phone dongle meant I had to pay the fee.

But that was before! Now u need to sign the nhk the moment you buy the tv :cry

 

[Banjo64]

I'm not playing ball with any rule changes. We watch no live broadcasts and don't use iplayer. Any Capita agents will get told to suck ma dick.

 

[kevboard]

Personally I can't wait until the BBC dies, nothing on that network interests me.

I liked David Mitchell's new show Ludwig

so thank you brits for financing it! Season 2 is already confirmed too.

fans of Monk, Detective Conan, Murder She Wrote etc. should give it a look

 

[Dithadder]

"Right vyv, eat the telly!"

 

[CompleteGlobalSaturation]

The BBC are a bunch of fucking cunts.

I've not paid the license fee and never will.

I received a threatening letter that they'll send an "enforcement officer" to my address for the past 2 years.

I'm still waiting.

 

[clarky]

Knobheads. Fuck paying the BBC.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

I read somewhere that the government pays people to drive around and try to find people who are watching TV without a license so they can fine them. Is that actually true?

Italy simply incorporated the TV licence into electricity bills so it's impossible not to pay it.

 

[Lambogenie]

The BBC is kind of okay, it still makes a lot of stuff that couldn't be done in a commercial environment. I'd rather spend my money on Netflix though.

The thing I really dislike about the Beeb is that in recent years they've DEI'd all their announcer jobs to people with thick regional accents. Speak the King's English or get thee to Channel 5.

Something I've noticed for a while as well.

It's like they deliberately go for these alternative accents and twangs that aren't suitable for high profile presentation material i.e. national news. Fine in daily life and social media though. Talk about dropping standards. I guess it's to have it relatable or some shit.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

I would miss the BBC more than any of the streaming services.

Though often criticised, and far from without fault, the BBC is still one of the world's best broadcasters.

 

[ReBurn]

Italy simply incorporated the TV licence into electricity bills so it's impossible not to pay it.

They took the "we know you're using electricity to watch tv" approach? Pretty clever!

 

[IDKFA]

If it isn't a political decision and you're just too cheap to get a licence,

Nothing political about it because the BBC is supposed to be impartial. Why pay for a service you don't use? It's like being charged for road tax when you don't own a car.

The license fee made sense decades ago when there were just 4 TV channels, but times have changed. A lot of people don't watch live TV these days and many don't watch the BBC.

The BBC needs to get with the times and evolve into a modern service. Fund itself like the other national channels (4, ITV etc) and/or charge a monthly fee for those people who want to use it. Give people the choice rather than forcing them to pay it.

 

[calistan]

Nothing political about it because the BBC is supposed to be impartial. Why pay for a service you don't use? It's like being charged for road tax when you don't own a car.

The license fee made sense decades ago when there were just 4 TV channels, but times have changed. A lot of people don't watch live TV these days and many don't watch the BBC.

The BBC needs to get with the times and evolve into a modern service. Fund itself like the other national channels (4, ITV etc) and/or charge a monthly fee for those people who want to use it. Give people the choice rather than forcing them to pay it.

It might not be political for you but others in this thread are saying they refuse to pay because they don't want to fund propaganda or whatever.

I mean, it's as close to an impartial news service as you're likely to get. Certainly given the scale of its operation.

Also, there's a lot of stuff that would never be made with a commercial funding model. History, wildlife, science, etc. One time I saw a two-hour film of a boat moving slowly along a canal. Started watching it for a laugh, but it was totally relaxing. No ads.

In short, it doesn't matter that you don't watch it. It's important to a lot of people and it's part of our national identity. Britain would be further enshittified if the BBC was to close or change.

 

[IDKFA]

Also, there's a lot of stuff that would never be made with a commercial funding model. History, wildlife, science, etc. One time I saw a two-hour film of a boat moving slowly along a canal. Started watching it for a laugh, but it was totally relaxing. No ads.

In short, it doesn't matter that you don't watch it. It's important to a lot of people and it's part of our national identity. Britain would be further enshittified if the BBC was to close or change.

That's great. I agree. The BBC does release some great content.

But why should people pay for it if they don't use the service? You haven't really answered that question. Because it's part of our national identity? Because the country would be "enshittified"? Those are vague responses that don't justify forcing people to pay for a service they might not use.

If the BBC is as great as you claim then why not give people the choice? Why force it upon people?

 

[Mr Reasonable]

In short, it doesn't matter that you don't watch it. It's important to a lot of people and it's part of our national identity. Britain would be further enshittified if the BBC was to close or change

100% agree.

Definitely a case of some knowing the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

 

[NeverYouMind]

In Japan we pay if we have a tv , doesn't matter if is all day off or even broke

What about monitors, laptops, and tablets? Is it only the consumer brand televisions (even ancient ones)?

 

[calistan]

That's great. I agree. The BBC does release some great content.

But why should people pay for it if they don't use the service? You haven't really answered that question. Because it's part of our national identity? Because the country would be "enshittified"? Those are vague responses that don't justify forcing people to pay for a service they might not use.

If the BBC is as great as you claim then why not give people the choice? Why force it upon people?

There are things that you probably don't know you need, or that you don't yet appreciate the importance of. Like the royal family - I used to hate them but lately I acknowledge the value of having a unique national figurehead. The BBC is similar.

It's easy to say it has no value to you, and you'd rather have £14 per month to spend on other things, but it's not about the individual. You have to accept that you're part of a society that is in no small way shaped by having a national broadcaster.

 

[kevboard]

americans also pay for PBS btw... it's just less direct.

PBS is financed in part by donations, but also through tax money by the US government.

in germany it's now basically also just a tax, and it doesn't matter anymore if you own a TV or not like it was a few decades ago.

the thing is, a public TV service is usually a very good thing. the fact that they do not have to compete against other channels means there's less motivation to be overly sensationalist.

and while everything has its flaws, if run well, a public tax funded broadcaster is a good thing imo.

 

[IDKFA]

There are things that you probably don't know you need, or that you don't yet appreciate the importance of. Like the royal family - I used to hate them but lately I acknowledge the value of having a unique national figurehead. The BBC is similar.

It's easy to say it has no value to you, and you'd rather have £14 per month to spend on other things, but it's not about the individual. You have to accept that you're part of a society that is in no small way shaped by having a national broadcaster.

I'm not sure what the Royal Family have to do with this? It's not comparable. The monarchy isn't funded by a legally enforced charge that restricts people's choices. The BBC is, and that's the problem.

You say it's "not about the individual," but that's precisely why it should be a choice. Society is made up of individuals, and in a modern democracy, people should be free to decide whether they want to pay for a service. If the BBC is truly valuable, it will thrive in a model where people like yourself voluntarily support it—through subscriptions, donations, or advertising. Other broadcasters manage this without forcing payment.

The people should have the freedom to decide what media they support. If the BBC is as indispensable as you suggest, it should have no trouble surviving without forcing people to fund it.

 

[fran.fernandez]

What about monitors, laptops, and tablets? Is it only the consumer brand televisions (even ancient ones)?

Only tv. They have a b-cas card (like a credit card inserted) . Some news tv have it build in linked.

If is old tv or second hand you can avoid paying the nhk fees (u get letters or visits).
but the law changed and now the moment you buy a tv at the store you need to sign the contract with nhk…. Maybe give a pre paid credit card and cancel it later

 

[Facism]

this cuntry is just tax tax tax tax everything and take it up the arse.

 

[kevboard]

I'm not sure what the Royal Family have to do with this? It's not comparable. The monarchy isn't funded by a legally enforced charge that restricts people's choices. The BBC is, and that's the problem.

You say it's "not about the individual," but that's precisely why it should be a choice. Society is made up of individuals, and in a modern democracy, people should be free to decide whether they want to pay for a service. If the BBC is truly valuable, it will thrive in a model where people like yourself voluntarily support it—through subscriptions, donations, or advertising. Other broadcasters manage this without forcing payment.

The people should have the freedom to decide what media they support. If the BBC is as indispensable as you suggest, it should have no trouble surviving without forcing people to fund it.

yeah I mean, sure... but basically every western country has publicly funded channels.

in some countries it's a separate charge you have to pay, in others like the US it's just passively payed for with tax money.

seems like there might be a reason basically every western country thinks it's a good idea to have these

 

[StreetsofBeige]

americans also pay for PBS btw... it's just less direct.

PBS is financed in part by donations, but also through tax money by the US government.

in germany it's now basically also just a tax, and it doesn't matter anymore if you own a TV or not like it was a few decades ago.

the thing is, a public TV service is usually a very good thing. the fact that they do not have to compete against other channels means there's less motivation to be overly sensationalist.

and while everything has its flaws, if run well, a public tax funded broadcaster is a good thing imo.

I can only go by Canada's CBC and it's trash. Hardly anyone watches it and needs $1B tax funds to keep afloat.

No point keeping it alive unless they show programs people watch like sports.

Whatever content they are making the general public doesn't care about. They get all this money and their shows are consistently the cheesiest low production value shows ever.

 

[Tams]

Nothing political about it because the BBC is supposed to be impartial. Why pay for a service you don't use? It's like being charged for road tax when you don't own a car.

The license fee made sense decades ago when there were just 4 TV channels, but times have changed. A lot of people don't watch live TV these days and many don't watch the BBC.

The BBC needs to get with the times and evolve into a modern service. Fund itself like the other national channels (4, ITV etc) and/or charge a monthly fee for those people who want to use it. Give people the choice rather than forcing them to pay it.

I largely agree, but the point of the BBC is that it provides material that otherwise might not be made and to uphold British values. Not to mention the lack of brainrot that is advertising.

Now, they absolutely have lost their way by trying to appeal and serve everyone. It's a gross misconception by them.

Tbe BBC isn't directly funded by the state because it gives it impartiality. Or at least used to give that impression. It's probably something to give up on. Actions speak louder than words after all.

One reason the current funding model has stayed around, other than inertia, is that the EU kept on threatenjng to take legal action if we ever directly funded the BBC. Tbey even went after a plan to help Channel 4 with the digital switchover.