TV Licence is a pain, but to totally scrap it is extreme

Posted 2 Aug 2010 by Walaa Idris

The Adam Smith Institute, a major think tank, has today announced that the TV Licence Fee represents bad value for money and should be scraped.

At £145.50 per year the licence is virtually another tax, which all the UK’s TV watching [on a box or via the web] population have to pay! For some that amount is a drop in the ocean but for many it is good money they can put to much better use. However, totally scrapping the TV Licence will have an undo adverse effect on some of the services, both nationally and internationally.

A BIG reduction on the current amount plus a cap or reasonable annual increases in line with inflation will make better economic sense for users. Also as a public service provider, salaries of employees need to be brought in-line with the rest of the civil service industry – and of course there is nothing wrong with diversifying the business by providing a mix of paid and unpaid services. But to just totally do-away with the TV Licence is a little extreme.

8 comment(s)

BenS

BenS
2 Aug, 17:15

So why would it be extreme to get rid of it entirely? If the problem is funding for maintenance of what you consider to be a good service, then why also suggest reducing funding AND the ability to attract the best in programme making/performing? Would it not be much more prudent to scrap the licence fee and allow the BBC to pursue commercial ventures – as it already does, albeit at the taxpayer’s expense – and raise its own revenue according to the value it provides?

Marcus Wood

Marcus Wood
2 Aug, 21:11

Not sure I agree. The BBC seems to have morphed massively beyond its original remit. They become more like a commercial broadcaster every day. I fail to see the public service nature of the growing number of daytime television shows, gameshows or the ubiquity of programmes like Eastenders.

The BBC should be split into a commercial aspect and a public service aspect. Under public service broadcaster I would retain things like BBC Parliament that will never ever be commercially viable – but which contribute to our democracy.

Sort out these two sides to the BBC and then see whether a licence fee is needed at all, or whether it can simply be slashed. As it currently stands, the BBC is a commercial broadcaster in all but name but with additional rights that set it above any competition.

BenS

BenS
2 Aug, 21:58

Marcus makes a very good point. The BBC could easily provide things like Parliament broadcasts, even a limited news and weather channel, but beyond that it really has exceeded its remit in any case…

Walaa

Walaa
2 Aug, 23:44

Ben – if they go it alone [which is ideal] then there will be no need for the fee would their.

Marcus – actually the BBC has morphed so much I am not 100% clear what is or is not their remit anymore. But you are on to something here – by splitting it into commercial and non-commercial it will satisfy all sides and at the same time become self reliant.

Shay

Shay
3 Aug, 01:10

Being taxed US$300 or so, and having liberal media bias of the likes of the BBC get funded? No thanks.

If people find the BBC’s services so valuable, why shouldn’t it be a voluntary payment like a subscriber service?

Walaa

Walaa
3 Aug, 09:49

Thanks Shay, for commenting – I know you read my blog and thank you there too!

From the comments the consensus seems to do away with the Licence Fee and let the BBC fund itself – it makes financial sense as long as they don’t sacrifice some of their core programs for commercial gain or lack of funding – when times are hard.

Maybe, because I enjoy the uninterrupted flow of programs, I was prepared to part with some money for that pleasure.

But clever Marcus has converted me!

Marcus Wood

Marcus Wood
3 Aug, 22:23

Good gracious! I’m touched, thank you.

I felt slightly embarrassed so I have somewhat refined my thoughts and publish them here: http://chilternsview.blogspot.com/2010/08/bbc-for-twenty-first-century.html

Walaa

Walaa
5 Aug, 14:48

Marcus; Thanks for the link, great that you published you thoughts. Great work keep it up.

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