BBC licence fee

[Silva_Spell]

1) We fund schools as glorifed day care so the adults can go out to the factories, offices to make money to pay tax. Seen as though more people are working from home or unfortunaley unemployed as a result of the pandemic and we are looking to save money let's shut some schools and let the parents educate their own kids rather than the state/teachers. Teachers are only lazy union puppets anyway who only work 6 hours a day.....

2)I'm not sure about that. BBC have done groundbreaking documentary/news series that are available to everyone in the county, because we all chip-in. I don't have Netfix, I jump on someone elses Sky-Go so my access to media is very limited. As is plently of people's who don't have good enough broadband to stream or just simply can't afford it. I'd consider free access to recipes, kids TV etc and education essential in this day and age

The result of 'stripping back' would be a reduced and poor service which then could easily to be sold to the public as a waste of money so best to get rid. Didn't they do the same with British Rail??

The news and documentaries are what I'd have them concentrate on (and if the professionalism and quality were undeniable trying to sell it as a waste would be a waste of time itself - infact right now alot of the arguments for keeping it as it is are the nature docs) but whatever one deems to be the important stuff there's so much bloat there and half the online stuff could go tomorrow and no-one would notice. Regardless, I think it could be funded in a better way.

 

[mat]

BBC is a unique public organisation.

The licence fee is an incredible amount of value for money.


I'm impressed by what the new DG has said and hope he follows through.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

BBC is a unique public organisation.

The licence fee is incredible amount of value for money.


I'm impressed by what the new DG has said and hope he follows through.

Agreed, I get many of the arguments for defunding / privatisation, but frankly concerned when I see who it is that's making them.

 

[pirate]

Your main point seemed to be that you thought it was worth the money

We fund things like schools via the state because not everyone could afford to pay. This isn't true for media

Personally, I don't think the BBC should be straight up privatised or abolished but it needs stripping right down to the important stuff (news and docs) and has to become more neutral, with diversity of thought introduced to its employment ranks, not just superficial diversity.
The danger of getting rid of it is it would fragment society even further. I'd like to see us fund it in other ways tho (lottery?)

It is true for the media
A well informed public is the basis for democracy.
As soon as the news costs money or is owned by someone and therefore biased to their views, democracy is fucked.

just look at the USA

 

[Silva_Spell]

It is true for the media
A well informed public is the basis for democracy.
As soon as the news costs money or is owned by someone and therefore biased to their views, democracy is fucked.

just look at the USA

The BBC has its biases too

 

[pirate]

The BBC has its biases too

Biases we can control and change as we own it, not some individual pushing their own agenda

 

[Silva_Spell]

Biases we can control and change as we own it, not some individual pushing their own agenda

That remains to be seen. I hope you're right, it has taken such a campaign to even get slight hints of change

 

[pirate]

That remains to be seen. I hope you're right, it has taken such a campaign to even get slight hints of change

thats the way of democracy.

The alternative is no control at all and the richest people controlling the bias and pushing their objectives.
I would argue a slow to change broadcaster is better than broadcasters controlled by individuals pushing their own agendas. That way fake news and the shit storm that is the USA currently

 

[Fame Monster]

I'm also impressed by the new DG but I still think the BBC's financing model is outdated and I'm glad he's looking at new financing options too.

 

[mat]

I'm also impressed by the new DG but I still think the BBC's financing model is outdated and I'm glad he's looking at new financing options too.

He’s looked at the books and seen how much hush money is still paid out to protect nonces...