The BBC and Advertising

[wonkyville]

Having recently decided to sign up to Sky/Satelite TV, I was wondering if I am right in assuming that the 'UK' Channels are owned and run by the BBC. If this is so, Why is it that they have adverts on them (if I remember correctly so does BBC3 &4)? and if I am right, why am I paying for my TV licence when they are getting revenue from advertising? Not really a question , more of an opinion, am I right or wrong? Thx

[rja211077]

yes the BBC has at least a stake in the 'UK...' channels - i think they may be jointly owned with other media organisations (as is the case with Freeview) . your licence fee pays for BBC1, BBC2, BBC Radio, BBCi. These have no advertising.

[gilf]

The UKTv channels are jointly owned by BBC and Thames TV. There are no adverts on BBC3 or BBC4 or any other channel using the name BBC. The BBC make money in all sorts of ways and the license fee alone would not even come close to covering everything the BBC does.

[froggequene]

The BBC recently cancelled the agreement that they had with Sky but if you read the terms and conditions of your licence I think you'll find that it covers not just the BBC but set top boxes, radios etc.

[philpot]

i think the bbc have a tie in deal with the uk channels but don't own them. If you don't like paying the license fee, maybe telly would end up like the US where there are adverts in the worst places - and the breaks go on for ages. granted the US comes up with the best shows (shown on our channels which show ads), but they're much better watch here as the beginning and ends of shows are not interrupted. I'm guessing that if the license fee went that the repercussions to british broadcasting would be bad and we would end up with the kind of sensationalist soundbite viewing that they suffer in the US. If you want to quibble about a bill, take a lok at your last council tax bill or income tax bill and use that as a start. I actually think the license fee is value for money and it may only be it's demise and the ensuing decade that makes us realise that.

[gilf]

I very very rarely watch ITV for example. I think the quality BBC puts out is second to none, One great thing about the BBC is that they can afford to take a chance with a series. If its not immediately successful they are not under the threat of losing advertising if they commission a second series. There are many shows that have started off slowly but become classics this couldn't happen on a commercial channel, also last night I watched a fascinating documentary on BBC2 they had obviously spent a lot of money on it but it was never going to be commercially viable. Channel 5 have lots of documentaries but they are nothing more than library pictures repeated again and again with a voice over.