Bbc

[Bazile]

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/

The sooner the better this direct tax is scrapped

[woofgang]

passes danny a comfortable chair and the popcorn

[dannyk13]

:-)

[Togo]

Don't know whether this link is paywalled.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/no-10-tells-bbc-licence-fee-will-be-scrapped-hzwb9bzsx?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_101&utm_medium=email&utm_content=101_8682210&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_8682210_101

[Togo]

Another article here. Let me know if they are paywalled and if you want them I can c&p the salient points.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-bbc-has-overreached-for-too-long-now-that-must-end-53phb05pn

[woofgang]

heres what ITV has to say https://www.itv.com/news/2020-02-15/no-10-warns-the-bbc-that-the-tv-licence-fee-is-facing-the-axe/

[Bazile]

//

I am undecided on this.
Our national cohesion and democracy itself may be safeguarded best by a national broadcaster.
....//

lol- cohesion ?
There isn't a lot of that in here

Furthermore , there isn't a lot of love on here from a lot of posters , fit the BBC

[Bazile]

'for' the BBC

The lefty organisation , that it is , in some people's opinion

Now if AB is anything to go by , this opinion maybe reflected in the wider country ?

[woofgang]

I am not so bothered about its politics as the fact that if I receive ANY tv, channels, even if I never watch a SECOND of bbc broadcasting then I have to pay a licence fee..... While the over 70's got a free licence, I could at least feel that they were making some contribution to national life.

[Gromit]

The BBC is a brilliant maker of successful television and it is a respected brand all over the world.
It’s main problem is that it is not independent of the UK Government, and it is commercially hampered by both the slow (and ineptitude) of its governance, and the blatant un-business friendly of the politicians overseeing it.
The BBC can be a world player in the manufacture of quality entertainment - but not as long as the politicians are involved. It needs the best in television and film talent to come and help the BBC to reach its potential - but they are never going to come as long as stupid politicians are involved, an the business is not run commercially and profitably.

Sadly, the noises coming from the Department of Cummings is not about making the BBC a world class global enterprise and profitable, and not a drain on taxes, but instead Cummings and Co., still want to be able to interfere and dictate (and hamper) the BBC, but do not want the stigma of it being a tax.
The BBC will never be independent, because politicians (of all colours) need the BBC to be shackled to them, otherwise no one will take any notice of them.
The BBC has huge potential, but sadly it will never be realised because the politicians will never give it the freedom to thrive.

[Zacs-Master]

It’s not happening.

[ichkeria]

I think the problem the BBC faces currently is the exact opposite of what gromit is claiming: it IS independent of politicians in its day to day running: and in the current climate that’s not popular - but if course it is still at the mercy of a government which might be out to destroy it.
Having said that, I don’t think that will happen.

[Zacs-Master]

That’s an extremely naive viewpoint, Ich

[sevenOP]

" but keeping Radio 3 and Radio 4 safe."

Suits me.

Hopefully Boris comes up with a plan so I only pay Road Tax on those roads I use..... and doctors and hospitals I utilize, and ............

[ichkeria]

For a start nothing can happen until the charter is renewed. That’s about 7 years away.
For another, the BBC is very popular.
There’s a difference between sensible debate about the future BBC funding and the stuff being touted here, which sounds very much to me like kite flying

[Zacs-Master]

You’ve actually, inadvertently, hit the nail on the head there. How would they, realistically, charge for the BBC services which an individual would use?

[Zacs-Master]

It is kite flying, Ich. It ain’t gonna happen in any ABers lifetime.

[ichkeria]

The BBC can’t be a subscription service, for example, and remain a public service broadcaster. So the role and nature of the BBC needs to be looked at before financing. Anything else is cart before horse

[Zacs-Master]

Indeed

[Gromit]

Ich
The BBC’s programmes are very popular worldwide and the brand is well respected.
Unfortunately the politicians need the BBC for their credibility.
The borefest ‘Question Time’ programme would never exist unless the BBC was obliged to make it by Parliament. Parliament owning the BBC guarantees them airtime, which equals votes, credibility, exposure and recognition. The BBC really would love not to have to broadcast Michael Gove’s smug annoying face all the time, but if it didn’t, its funding might go away.
Which is why this threat will never happen (though it would be for the better for theVBC if it did).

[sevenOP]

Errr, Gromit, I'm not sure Question Time 'would not exist'. as some claim the BBC is merely the garcon who serves it to your table....