TV licence fee could be replaced by broadband levy, says BBC

TV licence fee could be replaced by broadband levy, says BBC

Postby dutchman » Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:45 pm

Corporation responds to government plan to decriminalise non-payment of licence fee

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The BBC has said the television licence fee could ultimately be replaced by a monthly levy on broadband connections, in response to the UK government’s proposals to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee.

The public broadcaster said it strongly supported keeping the current court-enforced television licence fee system in place for the medium-term. But it is willing to consider following other European countries and implement a funding model “linked directly to an existing common household bill” such as an internet connection, council tax, or electricity supply.

“This would be a significant change for the UK and we are not, at this stage, advocating it,” the corporation said in its submission. “It does however raise an interesting question as to whether the current system could be made much simpler, more efficient and more automated. We are open to exploring this further.”

The consultation on whether to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee closes on Wednesday, with the BBC warning that the initial cost of creating a new system where non-payment is enforced as a civil debt – similar to a utility bill – would be almost £300m.

It estimates that evasion of the licence fee would almost double to about 10% of households as people realised non-payment was no longer a criminal offence, costing the public service broadcaster £200m a year on an ongoing basis in lost revenue and requiring further substantial cuts to BBC output. Under this proposed system bailiffs could be sent to homes on behalf of the broadcaster to collect payment, while individuals’ credit ratings could be affected.

The former culture secretary Nicky Morgan launched the consultation on decriminalisation two months ago, in the aftermath of a rancorous general election campaign in which the BBC’s news output came under fire from across the political spectrum. At the time, Downing Street was picking a fight with the BBC, stopping ministers from appearing on major political programmes and warning of a forthcoming upheaval and a need to cut the corporation down to size.

The approach has changed substantially since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with Downing Street making peace with news outlets and the BBC – along with other broadcasters - attracting enormous audiences for its programmes featuring prime ministerial press conferences and providing public health advice.

The corporation argued strongly that the existing criminal sanctions should remain in force until the BBC’s royal charter is renewed in 2027, arguing that – unlike a civil system – magistrates had the flexibility to impose appropriate fines that take into account an individual’s circumstances.

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Re: TV licence fee could be replaced by broadband levy, says BBC

Postby Melisandre » Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:00 pm

Not daft are they useless programs all repeats we have already paid for from the 80s etc they should be closed down :fuming:
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Re: TV licence fee could be replaced by broadband levy, says BBC

Postby rebbonk » Thu Apr 02, 2020 12:53 pm

It's an outdated tax.

Make the BBC go commercial and if we need a state organ, let the government sort it out another way, possibly via social media.
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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Re: TV licence fee could be replaced by broadband levy, says BBC

Postby dutchman » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:38 pm

rebbonk wrote:Make the BBC go commercial


It would be ITV that suffered as they would lose half or more of their advertising revenue to the BBC.

I also know from my experience of American TV there would be no programmes worth watching on Saturday nights, bank holiday weekends or at Christmas and Easter.
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Re: TV licence fee could be replaced by broadband levy, says BBC

Postby Melisandre » Thu Apr 02, 2020 2:12 pm

dutchman wrote:
rebbonk wrote:Make the BBC go commercial




I also know from my experience of American TV there would be no programmes worth watching on Saturday nights, bank holiday weekends or at Christmas and Easter.


In my opinion there is nt any worth watching now on any of those dates.
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