Isn't the BBC's problem in how it's perceived? Maybe it's me (it normally is), but from the comments here, I just get the feeling that the BBC is seen simply as an entertainment provider and as such people don't use its services and the licence fee is then an unwanted bill.
The BBC has upheld democratic values since its inception and has provided succour to people around the world via its radio services. It has provided educational services to all levels of schooling (through Bitesize) and then to the Open University. It has provided impartial news coverage from around the world. Weather services. Local travel. In all of that, it provides those services across multiple platforms - TV, radio and online.
In a stupid way, it's a bit like any social thing that is done for the benefit of others - I may not use local radio or travel and I may not use the educational services, but my licence helps others that do. That is how the BBC works.
The entertainment side is just one aspect of such a multi-faceted organisation.
I'm strongly in favour of the BBC continuing to exist but feel that it is already crumbling in many ways. Scrapping the licence fee could well accelerate a decline in standards of output.
A standard fee for all doesn't seem fair to me, though. Whilst I'm happy to pay full whack (and do make good use of it), those that barely watch/listen and those struggling to pay ought to be considered with reductions/exemptions.
Yes (and no!) - but not only. It fulfils a whole raft of functions. I wonder how many kids during Covid used its broadcast and online services for schooling? I wonder how many people who commute locally, get their traffic news from the BBC? I wonder how many people worldwide get impartial world news from the BBC? How many people use its weather services? How many people got through the OU because of the BBC?
It's not a charity per se, just an organisation that has a charter that says it has to fulfil certain obligations - public service - simply because of how it's funded. If that funding changes, then those obligations may change - and who then suffers?
I must admit, I'm totally biased as I wake up to Radio4, listen to that (apart from 10:30-11:00 for Radio2!) til 6pm (whilst picking up the paper headlines from BBC online), then consume the BBC TV news and weather (and typically use BBC iPlayer for entertainment) - then I drop off to sleep listening to BBC Radio4 Extra.
The radio entertainment is second to none - who can have heard The Lord Of The Rings on BBC radio and not be impressed? - I listened to it, my kids did - hopefully theirs will too. So many classic plays and comedies. BBC Sounds carries a whole raft of brilliant radio - from live music, classical, opera - festivals, plays, education, science, environmental.. It's there to be explored - because someone - us - funded it.
Edited to add: How many here remember the Wogan years on Radio2 and especially Paul(y) Walters and the lunacy that was the Janet and John stories?
What about Attenborough and how he has helped to change the world view on pollution and climate change?
What about growing up with Wimbledon, the Boat Race, the FA Cup - for the sports fans?
It's no more of a charitable organisation than the NHS and universal state-funded education is ... it was set up to 'educate, inform and entertain' and it does that ... it's not perfect ... few things are ... but if successive governments of every hue describe it as biased then it's probably not
I think we do need to consider that age plays a part in the conversation. I was talking about this with some friends and they all agreed that in general the younger population consume news and entertainment differently and were less likely to see the bbc as value. If you are brought up with a greater choice and different ways to entertain yourself then the value of old models isn't there.
I think we do need to consider that age plays a part in the conversation. I was talking about this with some friends and they all agreed that in general the younger population consume news and entertainment differently and were less likely to see the bbc as value. If you are brought up with a greater choice and different ways to entertain yourself then the value of old models isn't there.
I wonder though - time will tell - whether that will change. A bit like people bemoaning the lack of interest 'young people' have in gardening. It's just a function of not having their own homes - many of of them come to it as they get a little older. Being able to flick through streaming is all very well, but there comes a point in a working person / parent's life when the need to make that choice loses it's shine and you prefer to just have your entertainment spoon fed to you without having to look for it. Rabbit holing is a pass time for idle youth.
@steveTu I miss Terry Wogan. And Alan Coren on the News Quiz. There are some radio programmes that have made me laugh more than any scripted comedy.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
My wife would doing the washing up and I'd dry and put away in the mornings to Janet and John - Boggy Marsh, Deadly Dedicoat, Pauly and Wogan - and we'd just end up in tears of laughter. How they got paid for that I don't know as they just seemed to be playing. Brilliant entertainment - still have the Children In Need (another thing the BBC does - along with Comic/Sport relief) CDs of those stories. Just a Minute , Sorry I Haven't a Clue.. Bill Nighy as Charles Paris,Curious Under The Stars...just too much stuff to mention ... Bamber Gascoigne..Magnus Magnusson, Arthur Neagus..Morecambe & Wise, Have I Got News for You ... last ellipsis ...
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A standard fee for all doesn't seem fair to me, though. Whilst I'm happy to pay full whack (and do make good use of it), those that barely watch/listen and those struggling to pay ought to be considered with reductions/exemptions.
I can't see anything here that I think should be changed ... https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/governance/mission
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@steveTu I miss Terry Wogan. And Alan Coren on the News Quiz. There are some radio programmes that have made me laugh more than any scripted comedy.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”