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The BBC licence fee could eventually replaced by a tax on having a PC instead of owning a TV, according to a Green Paper delivered this week
[theregister.co.uk...]
I need to move abroad...
However, as tv and video spreads across formats it won't be fair to only charge people with tv's and not those that watch programmes via a computer. They say [hardware.silicon.com] that the UK now accounts for 20% of global television piracy [networks.silicon.com].
I don't know what the answer is, but i'm sure a blanket pc tax will never happen. I wouldn't mind paying a subscription...
However, I will be annoyed if they introduce a new pc license on top of a tv license....
I don't really see this as a practical idea, however, with greater convergence in info/entertainment systems, I can understand how some form of 'tax' could seem like a good idea to the powers that be.
Syzygy
No you need to vote at the next election
I dont think a change in government will affect this. Whoever is in charge will bring this in... whatever they choose to do in the end...
Yes you have the chance to vote, but does that doesn't mean you actually get any choice.
No you need to vote at the next election
I will, and always do. Members of my family are councillors and every vote counts :)
It's a logical route for the TV licence to go, I doubt it'll be introduced as an additional "tax", but an interesting issue all the same.
I'd thought that having a PC meant that you could conceivably watch TV on it.
surely if you own a computer, you must pay the TV license regardless of whether you have a TV?
Not at the moment. only if you have a TV card in it.
[tvlicensing.co.uk...]
But now that so many people are watching tv shows by downloading them, the boundary has blurred and so new rules have to be made... I just hope they are fair.
..if it is used for the purpose of wathing DVD's only ..don't make no difference ..
Yes, that is the same in the UK, although if you havent got a tv or recording/playback device then you are exempt...
Just for info, this is how the license fee is spent by the BBC:
Viewers pay £10 per month, which is spent in the following way:
£5 - terrestrial TV
£1 - digital
£1.20 - radio
£1.50 - local TV and radio
£0.30 - Online
£1 - transmission and collection of licence fee
Source: BBC governors set to be scrapped [news.bbc.co.uk]
Also:
* BBC shake-up: At-a-glance [news.bbc.co.uk]
* Licence fee 'depends on viewers' [news.bbc.co.uk]
I'm not in favour of curbing access to the resource, but maybe subscriptions to the BBC could allow a much broader spectrum of funding from interested parties, wherever they are.
However, one thing that subscriptions don't reflect is that having been a license fee payer for some time, I have a right to access programming/information that has been made with my money... I don't see how they could restrict that access if I choose not to buy a subscription in future.
And they are beleived by all their french only speaking listeners.
Whatever it's faults may be ..the BBC is still the best in the world ..
