TV Licence Fee

[bramble]

We here in Ireland pay 150Euro per year for our liscence which is about £120. For this we get BBC1 and 2, UTV, Channel 4 and Channel 6. We also have 3 homegrown stations,RTE1 and 2 and TV3 and one irish speaking station.
We pay 35Euro monthly to Sky and get ALL the digital stations.

[madderbat]

As there is so much rubbish on TV I was wondering what's the cost (if you can still get one) of a radio only licence?

You don't need a radio licence these days Digger-07, just tune in and turn on. Personally I could live without TV but really value my radio. Only problem is they are going digital to and you will have to get one of those DAB things that fizz and crackle and cut out ever so often.

[JennieAtkinson]

I'd complain to the local planning officer ...... hang on, isn't that.......

It was the Scottish Ministers (or the then Minister for Scotland) otherwise I would have committed a nasty deed - like wrung his neck!

[Digger-07]

You don't need a radio licence these days Digger-07, just tune in and turn on. Personally I could live without TV but really value my radio. Only problem is they are going digital to and you will have to get one of those DAB things that fizz and crackle and cut out ever so often.

Thanks Madderbat, Maybe I can wean the OH off the TV drama (and casualty) get some proper entertainment, or even the radio. I hope the DAB thing warms up quicker than the old valve set.

[madderbat]

Thanks Madderbat, Maybe I can wean the OH off the TV drama (and casualty) get some proper entertainment, or even the radio. I hope the DAB thing warms up quicker than the old valve set.

I just wish they would get their act together. I got terrible reception in my kitchen, so treated us to a DAB radio last Christmas, which is great - in part. Trouble is, just when Radioo 4 gets to an interesting bit it starts burbling and then sometimes cuts out. b***dy annoying I can tell you. I am assured that once they get the signals sorted out things will be better.

[Digger-07]

Maybe you need another shilling in the meter.

[Brewer-again]

license fee

It may well be a legal requirement to have a TV license but if you have sky you are paying twice. Does not make a lot of sense to me but then no one said it was fair!!
I cancelled Sky after my sons moved out, it was not easy, there should be classes in sky cancelling. But I do get a lot more done now .

[Digger-07]

I wonder what happens about watching TV programmes over the Broadband if you don't have a TV licence?

[Crazy Chickie]

The TV licence covers all television recieving equipment, so if you're watching telly on your computer you still need a licence. Don't know if that also includes programs which you have downloaded rather than programs that have been broadcast, but then thats a very grey area anyway.

[Digger-07]

I would think must do, I know you need a licence even if you only have a VCR and TV with no aerial.

[Alice]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Reading all this I think the consensus is the TV licence is a tax on having a TV since you can't watch anything without it- although ostensibly it funds the BBC. Only 1 person said the BBC was high rate TV, but also paid £60 month to watch preferred programmes on other channels. The jury's still out here, but there is no option but to pay it. Keep your comments coming.

[silver8]

The BBC imo is one of the few British institutions that we can feel really proud about. Great value for money. Disliked by Thatcher and her heir who would love its influence to decline. From Gardeners World to Planet Earth,from Faulty Towers to Little Britain (not forgetting Dads Army),from Panarma to Newsnight, from Dr Who to Match of the Day -no other nation on the planet has such high standard T.V. Love the inivation of BBC3 and BBC4 on digital and its 24 hour news programme.
And BBC radio is just magical. The value of regional radio is immense.The news at midnight on Radio 4,starting with the chimes from Big Ben is worth the fee in itself.
Long live the BBC.

[HappyMouffe]

I'm very happy with the BBC, and the licence fee. Obviously I'd like it cheaper, but then I'd like diesel, my mortgage and a million other things to be cheaper too. However, for the cost of the licence fee, I get TV worth watching (well, some of it). As far as I'm concerned, the BBC is great, with the one thing I couldn't do without being Radio 4.

I'm starting to sound like the bloke on the Not the Nine O Clock News sketch about the licence fee. for those who remember it.

[Alice]

So that's a few votes for the BBC
It's what I watch myself, if I watch anything I'm just not mad for TV.
Maybe I'm turning into a skinflint
Any more comments ?

[madderbat]

Alice, if you don't watch tv much and are not bothered, why not give up your set and stick to the radio?
A friend of mine did, but it's taken quite an effort to get the licence people to believe that he doesn't watch any more!