Monday 8 February 2016

Refusal.

For the benefit of readers in the US, I would point out that here in the UK we pay each year for the privilege of looking at the television by buying a BBC Television License.   I thought it was still £75 but now understand it has increased in price to something like £145.50.

Over the age of 75 we get it free.   Recently the BBC have suggested that those who can afford to pay this amount might like to forego their 'free' license and buy one, to increase the BBC's revenue.

Here are three reasons why I shall not be doing this:

1.   The salary of the Director General of the BBC appears to be
£450,000 a year.
2.   It was recently reported that Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood had both had their salaries increased to £800,000 a year.
3.   The BBC is reported to recoup £50million each year for selling its Top Gear programme around the world.

These figures may not be correct.   Please correct me if I am wrong (I am sure somebody will) but doesn't it seem measley that the BBC are trying to get that little bit back off us to pay for such ridiculous amounts?

 

33 comments:

Gwil W said...

Recently we tried to help an elderly person in Austria to get free tv. There was so much red tape, beauroracy, and hinderance that we had to throw in the towel through our exasperation. You are lucky in the UK that things are clear cut. Here we are still in the age of Franz Kafka to a larger extent than one would imagine.

Jennifer said...

I certainly wouldn't pay for it. That sounds like something that would happen here in the US.

Heather said...

I wouldn't pay it either. There are fewer and fewer programmes worthy of the current price of the licence fee.

Judith said...

The cable company here charges extra for BBC America, but while Britain was represented by the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Jeremy Clarkson in endless BBC reruns, the service was not worth a penny to me. Has anything changed since I last checked?
Judith

donna baker said...

So do you get a satellite dish on your houses or is it cable connections. Do you get hundreds of channels or just a few? It is wrong to want the elderly to shoulder the cost. Probably costs them pennies on the dollar. Quite a jump in price.

SandyExpat said...

No, I wouldn't pay the fee if I was entitled to the over 75 exception. IMO the salaries paid to Mary Berry etc. are insane. The annual cost of a colour TV licence from 1 April 2010 is £145.50 ($209.47 US).

Penhill said...
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Mac n' Janet said...

I think I'd give up my tv and watch it online. They'd never get a tax like that here, we're too ornery.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

The BBC is perpetually caught in a right wing media trap.

1) Spending money on quality programming, the old Reithian view, no strictly, bake off etc. "SNOOTY BBC MAKES YOU PAY FOR TOFF'S OPERA"

2) BBC shows such mass audience shows, presented by high price stars necessary to make them successful "BBC DUMBS DOWN". The Price of the license fee is nothing compared to having even a basic Sky or Virgin sub, where the programmes are far less quality in the main and repeated more.

Mary said...

I bet the Director General of the BBC wishes he'd gone to culinary school - he'd make more on the British Bake-Off show! These celebrity chefs everywhere are becoming like athletes, music people and the movie bunch - ALL paid far too much.

Hey, NETFLIX over here is cheaper than a television license. Do they still send those horrid vans around to detect whether or not you bought a TV license?

Mary -

Terry and Linda said...

Everything is sky-high anymore. And, for the most part, its so those at the top can continue to enjoy the lifestyle they have grown to like.

Here we purchase TV also...We use DISH..four years ago the cost was $75 a month, now it's $100. Terrible. I'm seeing that in everything...

Sigh!

Linda

Wilma said...

I would not pay either, but then we don't even own a TV. I would rather read. We read the news online. And of course much of my reading is blogs which are far more fascinating than TV shows.

Sue in Suffolk said...

I hate the way you are made to feel guilty for getting something for free - like they wanted everyone to donate back the winter warmth payment.
I'm sure £145 is good value for money compared to the cost of some of the sky bundles I see advertised.

A Heron's View said...

Here in Ireland as soon as an individual reaches pension they are awarded a Household Package which includes a free TV license.

Not that I have a TV but it is available should I ever get old :)

Lindsay said...

What I object to is the enormous amount of money doled out for quiz prizes like the extremely silly "Pointless". One thousand pounds a day just for that programme alone.

Becca McCallum said...

I have just recently enjoyed watching The 'Father Brown' mysteries, two very good programmes on geology (How the Earth made Us: Earth and Water) and lots of history and archaeology programmes on BBC iplayer. I love that there are no adverts to break up the viewing/story, and I'm happy to pay for that. But those salaries are ridiculous.

Midmarsh John said...

When I first saw that my instant reaction was - on your bike. Like many these day I watch / listen to BBC TV / Radio less each year. To me much of the output these days seems to be for the hard of thinking. While those (apparently including at least one very well paid TV personality) who only watch on line can get away without a paying anything this pensioner will apply for his rightful free licence in a few years time.

The Weaver of Grass said...

What interesting reading - and what a diverse lot you are in your choice of television programmes to watch. There is a lot of rubbish on, and there are a lot of repeats, and if they removed all cookery programmes there would be large holes. I could go on but I think we have all made our points, so thanks for contributing.

Terra said...

The BBC creates many wonderful programs, but yikes, those salaries are outrageous. I agree with you. I read about 2 years ago that the woman who heads the Red Cross is paid $600,000 which is also grotesque so I stopped sending the Red Cross $ and give instead to Samaritan's Purse which does similar work.

The Solitary Walker said...

I don't know anything about those over 75 being asked to forego their free licence, but, myself, I don't mind paying the licence fee for what is still the best radio/TV broadcasting channel in the world — uncorrupted, in the main, by political bias and uninterrupted by advertising. War and Peace just ended, plus recently The Romanovs, not to mention the programmes from the Bristol natural history unit. Yes, I know drama has suffered over the years — but it's making a comeback at the moment. I don't subscribe to pay channels as I hate sport and I hate adverts — and, quite honestly, for the limited time I have at my disposal for such entertainments, the BBC has all I need! I suppose the exec salaries are only in keeping with the competition.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

They've been asking me to fork out for a TV licence for years - and I don't even have a TV!

jinxxxygirl said...

Here in Arkansas Pat we have Dish satellite. And the reception is horrible... Get a little cloud in the sky and we have no TV... We pay at or over $100 a month. So many reruns... so many shows we have to pay for but would never watch... We don't even get the extra movie channels.. Over the years we have become so disappointed with TV we have turned it off... ONly to find we missed it... We enjoy having 'something' to watch when we sit down in the evenings... So we pay it and gripe about it and life goes on... If i were you and you were entitled to having it free i would take it and run!! Hugs! deb

Cro Magnon said...

My old school chum, Alan Yentob, is (or was) receiving TWO salaries from the Beeb, amounting to a hefty sum. I expect his days are numbered, but having been a wealthy man in his own right, I always thought it excessive (sorry Alan).

Librarian said...

Here in Germany, the system has recently changed. Instead of paying per TV set, now the fee is taken per household, regardless of the number of TVs in one household. The amount is now 17,50 Euros a month (210 a year). People with disabilities pay 5,83 € a month, less than 70 € a year. Socially disadvantaged households can claim to go completely free of charge.

I watch the main news at night when I'm home, and there are some programs I watch regularly, such as Midsomer Murders, Lewis and Vera. Other than that, I pick and choose, often documentaries.

thelma said...

Those salaries are extraordinary (hope they pay their taxes). Wherever there is a big pot of money, there will always be people with their hands in the cookie jar. But I love the BBC and will fight tooth and nail should Murdoch ever try to get hold of it ;)

Asad said...
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Derek Faulkner said...

Unfortunately I have to wait another six years before I get my TV for free and boy will I enjoy that fact. I've been paying the license fee for around 50 years non-stop now, surely after all that time I'm entitled to something for nothing.
Somebody earlier mentioned the winter fuel payment, do we still have the absurd situation whereby people living abroad in warmer climes still claim it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes Thelma - agree about the BBC. Also it seems that Robert also agrees with us. And I do agree that we probably have to pay that much to keep up with 'the world' but it seems sad when so many are in such dire straits financially.
Terra makes a good point and one with which I totally agree. I have withdrawn any direct debits to charities where the directors get huge salaries and I now give to ones which are run in a more sensible manner.
Thanks to everyone.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

145.00 US a year is cheap cheap cheap for tv. Here it starts at about 75.00 a month for basic cable service and you can add extras - movies, sports channels etc and the prices can go upwards of 250.00 a month. Imagine - that much a month for shows you will only watch a small portion of - even if you run the tv most of the day and night. We don't have a tv - we sit and chat in the evenings or read to each other from interesting books we want to share. I can think of a whole lot of other things to do with up to almost 3,000.00 a year - holy cow that is just crazy!!!

Margaret Butterworth said...

Here in Australia there is no TV licence fee. Our free-to-air channel (ABC) is increasingly strapped for cash and has to show repeat after repeat of Midsommer Murders and Grand Designs. There is only reasonable viewing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. On the other nights, I often watch DVDs purchased from the UK, such as Shetland, Lewis, Endeavour and Vera.

mrsnesbitt said...

£800,000 - phew!

Jennyff said...

I still think the tv licence is good value, there are some absolute gems to watch amongst all those home renovation and quiz shows. What really annoys me is that in the last few years we have not been able to receive UK channels in Italy. On winter nights I'd happily watch Pointless, have you ever seen Italian telly, its a joke. And I'm with you on not giving up a free entitlement and not giving to charities where the CEO is overpaid.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I do agree with those who say how good the BBC is - probably the best TV in the world I guess - and without adverts, which I hate. The other thing which shows up from your answers is that one man's meat is another man's poison - so it looks as though there is an argument for saying the BBC tries to cater for everyone.
Thanks for visiting.