[headmelted]

Also, why are we being forced to subsidize EastEnders?

Whats the public benefit from that rubbish?

CBeebies, CBBC - cool. Public benefit makes sense.

BBC Science and Documentaries - Public benefit. Fully justifiable.

EastEnders - Pay money to make other people less intelligent or we’ll fine you.

[rsgrn]

I've never thought of EastEnders from that perspective. I don't disagree.

In theory, it could be used as a method of creating awareness and discussion of important life topics in a real life like familiar setting. And you can sort of see how they try to do that... but the need to have some new dramatic event every six weeks overshadows it.

[headmelted]

And that’s the issue. It’s only a lifelike setting if your life is like that of a Jeremy Kyle victim (who’s lives are likely not like they are depicted at all).

Give us money against your will to pay for things you don’t agree with or we’ll take away your access to live media from everyone else too.

Now whether or not they can carry out the threats they’re notorious for or not, I’m just saying if it walks like an extortionist and quacks like an extortionist..

[whywhywhywhy]

You're not forced to subsidize it. If you don't watch live TV or iPlayer you don't have to pay.

They'll send you threatening letters every 2 years or so saying they're going to come round your house but you just have to go on the website again and tell them you still don't watch live TV.

[headmelted]

Why is that even necessary?

Essentially you’re guilty until you declare yourself innocent, and you need to prove innocence if the Beeb’s minions turn up at your house? What if you didn’t realize you needed the license because the rules around live broadcasts and battery-powered devices are so absurd?

People get sent to jail over this ridiculous situation while the government cheers from the sidelines.

[whywhywhywhy]

Yeah it's extremely messed up and BBC likes to pretend it's not really responsible for it by hiding it under the guise of a "TV Licencing" body to distance itself [1]. I used to be pro-national broadcasting but honestly the quality of shows they produce has dropped so dramatically and how biased their news coverage has become I refuse to ever pay for it again.

[1] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_Un...

[908B64B197]

Why not simply charge for the BBC?

If you want to unlock it pay X$ per month. See how many viewers are willing to pay for it. That's what Disney and Marvel did, grossing billions of dollar in the process.