Laywoman's view of analogue switch off

Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay =A350 for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."

Bill

wrote in message
ups.com...
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay £50 for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."

Lol, so *that's* what they mean by the "with no subscription fee" bit. There
be method in their madness.

It bet that one never crossed the minds of the BBC marketing bods.

In article . com,=20
says...
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay =A350 for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."
=20


I wish that was true.

"Ad C" wrote in message
k...
In article . com,
says...
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay £50 for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."


Didn't Tessa Jowell recently allow the BBC to retain the license fee until
2016. It would appear that by that time with digital TV the norm, the BBC
won't be able to justify charging a license fee.............

Found it.........
"THE BBC will keep its licence fee for another 11 years but only if it
ditches the glut of lifestyle shows which dominate its main channels, the
government announced yesterday.

In one of the biggest overhauls in the Corporation's 77 year history, Tessa
Jowell, the Culture Secretary, said the Board of Governors would be
scrapped, to be replaced by two new bodies.

In return for a continuation of the licence fee until 2016, she demanded an
end to "copycat" programming in which the BBC tried to compete with its
commercial rivals for ratings. Instead, there should be a re-commitment to
quality public- service broadcasting.

In Scotland, the changes should mean more prime-time regional documentaries,
drama, arts and current affairs programmes.

But critics last night slammed the government's plans, saying they did not
go far enough to reform the BBC.

Lifestyle, light entertainment and makeover shows such as Fame Academy, Cash
in the Attic and Flog It are believed to be in the firing line under the new
proposals. Hit comedy Little Britain, political drama State of Play and
undercover documentary The Secret Policeman are considered to be examples of
the BBC getting it right.

The BBC will also be forbidden from consigning all its arts programming to
BBC4 or its documentaries to BBC2. Instead, every channel will have to
fulfil the corporation's public service remit.

The programme restrictions will be part of the BBC's new mission statement,
which will be key to retaining its £2.8 billion annual licence fee.

Launching the green paper, A Strong BBC, Independent of Government, Ms
Jowell said: "Like the NHS, it faces the need to change so that it can be as
effective in the future as it has been in the past."

Through surveys and focus groups, she concluded that although the BBC was
"liked and trusted by millions", people often felt "the BBC is too remote,
too metropolitan, its accountability unclear, its programmes too dull, or
too copycat".

She added later: "The BBC must not be tempted to use the unique clout the
licence fee gives it to step on the toes of other broadcasters. It should
not play copycat. Or chase ratings for ratings sake. Or put legitimate
businesses at peril."

As well as more regional programming for Scotland, the green paper hinted at
a separate Gaelic channel. But ministers have ruled out appointing a
separate trust for BBC Scotland.

Mark Thompson, the BBC's director-general, conceded that the BBC had been
guilty of copycat programming and vowed that the corporation would raise its
game. He announced plans for a "creative review" of the BBC's programming,
insisting the idea had been in the pipeline before publication of the green
paper.

"Very few people set out to make derivative programmes, but there are
fashions in TV," he said.

"We have to go for ambitious programmes and content, and try to pay less
attention to other people's fashions."

Ms Jowell said she believes a ten-year charter - from 1 January, 2007, until
31 December, 2016 - will give the BBC and viewers "stability" during the
switchover to digital TV. But she said the government would conduct a review
of alternative methods of funding the BBC and investigate the possibility of
a subscription-based system before the end of the next charter. Despite its
weaknesses, she said there was not yet a "viable alternative" to the licence
fee.

Ms Jowell wants to scrap the BBC Board of Governors, replacing it with a new
BBC Trust and an Executive Board.

The BBC Trust, which will be chaired by BBC chairman Michael Grade, will
have responsibility for the licence fee and will ensure that the corporation
fulfils its public- service obligations.

The Executive Board will be responsible for day-to-day operations. Ms Jowell
said the Board of Governors' dual role as "cheerleader and regulator" for
the BBC lacked clarity, transparency and accountability, and the Trust and
Executive Board will create "much-needed daylight" between the functions.

Mr Grade, who watched from the public gallery of the House of Commons as Ms
Jowell outlined her plans, expressed disappointment that the governors'
Building Public Value manifesto, published last year, had not been given
more time to take effect.

He said: "It is regrettable that our own reforms have not had time to prove
themselves. But it is important that the issue has now been settled ahead of
the new charter, providing the BBC with certainty and stability, adding that
the new model "heralds the biggest change in governance in 77 years".

But critics, who believe the licence fee should be abolished or shared out
between broadcasters in order to create "a more level playing field" in the
competition for audiences, were disappointed.

Kelvin Mackenzie, former editor of The Sun newspaper and chief executive of
the Wireless Group, which broadcasts talkSPORT on national radio, attacked
the decision to "shoot" the governors and replace them with another set of
"establishment dimwits". He said the BBC's time had "come and gone" and the
licence fee should be axed. He predicted BBC audiences will collapse as
executives scrap popular shows in an effort to live up to Ms Jowell's demand
for more public-interest programming.

Luke Johnson, the chairman of Channel 4, said nothing about the green paper
surprised him. "The BBC is essentially the establishment and I'm sure all
the senior figures would rather fall on their swords than have someone
top-slice their licence fee," he said. "Channel 4 will have to carry on
living on its wits and remain in the marketplace."

In article . com,
wrote:
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay £50 for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."

The broadcasters have a serious communication problem if they've allowed
their customers to think that.

But then... the BBC are planning to put their broacasts on the internet,
arent't they? What are we to assume about the legality of watching those
with or without a licence, or even *owning a computer*? The current
licence is apparently required if you have equipment installed for the use
of receiving broadcasts, which would by that definition include any
computer connected to the internet. If they want to continue funding the
BBC from a licence fee payable only by those who watch television, they'll
find themselves with a situation that is impossible to administer.

Rod.

"Aztech" wrote in message
. ..
wrote in message
ups.com...
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay £50
for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that
over and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."

Lol, so *that's* what they mean by the "with no subscription fee"
bit. There
be method in their madness.

It bet that one never crossed the minds of the BBC marketing bods.


Probably not, seeing that they obviously know the difference between
the legal need to have a licence to own (use) a TV and that of
needing a subscription to view certain channels....

"Ad C" wrote in message
k...
In article . com,
says...
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay £50 for
a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over
and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."


you said
I wish that was true.
/...


I don't, but then if you want wall-to-wall adverts, were the
programmes are tailored to what advertisers want their audience to be
then so be....

"Roderick Stewart" wrote in message
om...
In article . com,
wrote:
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay £50 for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."

The broadcasters have a serious communication problem if they've allowed
their customers to think that.

But then... the BBC are planning to put their broacasts on the internet,
arent't they? What are we to assume about the legality of watching those
with or without a licence, or even *owning a computer*? The current
licence is apparently required if you have equipment installed for the use
of receiving broadcasts, which would by that definition include any
computer connected to the internet. If they want to continue funding the
BBC from a licence fee payable only by those who watch television, they'll
find themselves with a situation that is impossible to administer.

But in a democracy shouldn't it be about choice? i.e. if I don't like
British Gas prices then I'm free to shop around to find a company that suits
'my' particular needs.

Yet IRC of all people it was the last Conservative government who actually
rushed through legislation to plug a loophole which allowed to people to opt
out of paying the licence fee.

After terrestrial digitisation it would-be the easiest thing in the world to
incorporate encryption, so perhaps it's something we should at least be
thinking about.


Rod.

In article s.net,
LID says...
you said
I wish that was true.
/...


I don't, but then if you want wall-to-wall adverts, were the
programmes are tailored to what advertisers want their audience to be
then so be....



There was a time when I thought it was worth paying for the license, but
the BBC have now lost the plot and are as bad as ITV.

I think once analogue is switched off, then the BBc should be
subscription. People with Sky may not even watch the BBc and yet they
have to pay to support it.

wrote:
Said to me today:
"Some of them on here they grumble about it, having to pay £50 for a
box. But what they don't seem to realise is, they'll save that over
and
over again because they won't have to buy the license any more."

Bill

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. ;-)
--
Adrian A