TV licence evasion...

I read this...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22947160

I then got thinking.

The BBC could wipe this out by simply using smart card technology on
both freeview, freesat and "freesat from Sky" platforms and as a levy on
top of a regular sky card subscription.

Clearly the technology exists..... the saving made by not prosecuting
the TV licence evaders would probably cover the costs of setting up the
smart cards, the CA system, the data centre to enable or switch off
smart cards based on a licence payers's bill status.... it would also
allow monthly direct debiting and annual fee payments.

When was the last time Sky prosecuted a Sky subscriber for not paying
for their Sky? They simply switch the card off and pass the debt to the
debt collection agency. At most it would only be a few months worth, not
up to a whole year or even more depending on how long the person has
evaded the licence for...

Discuss......

On 18/06/2013 07:46, Stephen H wrote:
I read this...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22947160

I then got thinking.

The BBC could wipe this out by simply using smart card technology on
both freeview, freesat and "freesat from Sky" platforms and as a levy on
top of a regular sky card subscription.

Clearly the technology exists..... the saving made by not prosecuting
the TV licence evaders would probably cover the costs of setting up the
smart cards, the CA system, the data centre to enable or switch off
smart cards based on a licence payers's bill status.... it would also
allow monthly direct debiting and annual fee payments.

When was the last time Sky prosecuted a Sky subscriber for not paying
for their Sky? They simply switch the card off and pass the debt to the
debt collection agency. At most it would only be a few months worth, not
up to a whole year or even more depending on how long the person has
evaded the licence for...

Discuss......




because then people could simply choose to not subscribe to the bbc -
whereas at the moment people are obliged by law to subscribe in order to
watch any tv.
lots of people would live without the bbc - less money for them.

--
Gareth.
That fly.... Is your magic wand.

In article ,
Stephen H wrote:

The BBC could wipe this out by simply using smart card technology on
both freeview, freesat and "freesat from Sky" platforms and as a levy on
top of a regular sky card subscription.

So we'd need to buy new TVs and set-top boxes again? And all computer
TV tuners would become useless? Sounds wonderful for the
manufacturers.

The extra cost to users would be far more than the loss from licence
non-payers. The inconvenience alone would outweigh it.

-- Richard

In article ,
Martin wrote:
On Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:46:54 +0100, Stephen H
wrote:

I read this...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22947160

I then got thinking.

The BBC could wipe this out by simply using smart card technology on
both freeview, freesat and "freesat from Sky" platforms and as a levy on
top of a regular sky card subscription.

Clearly the technology exists..... the saving made by not prosecuting
the TV licence evaders would probably cover the costs of setting up the
smart cards, the CA system, the data centre to enable or switch off
smart cards based on a licence payers's bill status.... it would also
allow monthly direct debiting and annual fee payments.

It would be cheaper to fund the BBC from the infrastructure and stop
wasting money on all that is involved in a licence system The Dutch
did this already ten years ago.

On a number of occasions, the Government has set up committes of enquiries
into just that. They come back with "keep the licence fee". MT was
furious with the one she set up.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

Not many pieces of gear have anywhere to put a smart card though, least not
the ones I have, and thus one would have had to have done this at the start
not now.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Stephen H" wrote in message
...
I read this...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22947160

I then got thinking.

The BBC could wipe this out by simply using smart card technology on both
freeview, freesat and "freesat from Sky" platforms and as a levy on top of
a regular sky card subscription.

Clearly the technology exists..... the saving made by not prosecuting the
TV licence evaders would probably cover the costs of setting up the smart
cards, the CA system, the data centre to enable or switch off smart cards
based on a licence payers's bill status.... it would also allow monthly
direct debiting and annual fee payments.

When was the last time Sky prosecuted a Sky subscriber for not paying for
their Sky? They simply switch the card off and pass the debt to the debt
collection agency. At most it would only be a few months worth, not up to
a whole year or even more depending on how long the person has evaded the
licence for...

Discuss......

On 18/06/2013 08:27, charles wrote:

On a number of occasions, the Government has set up committes of enquiries
into just that. They come back with "keep the licence fee". MT was
furious with the one she set up.

That was the natural state of mind for her. [except when ****ing us over
that is]

--
David Kennedy

http://www.anindianinexile.com

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
Not many pieces of gear have anywhere to put a smart card though, least
not the ones I have, and thus one would have had to have done this at the
start not now.

================================================== ===
Dyke 'promoted Freeview to save licence fee'
By Owen Gibson

Media Guardian, UK: 17 September 2004
http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/stor...306275,00.html

Greg Dyke has confirmed suspicions in the commercial sector that he launched
the digital terrestrial TV service, Freeview, as a way of delaying the day
the licence fee would be scrapped.

The former BBC director general reckoned that if millions of homes were
hooked up to Freeview, the move to turn the BBC into a subscription service
could be prevented.

This is because under Mr Dyke's original plans the Freeview service would be
a Trojan horse, offering free channels exclusively with no means of
collecting subscription fees.
[...]
================================================== ===

In article , Martin
wrote:
On Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:53:26 +0100, "Max Demian"
wrote:

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
Not many pieces of gear have anywhere to put a smart card though,
least not the ones I have, and thus one would have had to have done
this at the start not now.

================================================= ==== Dyke 'promoted
Freeview to save licence fee' By Owen Gibson

Media Guardian, UK: 17 September 2004
http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/stor...306275,00.html

Greg Dyke has confirmed suspicions in the commercial sector that he
launched the digital terrestrial TV service, Freeview, as a way of
delaying the day the licence fee would be scrapped.

The former BBC director general reckoned that if millions of homes were
hooked up to Freeview, the move to turn the BBC into a subscription
service could be prevented.

This is because under Mr Dyke's original plans the Freeview service
would be a Trojan horse, offering free channels exclusively with no
means of collecting subscription fees. [...]
================================================= ====


The negative side of funding via the infrastructure is that the
government would decide on the BBC's budget. In a way it does already by
capping the licence fee.

but not a daily basis

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

In article ,
the dog from that film you saw wrote:
because then people could simply choose to not subscribe to the bbc -
whereas at the moment people are obliged by law to subscribe in order to
watch any tv.
lots of people would live without the bbc - less money for them.

I often wonder about this. If everything was subscription based, how many
would still have the BBC? Of course many who complain about the licence
also say they never watch the BBC. But usually lie...

--
*Indian Driver - Smoke signals only*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"the dog from that film you saw" wrote in
message ...
On 18/06/2013 07:46, Stephen H wrote:
I read this...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22947160

I then got thinking.

The BBC could wipe this out by simply using smart card technology on
both freeview, freesat and "freesat from Sky" platforms and as a levy on
top of a regular sky card subscription.

Clearly the technology exists..... the saving made by not prosecuting
the TV licence evaders would probably cover the costs of setting up the
smart cards, the CA system, the data centre to enable or switch off
smart cards based on a licence payers's bill status.... it would also
allow monthly direct debiting and annual fee payments.

When was the last time Sky prosecuted a Sky subscriber for not paying
for their Sky? They simply switch the card off and pass the debt to the
debt collection agency. At most it would only be a few months worth, not
up to a whole year or even more depending on how long the person has
evaded the licence for...

Discuss......




because then people could simply choose to not subscribe to the bbc -
whereas at the moment people are obliged by law to subscribe in order to
watch any tv.
lots of people would live without the bbc - less money for them.

In addition, many homes contain multiple TV's. Ours has three, only one
(and a non $ky CI satellite receiver, which would need a CAM*) has CI card
slot.


--
Gareth.
That fly.... Is your magic wand.

* and $ky won't supply a CAM for CI receivers, so no sale