Is This Next To Go?

[TWR]

TV Licence? caring we"re all in it together Government! what next, the shirt off our backs?

[lady-janine]

I suspect most folk will just ignore this plea.

[Svejk]

Hope so. Are they scrapping the BBC?

[fiction-factory]

Over 75s can volunteer to pay it if they want. It's just like being able to return your winter fuel allowance. Some very affluent over 75s are happy to do it. (Why should over 75s get a free TV licence anyway? Why not add £2-3 a week to their pension and give them a choice?)

[Baldric]

I hadn't realised the BBC formed The Government, you learn something every day.

///The over-75s could be asked to make a voluntary contribution towards their TV licence under a BBC initiative potentially fronted by stars of pensionable age.///

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/tv-radio/bbc-set-to-end-free-tv-licence-for-over-75s-1-4011321

[lady-janine]

I suppose it is one less bill to worry about. why not just give them an extra £10. it could be paid for by reducing mp's allowances.

[fiction-factory]

There's about 5 million over 75s in the UK ladyjanine. If you did mean just £10 per over 75 person that would be £50million and would mean reducing MPs expenses by £50 million a year or nearly £80000 a year per MP. May be a tall order

[lady-janine]

thanks for the statistics ff. yes I agree I can't see them going for that but I am sure there are ways osborne could tidy up the financial situation so that this is unnecessary.

[douglas9401]

Maybe Gideon can find another twenty million quid to help out those who find things a bit confusing and irksome in our society.
He could double it up with his proposed language classes and save on the cost of hiring venues to teach the lingually challenged.

[Old_Geezer]

The TV licence should have gone years ago.

[viv41]

I'm quite happy for over 75's to have a free TV licence.

[jourdain2]

We've had to fight tooth and nail to get our free TV licence since our return from France last March - no way we are giving it up, it would be a big strain on the finances.

Shirts off backs can be donated to the jumble sale I am helping to run (6th Feb) proceeds to the Yorks flood relief.

[Canary42]

Your sarcasm is misplaced Baldric - the free over-75 TV licence was funded by the Government until Osborne put the responsibility on the BBC. The BBC are trying to reduce this extra expense.

[jno]

making things free for the elderly is a political decision aimed at winning the grey vote; Osborne is just trying to get someone else to pay for it.

[ichkeria]

I'll assume this question is about the free licences for all over 75s, although I am not convinced ...


jno is quite right: the decision to make the BBC pay for this is a shocker. A way of the government saving money while at the same time not p*ing off its wealthy grey voters. It is going to lead to a 10% reduction in BBC funding, and all so that the government can have its cake and eat it.
There is talk of them wheeling in Terry Wogan and co in an advertising campaign to urge wealthier old folk not to pay it.
I am not sure that is altogether a wise move. I can see the tabloid headlines now ...

It never ceases to amaze me that the Tory party, which loves to trumpet "British values", seems to have it in for an organisation that stands for British values more than any I can think of. A very mixed message to be sending to its target audience I would have thought.

[ichkeria]

sorry "to urge wealthier voters ... to pay it " :-)

[Baldric]

///The BBC are trying to reduce this extra expense.///

I believe that is what my post says, Tweetie Pie!

[TWR]

Easy Answer to the BBC, Advertise, simple.

[Svejk]

ichi. Perhaps the millions of extra immigrants will offset the bad luck that people are living longer.
Bet there's some right fiddles going on re grandpa's address.

[Svejk]

///It never ceases to amaze me that the Tory party, which loves to trumpet "British values", seems to have it in for an organisation that stands for British values more than any I can think of. ///

Chortle, splutter. You kill me, ichi.

[Buenchico]

>>> Easy Answer to the BBC, Advertise, simple.

Where is all of the advertising revenue going to come from?

With the advent of the internet (and social media in particular) the total amount of advertising revenue available to TV broadcasters has dropped dramatically at a time when the number of broadcasters trying to get a share of it has increased considerably. So, for example, the 'real terms' revenue available to ITV has fallen by over 90% (which is a really MASSIVE cut!). ITV struggles to survive and has made it quite clear that it would go out of business if it had to share available advertising revenue with the BBC channels. Similarly, lots of other stations would also have to close down. (The vast majority of British TV stations operate 'very close to the edge' financially).

Anyway, the BBC already raises money through advertising via its commercially-operated channels. UKTV (Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, Good Food, Home, Really, Watch & Yesterday) is the BBC's commercial arm, co-owned with Scripps Networks Interactive.