[TV] What could the BBC do to cut costs or bring in more money

[clapham_gull]

I don't think that is the case.

The other broadcasters have long held the position that the licence fee arrangement gave the BBC an unfair advantage.

They may have done so historically, but everything has changed.

Traditional broadcasters are now more worried about the likes of Netflix, Disney and Amazon rather than each other.

Which is why they are looking at creating alliances.

The new players can create quality programmes people want to watch, without the need for ad revenue (threat to BBC)

Social media means companies have far outputs to advertise than linear television (threat to ITV)

 

[Gritt23]

Do you know how much PMs earn once they've left office and taken up a cushty role in the private sector? It would likely dwarf JL pay several times over (but I get your point!)

Oh God yeah, they earn HUGE bucks. But surely that just encourages you to run away from the job as fast as you can as soon as it's starting to go wrong. Whether that's an illegal war, or a referendum result that doesn't go your way, why stick around when there is a fortune to be earned.

But for actually doing the job of RUNNING THE COUNTRY, you get paid in a year, what Locadia earns in about 24 days! (note: I read somewhere he's on £45k a week)

 

[GOM]

Isn't it about time the BBC joined the 21st century, and got sponsorship through advertising, rather than holding onto this 'we're the Beeb and we don't have ghastly ads ruining our programmes' attitude?

Isn't that 20th century ? 21st century model is no advertising as per Netflix, Amazon etc.and streaming.

 

[Gritt23]

The plan is to link it to receipt of Pension Credit - https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

"Pension Credit is an income-related benefit made up of 2 parts - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it’s below £167.25 (for single people) or £255.25 (for couples).

Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, for example a pension."

Yep, I know that. But at what point do you have to start paying Licence Fee? How rich do you have to be?

My point being, are we talking everyone who has to pay for their own care home, so £23k, or are we talking about an estate worth £1m+?

 

[lawros left foot]

Do these numbers add up?

They’ve just said on the radio that 3.7 million over 75s currently receive free licenses. It costs 745 million per year, and the license fee is £154 per annum.

If you divide the total cost(745 million) by the number of entitled pensioners (3.7 million) it comes out at £201.35 a year per pensioner.

Why the discrepancy??

 

[GOM]

Isn't that 20th century ? 21st century model is no advertising as per Netflix, Amazon etc.and streaming.

...and to quote myself.

Isn't that what they already do. An annual subscription, which I pay monthly at a price akin to Netflix's subscription, but the BBC gives me more. I have live TV, I have streaming via iPlayer and I have radio, and local services etc.

Not a bad deal, just you leave my BBC alone.

 

[kjgood]

Could I just ask a question;

If the BBC hasnt been actually receiving any money from anyone for the free TV licenses to over 75 year olds since the responsibility was passed over to the coporation from the Department of Work and Pensions some years ago, how is it a £750 million loss. Surely the only loss is the actual paper bit if it is still sent out (which I dont think it is, mine certainly isnt) and the processing time by staff?

Its not a loss because they have never had the money, surely its £750 million of potential additional revenue? why not charge a small processing fee of say £10 for pensioners, then there is no loss at all?

 

[El Presidente]

Do these numbers add up?

They’ve just said on the radio that 3.7 million over 75s currently receive free licenses. It costs 745 million per year, and the license fee is £154 per annum.

If you divide the total cost(745 million) by the number of entitled pensioners (3.7 million) it comes out at £201.35 a year per pensioner.

Why the discrepancy??

Some 75+ pensioners are married/partners and only pay for one licence, others live in homes for the elderly etc.

 

[raymondo]

Reduce the number of commentators and pundits at all sports and other major events, and the number of'specialist' journalists.

 

[lawros left foot]

Some 75+ pensioners are married/partners and only pay for one licence, others live in homes for the elderly etc.

That would put the total cost down even more though. If the quoted figures are correct, it only costs £569.8 million per year, that’s with 3.7 million OAPs paying £154 a year, if any are in care homes or part of a cohabiting pair, the cost comes down.

When Johnson is proposing a 9 billion tax giveaway to the well off, it does seem a mean and penny pinching policy change, especially as the Tories promised they wouldn’t end it in their last manifesto.

 

[chaileyjem]

Could I just ask a question;

If the BBC hasnt been actually receiving any money from anyone for the free TV licenses to over 75 year olds since the responsibility was passed over to the coporation from the Department of Work and Pensions some years ago, how is it a £750 million loss. Surely the only loss is the actual paper bit if it is still sent out (which I dont think it is, mine certainly isnt) and the processing time by staff?

Its not a loss because they have never had the money, surely its £750 million of potential additional revenue? why not charge a small processing fee of say £10 for pensioners, then there is no loss at all?

The government started to fund over 75 tv licences about 15 years ago. In the 2015 licence fee settlement the responsibility for this was passed from the DWP over to the
BBC but It was due to be phased in, in 2020.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33414693

So after extensive consultation , the BBC had a choice to make this year to either a) fund all of them - thus £750m a year out of its annual income or b) make all over 75s pay c)make a proportion of over 75s pay based on income.
It went for c).
https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/reports/consultation/age-related-tv-licence-policy

.

 

[Two Professors]

Let Brussels pay for it.At the moment it works for them on a voluntary basis.

 

[Spicy]

Sack Gary Lineker - they pay the jug eared one too much.

 

[fosters headband]

Scrap TV licenses and fund it by all taxpayers paying it. Why should a single person living alone pay the same as a household of 2 or more wage earners. Spread the cost out as there are not many adult workers who don't watch TV. It could work out cheaper for everyone

 

[kjgood]

Scrap TV licenses and fund it by all taxpayers paying it. Why should a single person living alone pay the same as a household of 2 or more wage earners. Spread the cost out as there are not many adult workers who don't watch TV. It could work out cheaper for everyone

Why not scrap the license and make the BBC develop a new financial model the same as every other provider in the market. Why should they have a monopoly on funding?

 

[Juan Albion]

Just in the US and Canada, isn't it?

How is it? Good content?

I hardly ever use it. But it's generally a mix of old and new. Dr Who, Blackadder, Eastenders, Shetland, Midsomer Murders, Springwatch, Are You Being Served? etc. The content is limited a little by what contracts they already have in place to sell programs here. For example, Eastenders is on TV in Canada but not the US, so you will only get it on Britbox in Canada if you use VPN to pretend you are south of the border.

The streaming quality is good, though.

 

[fosters headband]

Why not scrap the license and make the BBC develop a new financial model the same as every other provider in the market. Why should they have a monopoly on funding?

Actually I agree. I have paid my licence all these years and rarely watch BBC or listen to their radio channels and as I get my channels through Virgin media I pay again

 

[DumLum]

Another vote for taking the axe to Lineker.
Gabby Logan can do his job.

 

[Pickles]

There are an awful lot of bedsits in the UK, compromising anywhere from 4 upwards in the same house, yet each one is charged at the full rate, which is wrong.

Many don't pay it and they're not challenged, but if the household was offered a 'household' rate, split between them, and the landlord responsible for paying, and adding to the rent, everyone's a winner. That's a few million ££££ and more straight off.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Sack Sara Cox. Unintelligible Northern yakkie bint.