As the BBC considers means testing the TV licence, Independent readers discuss how funding should change – from subscriptions to adverts

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We requested you how the BBC should be funded, as director basic Tim Davie has come underneath strain to stability the books at the company.

Last week, Mr Davie stated he’s open to a “more progressive” model of funding, revealing the “biggest-ever consultation process” on its future.

Mr Davie stated he believes a licence payment should nonetheless be in place in some capability as he feels it is necessary that everybody has a “stake” in it.

However, feedback from Independent readers have been diverse. While some advocated for preserving the BBC’s advert-free, excessive-high quality programming as a British establishment, others raised issues about the BBC’s independence and transparency.

Suggestions included adopting advert-primarily based fashions like ITV or subscriptions like Netflix,

Criticisms have been levelled at the TV licence payment’s equity and the burden in locations on households, particularly when the price of residing has skyrocketed.

Here’s what you had to say:

‘We should be proud’

Having had to endure TV out of the country for a few years, l am very joyful to pay the BBC licence payment, regardless that I’ve simply the state pension as earnings. When put right into a wider context, I believe British individuals don’t realise how fortunate we’re to have excessive-high quality programmes with out advertisements as in contrast to American-style channels, programmes and interminable advertisements.

The dross that’s churned out by the latter appears to be for the lowest widespread denominator, and to have the BBC producing movies and reveals for the considering particular person is a breath of contemporary air. I imagine we British should be proud to have the BBC as a British establishment that’s like no different, and, certainly, I believe we should treasure and defend it.

PommiePossum

‘Should be Government funded’

The BBC, as a public service broadcaster, serves a wholly completely different function to different business broadcasters, and should due to this fact be Government funded.

The BBC should obtain a grant for a set interval-of-time, e.g. 5 years, with which to function its providers and create programming. It should be set clear targets and expectations for what’s to be achieved in that interval, e.g. engagement, schooling, and likewise be mandated to generate earnings, with any ‘profits’ being paid again to the Exchequer.

The BBC is an important nationwide asset, creating far better worth for the nation and its populace than simply what’s on BBC 2 of a night. It should be given the sources to flourish as a substitute of getting used as a punching bag for each authorities wanting to distract from their very own mismanagement of funds 10+ occasions better than that of the BBC price range.

Cwatki321

‘It must keep its independence’

The most necessary think about the debate about the way forward for the BBC is that it should maintain its independence. It is our channel of reports in occasions of battle and emergency. This is a task that no different station fulfils and it is a price that the authorities of the day should present no matter its notion of bias.

If that is one other service the place richer individuals really feel entitled to intrude, this independence is in jeopardy.

Winnie

‘Have the ads pay for it’

It’s easy, simply do what ITV do and have the advertisements pay for it. This entire idea of needing a licence to watch BBC… it’s bs… Other networks get by simply high quality with out forcing individuals to pay.

ITV are doing fairly nicely with this strategy. Time BBC adopted swimsuit and stop threatening the public.

Dare2BFree

‘Licence fee should be scrapped’

I don’t suppose it’s justifiable together with the TV licence payment as a part of family payments. The company board pay, public-dealing with BBC personnel incomes tens of millions isn’t truthful whereas persons are struggling to pay their payments with ever-rising utility payments/ councils tax/insurance coverage/gas prices. How come we ask individuals incomes a bit extra to pay extra whereas BBC pays fats cat salaries that are outrageous.

The BBC licence payment should be scrapped and should discover its personal funding mannequin with not more than 25% coming from the authorities for fundamental BBC providers.

Saying it’s a nationwide service and asking the public to pay for the fats pay packets is morally flawed!!!

Puma9

‘I can’t justify the BBC in the twenty first century’

I’ve so many good reminiscences of the BBC that it’d be unhappy to see it go. But I can’t justify the BBC in the twenty first century. It’s not informing and it’s not entertaining, its sense of humour is as lifeless as its honour tradition.

To have both you want to not a lot inform individuals what to suppose and what to really feel, it’s an of self-confidence to enable actual laughter and actual opposition. The widespread thread is that you simply want a way of truthful play a way of permitting issues to land the place they do.

TheRedSquirrel

‘Make it a subscription channel’

Just make it a subscription channel the place you pay just for the BBC.

At the second you’ve gotten to have a licence to watch stay TV on different channels even in case you by no means watch the BBC.

BrummieGuy

‘Do we want to keep a public service broadcaster?’

Before deciding who pays what, we want to resolve if we wish to maintain a public service broadcaster.

If so, then the query of how it’s funded turns into related.

ColwynDay

‘Private subscription only’

The BBC should be non-public subscription solely. We by no means watch their programmes so why should now we have to pay for one thing we by no means watch. My guess is with out forcing individuals to pay the BBC could be out of enterprise fairly fast.

Bill

‘The licence fee is not a choice’

Why should individuals with more cash have to pay further for the identical product?

The license payment isn’t a selection.

The BBC is funded by public subscription.

Perhaps a clearout of these incomes huge salaries may be a begin in balancing the books. Is Huw Edward’s £435k per 12 months wage for studying the information in any approach justifiable?

DBlenkinsop

‘Outdated and unfair levy’

Traditional TV programming is gasping its final breath, very similar to the sinking viewership and readership of legacy media. In this digital period, the previous-guard leisure and information shops have gotten relics. The rise of streaming providers, on-demand content material, and digital platforms has left scheduled TV broadcasts and conventional print media in the mud.

Adding insult to damage, persons are fed up with the legacy media’s deceitful practices. Whether it’s blatant lies or intentional omissions, these shops are more and more seen as pushing biased agendas that don’t serve the public’s greatest pursuits. Trust is at an all-time low, and audiences are fleeing searching for extra clear, customized, and sincere sources of knowledge and leisure.

To make issues worse, the BBC licence payment is seen by many as an outdated and unfair levy. It’s excessive time this relic of a bygone period is scrapped. The days of conventional broadcasters and print media holding sway are numbered in an evolving media panorama that they’re failing to adapt to.

AndrewLusty

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