TV Licensing in the UK

[quakefiend420]

i had no idea that this is how the BBC was funded

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom

 

[zerocool84]

In the United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies, any household watching or recording television transmissions must purchase a television licence, every year. As of 2010, this costs £145.50 for colour and £49.00 for black and white.[1] The licence is required to receive any television transmission, whether it is received via terrestrial, satellite, cable, or the Internet. A licence is not, and never has been, required simply to possess a TV set, for the purpose of watching pre-recorded content, or use as a monitor for video games or computers. Although income from the licence is primarily used to fund the television, radio and online services of the BBC, a licence is needed to view all broadcast channels, including commercial services. Total levies from the licence fee were £3.45 billion in 2009–10[2] of which £556 million or 16% was provided by the Government through concessions for those over the age of 75.

Crazy

 

[0roo0roo]

On one hand it gives them top gear.
on the other hand since everyone pays, every busy body is finding offense at content..such as on top gear.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Wow they still operate like that over there? That's how it worked here decades ago, but not recently. No one ever paid it.

 

[Sunbird]

South Africa also works like that, except its much worse than in the UK.

We get 3 crappish channels also filled with many adverts and you still have to pay the TV license (I think the BBC channels are largely advert free right?)

They (SABC) have legal protection and can fine you/do debt collection. Its around $42 a year.

 

[eldorado99]

TV is a big responsibility; everyone should be required to go through a licensing process for public safety.

 

[Lonyo]

It's not a UK thing, many countries around the world do it.

 

[SearchMaster]

Yeah I think Germany does it too. I have a friend who lived there for a year or so and was surprised when he got a knock on the door one day and they asked him how many radios and televisions he had in the house, then got billed for it.

 

[HAL9000]

I know you guys mock but it's awesome, it gives us Top Gear and Doctor Who etc etc and loads of other stuff without ADVERTS! No adverts on the BBC it's amazing. Imagine, watching a sports game without adverts! It happens on the BBC