Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The BBC is set to axe free TV licences for the over 75's in June next year.
The history of free TV licences for older people is that it was paid for by the DWP.
However, in a deal brokered by George Osborne when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was agreed that the BBC would continue to provide this service if they could raise the cost of the TV licence.....so the TV licence went up.....and the BBC promised to keep it free....they even said they would be 'ahead' in this deal.
So now they have reneged on this promise.

Only those in receipt of pension credit will be exempt from this tax(it is a tax).
Now, many older people will just be over the limit to claim this benefit.....and many of those who would qualify are reluctant to apply as they are in the generation of the 'proud'.
There is currently a petition running to get this decision debated in Parliament.
I am going to post a link....please will you sign this?

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/234627

For many older people who are housebound, their TV is the only voice they can be sure to hear daily....it is their link to,the outside world.
All of us know someone elderly who likes their TV, but is on limited funds.
In spite of what some people would have you believe there are a lot of pensioners out there who are not rich....who get few pleasures in life.
Thank you in advance

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Last week they said how brave these people were, this week they take the licences away from em. lying fecking hypocrites imho

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I think the people who did the maths on this ought to go back to school.... according to various websites funding free licences for everyone over 75 would cost £745m by 2021/22, even with the new scheme will cost the BBC around £250 million by 2021/22.


Basically, the government decided to stop paying for the free TV licences and gave the BBC responsibility to decide....

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

There was never any doubt as to how outcome would be reached.
Yes, but this was part of a deal with the government......the cost of the licence went up.....and the BBC promised that they would continue to provide services for the elderly.

The Beeb pay many of their presenters and backroom staff more than the PM.....so maybe th should get the accountants in and see where they can make cuts in that direction.

I guess if these elderly folk decide not to pay, then the prisons will be full of warm, well nourished old folk who are happily watching TV in a prison cell.
It comes to something when criminals are treated better than the elderly.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The BBC should have no part in deciding social policies like this, on who and whom should get a free licence. The blame lies entirely at the feet of the government.

They were also given the freedom to to choose how they provided services based on consultations, of 190,000 asked 52% were in favour of reforming or abolishing free licence scheme.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Yes you are right, it was a sneaky trick.
Yes I know that the consultation was in favour by a margin of 52%-48%......but I would like to see WHO they asked and how the question was couched.
190,000 is not a lot when 3.5 million older people are the ones affected.
It can only be hoped that perhaps the government can take back the responsibility for this.....and restore the licence.

My mum(not here anymore) would have been one of those seriously affected.
In the last years of her life she relied on TV a lot....but was ineligible for pension. Credit as her totall per annum was something like £47 above the threshold.
So I know that it does make a huge difference in the lives of the older generation.

My feeling is that the TV licence should be scrapped for everyone and the BBC made a subscription service...that way those who watch what is produced can pay for it.
It is NO longer the public service broadcasting company that it was when the charter was first granted.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

A friend of ours her husband is £5 above the limit, he is in really poor health and only pleasure these days is tv, but things like that dont matter a fig to these barstewards responsible for this.:(

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I really feel for those who are lonely, have no visitors, rely on TV for 'company'.

I used to visit my mum every day, but she still got lots of pleasure from her TV.....and when she could not sleep in the early hours of the morning, she would watch it in bed.

Another drawback to Pension credit is that the forms are difficult for some old folk to fill in.....and many do not want 'snoopers' looking at their finances....it is not because they have a lot of money, it is just that they do not trust people.

It would be better to say that all pensioners get their licence for a reduced fee. Or better still....ditch the fee for everyone!

It was promised that the licence fee would remain free to over 75's 'for the duration of this Parliament ' that was in the Tory party manifesto.....so another pie-crust promise.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I have signed the petition and so has my mum. I think it’s about time the licence was scrapped altogether. The BBC should receive its funding by advertising as other TV companies have to do.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

As its no longer owned by Government i cannot think of a good reason why not to be honest.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The BBC is owned by the public. It has a royal Charter and this runs until 2026...when it is due to be renewed.
The BBC spends vast sums of money on slaries of so called 'stars'...the likes of Chris Evans and Gary Lineker...their combined salaries amount to something like 3.5 million pounds.
The BBC gets 3.7billion pounds from licence fees(they call it a fee, but in truth it is a tax).
It spent 1billion pounds on refurbishing the London HQ.
87 million went on a new set for Eastenders.
34 million on taxi transport.Bosses at the Beeb carved up 17million pound in salaries.
setting up a base at Salford cost another 224 million pounds.

so the question should be 'Shouldn't they cut their coat according to the cloth?'

George Osborne should never have been allowed to hand over the responsibility for the service to the BBC....but that said, the BBC PROMISED that if it were allowed to raise the licence fees in the budget, the over 75's would continue to get their free licences.
It was also a promise that was reiterated in the last Tory party manifesto.
So neither politicians, nor the BBC come out of this with any kind of integrity.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I wonder, Ryewolf, if you got this analysis off the BBC itself?
The BBC is well versed in manipulating statistics and presenting them as if they are hard facts and just about every news item on its website and radio channels (don’t know about TV as we don’t have one) has been pushing this 52% lie.

However, the actual consultation response was that 37% of the public wanted what the BBC has decided. 15% wanted the tax abolished completely. But the single biggest proportion was the 48% who did NOT want any change. The BBC simply combined the first two and claimed that 52% voted for “some form of change” (read its report, it took some finding, believe me).
This is typical of the misinformation for which more and more of us realise the BBC is quite happy to put out if it suits its political agenda.

So, notwithstanding its manipulations, the BBC is quite content to see 52% as an overwhelming endorsement of its actions.
Funny, though how exactly the same 52% for a vote to leave the EU has not prevented the BBC spending the last three years promoting the ‘rights’ of the 48% who voted remain.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/abouttheb...n-document.pdf

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Yes....I read that about the stats too.
If the BBC told me it was daylight I would go to the window to check it was telling the truth.
It is one of the most biased of the media.....parroting PC loony left dogma.....and portraying anything else as evil.

On the day the news about this issue broke....the BBC hardly mentioned it....it was a low level piece of news....well until other news channels started reporting it.

I have signed the petition....and the one being carried out by Age UK.....which is a bigger petition.
The elderly are seen as a burden....and much is made of the myth that the current old folk are better off than ever before.....but many are asset rich and cash poor.

A society should be judged on how it treats the elderly...they are the ones that ensured many of the freedoms we enjoy.....and they were the ones who rebuilt the country after two wars and they are being betrayed.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The petition has now hit the threshold where is should be discussed by the government.....hope they don't wait until they have sorted Brexit.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I found it via MSN on the Express website, but as you say stats can be manipulated.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

These stats certainly seemto have been.;)

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

And that is lying.....not what you should be dealing with from the broadcaster paid for by us....the public.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

It's not exactly lying 52% were in favour of reforming or abolishing free licence scheme, but it's not exactly telling the truth either in that 48% wanted no change.

To be honest it's just more vulnerable people for the TVL goons to exploit and get a conviction from.... or get to buy a licence when it's not needed.

I've been getting their threatograms from TV Licencing for almost 20 years now at my current address, which all go in the recycled paper bin unopened...

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

As far as I know, bar the printing and posting of a bit of paper it doesn't really cost the BBC anything to give the free licenses.

If all the old folks that currently have a free license stopped watching then the BBC's profits will not fall 1 penny.

However I guess that they desperately need to recoup some funds after all those that are stopping paying for the license (because its an unwanted tax and often unnecessary).

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

how much will it actually bring in i,d like to know. not all over 75,s will pay as its per household. those in care homes will not pay and not sure if those in sheltered accomodation flats will pay or not. is it really worth winding up part of the population where if they wanted to make cuts they could reduce wages and the number of people they use in news broadcasts.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

So sneakily manipulating the figures is not lying?
It is misrepresentation on a grand scale
Only 15% of those surveyed wanted to abolish the concession.
The other 37% wanted the licence to be abolished for all.
But this was not what would fill the coffers of the BBC....so some other un-named sneaky person(at least we KNOW George Osborne was sneaky and he put his name to his sins).
It fitted the BBCs agenda to muddy the water regarding the figures....it gives them a financial advantage.
It means the the older people who were entitled to a free TV licence will now be asked to pay into the pot to fund the hefty salaries of those like Gary Lineker et al....who were part of tax avoidance schemes.....and the BBC was complicit in these.
It means that pensioners who may miss out on a free TV licence because they are too,proud to claim pension credit will be paying for the luxurious pensions of those who are already rich(and tax avoiders...but that is another discussion).
So, personally I consider the BBC to be dishonest.

The BBC was once a watchword for great programs, unbiased news and a full and honest public service vehicle in broadcasting. Now it offers more repeats than new programs , it support and promotes certain political perspectives and pays untalented people ludicrous sums for substandard tripe(I cite Jo Brand here)
It can no longer be considered that.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Prisoners...criminals get to watch TV at no cost to themselves....but pensioners over 75 have to pay.
These 75 year olds had an impoverished childhood...they did without many things....they worked(because work was honourable...and if you did not work then you did not eat) and in their old age when they should get some comfort and support, they are asked to cough up for a TV licence.

Somehow, we have got it all ar$e uppards.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

concessions at football matches. one lancashire club afc fylde have started this already, the bus passes. mind you we,re all loaded, a new car every year on top of our SAGA cruse in the sun.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I too put them straight in the bin.
Had one of their Gestapo appear at my door yesterday, he said,'all you have to do is go on line and tell the Beeb you don't need a licence', my reply was, 'All I have to do is buggernowt, I don't need to tell them anything', 'Ah yes' said he, 'but if you tell them I won't be calling to check on you'.
'I don't give a monkies if you call or not', it's your time and their resources your wasting, plus, a few years ago I did tell them, the letters & calls stopped for about six months then started again just to check if my circumstances have changed, they don't need to check, they will know when my circumstances change I'll buy a licence'.

It must be a frustrating job checking for non payers now that they aren't allowed to use the big con of a detector van.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

When my mum died I let all the agencies know that she was no longer with us...including the TVL.
The house was not sold for almost a year.
After six months I had a very intimidatory letter telling me that I could expect a visit from someone to check that the house was unoccupied and no TV services were being used.
It upset me, because I felt that I had done everything to prevent letters like this.

I rang them up and got a very snotty woman who told me that these things were computer generated ....like that made a difference.
I told her that the investigator was welcome to come and check that the house was empty....but asked for 24 hrs notice so that I could let them in....I also suggested that they bring Wellington boots as they would be required to walk through a lot of mud (and dog dirt) to get to the house.

Thankfully, I heard nothing more from them.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

You need to be careful what you say to the licencing goons, Ian Doyle who worked at Capita as part of the BBC outsourced licence enforcement, said he could get enough info for a conviction from a customer within 40 seconds....


Best to say nothing, sign nothing and shut the door.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

He wasn't a braggart then.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I am sure that I have read that it costs more to chase dodgers than they got back in fees.

If the BBC were not so sure of taking in fees then perhaps they would be more responsible in their spending.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

It must be worth enough to employ external companies who get paid commission on both sales of licences and convictions.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

This website has lots of info if you really want to go legally licence free:

https://www.tvlicenceresistance.info/

It boils down to this:

Don't reply or send back any threatograms, just bin them
Don't sign anything
Don't invoke the Withdrawal of Implied Right of Access (WOIRA), it just makes yo more of a target
If TVL Goons turn up and you answer the door, Say Nothing and Shut the Door
Treat the TVL as you would any cold callers, which is basically what they are.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Not necessarily so....they make a loss on it.
If I can find the article about it I will post it.
It doesn't have to be economic when they can spend what they want with no constraints.....(they spend 34 million quid on taxis...surely there must be a more economical way of transporting whoever)they will just go back to government and ask for an uplift in the licence....that was when the DWP were responsible for the over 75concessions...but now they cite this as part of their cost cutting issues.

The way people view programs now means that the licence should be abolished.
Back in 1920 when it was instituted, there was only the BBC that was available making radio programs.
Now it is different.
The corporation belongs to the public. It is supposed to provide education and entertainment for the public.....that is its reason for being.
And the deal with Osborne was 'let us raise the licence fee.....and we'll take over the provision of the concession'
It was a promise in the last Tory party manifesto too.....for what That's worth.

George Osborne must have been laughing his socks off.
And Lord Hall thought he had done a good deal!

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/76...ce-fee-dodgers

This is not the original article I read....can't find that one....but this contains much of the information in original.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

whilst i disagree with over 75,s having to pay for this licence i do think that they should be robust in catching those without one. years ago you saw those detection vans about but this seems something from the past. like car tax and insurance, no one really wants to pay it but for the majority of us we just get on with it and pay up.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

why should they give a monkies? us mugs that do pay the license finance things.:rolleyes:

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Yes Cashy, that is a large part of the BBC's problem, they are not accountable...they don't need to make ends meet...they can just ask for an uplift in the licence and poof...it is done.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Just had a look through all next weeks BBC schedule and there is NOTHING I will be watching. Why not make it a subscription channel for the people who do want it. The only thing then would be that I imagine so few would subscribe it would be unsustainable, and go the way of SKY channels which aren't watched.
Mark

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Mark...if they made it subscription they would have to up their game.
You yourself have said there is nothing in the next weeks offerings that you would choose to watch.
You are not on your own. So on that basis do you think they would make money?

I no longer trust the BBC either in its reportage of the news and even some of the documentaries have been faked...or had fake stuff included to suit climate change agenda, or other such 'woke' (i hate that term)issues

I watch very little TV these days(and it is getting less)...when himself is out of the house I switch the TV off.
I could honestly live happily without it.

Anyway this situation has prompted many older folk to seek out advice regarding the Pension credit...so it maybe that both the government AND the BBC will lose out

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

[QUOTE=Margaret Pilkington;1229022]

I no longer trust the BBC either in its reportage of the news and even some of the documentaries have been faked...or had fake stuff included to suit climate change agenda, or other such 'woke' (i hate that term)issues

the thing that only the BBC do good documentary programmes and top news stories went to the wall years ago. as good and better on other channels for me.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Agree with monkey hanger stuff went years ago.:(

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Yes, it did.
It is not the trusted broadcaster it once was...very biased.
It is like this news....about the licence fees.
Had it been a government led cut (and, yes...it was that in real terms) they would have been screaming about the 'poor and vulnerable' from the roof tops.
I think the news was released early to co-ordinate with the leadership race.
They hoped that the candidates would pick up the baton and promise to take responsibility for the fee.
That was what Age UK reported...it caught them on the hop, but more than half a million have signed their petition.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Yes, it did.
It is not the trusted broadcaster it once was...very biased.
It is like this news....about the licence fees.
Had it been a government led cut (and, yes...it was that in real terms) they would have been screaming about the 'poor and vulnerable' from the roof tops. They would have been wetting themselves with glee.
I think the news was released early to co-ordinate with the leadership race.
They hoped that the candidates would pick up the baton and promise to take responsibility for the fee.
That was what Age UK reported...it caught them on the hop, but more than half a million have signed their petition.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Did someone say new Eastender's set now 27 Million over budget total cost. 86.7 Million

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...o-brick-brick/

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I think I might have posted the projected costs early on in the thread.
There are lots of other irresponsible costs incurred too.
32 million on a channel that no -one.....not a single viewer....has ever watched.
The BBC are not accountable.
They can spend whatever they please....and if they run short they will petition whatever government is in power for an uplift in the licence fees.....typically the deal where they took over this responsibility, saw them being promised an uplift in the fees and a yearly uplift to cover inflation.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Whats that channel margaret?

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The current kerfuffle over the conservative Leaders debate shows the BBC to be biased.....so not truthful....because if you skew the perspective on an important news item then how can it be truthful?

During this weeks schedule of programs there are 110 repeats.
Things we have seen more than once....but are expected to pay for again.

It is time to ditch the charge for a TVLicence.
Let the BBC find other sources for its ridiculous spending

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/11...tv-licence-fee

There you go Cashy.....the full story.
Not sure if it names the channel.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

It says enough a scottish channel 21 of em attract no viewers:eek:

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Glad to be of help Cashy.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

its got like council run services and nationalised industries of the past. good at making losses and going cap in hand for extra funds to pay for the losses that occured. think i would be prepared for adverts now just to scrap another fee thats compulsory for the great majority of us.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I liked this bit of the article:-

Tim Luckhurst told the Mail Online: “The figures are deplorable. But they simply confirm the central flaw in the entire project; there was never a shred of audience demand for it. “It was launched in a forlorn attempt to please the SNP, a classic example of why the BBC should never bow to political bullying.”

So, the 'unbiased' beeb allows itself to be bullied by a dog with no teeth?
[emoji190]

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The BBC also wasted 100 million quid on a failed digital project.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26963723
And here it is from the Beeb itself.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

More....this time from the National Audit Office.

https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/up...Initiative.pdf

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Fell asleep by page 5 the one marked Summary, can't believe you read past there, Government bilge that is meant to put us off finding a 'simple' truth.
:stop:

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Of course I did not read the whole thing I skipped to the summary and read no further....oh yes, and read the Beebs own news item.
The government has to employ folk doing this kind of stuff that a blind man with no dog could suss out in ten seconds.

Money does not matter to them, because they have no need to worry about where it will come from.....they know it will come from us....and if we do not pay they will haul us into court and land us with a fine.
You only get to go to the choky if you are a persistent non payer....and even then I think they would send the bailiffs in to steal the milk out of your tea....the elastic out of your drawers......hell and blue thunder, they don't want to have to feed you, keep you warm and let you watch TV for FREE do they?
That would totally defeat the object.
Although for me, being put in jail would be small punishment.
Having to watch the dross produced by the BBC would be the punishment.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

its back to the old argument where why should i pay for the licence when i never watch the BBC. should go the same way as the dog licence when at least you never had to have one if you didn,t have a dog.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

They also receive money from tne eu, hence their blatant bias in favour of all things eu-rinal!

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The BBC are going to be paying Stacey Dooley a quarter of a million pounds to be the 'face' of the corporation.....yet they cannot fund the free licence for the over 75's.
Bleeding heart hypocrites.
This is how they will spend the pensioners money.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

How many TV Licences would Gary 'Remain Biased' Lineker's £1.75 million a year fee for presenting MOTD buy ?

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

A blooming lot.
I wouldn't pay him tuppence.....he's 'nowt a pound and muck's tuppence'.

As a footballer he was OK, but as a TV pundit he has grown far too big for his boots.

Never mind.....at some point he will be put to bed with a shovel.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

the latest …

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49998130

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

It was disingenuous of the BBC to lump together the figures of those who wanted to abolish the licence fee and those who wanted to change how the licence was funded....because those two groups are in opposition.

The BBC will never live within its budget.....because it has a pool of the population who are LEGALLY OBLIGED to pay.
So they can spend OUR money like water, paying ludicrous fees to the likes of Gary Lineker(yes, I know he has said they can reduce his fees.....I should think so too....who is worth 1.78 million quid a year...certainly not him)

The BBC does not provide value for money.
Many programs broadcast have been aired before...many times.

Make the BBC responsible for reducing its costs.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I see some are up in arms over the cancellation of Victoria Derbyshire. I can well see why she is 'heartbroken' - £250'000 a year of licence payers money on her salary alone for a programme with an audience figure of 39'000 which is less than what 10 year old re-runs of Four in a Bed are getting around the same timeslot. The sooner Johnson gets around to scrapping the licence fee the better.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Anyone know how much the BBC ( er… I mean us!) are paying Greta the Goblin to preach her doom and gloom messages at us ? … and why in the interests of fairness and balance are they not presenting any counter arguments ?

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

This has been posted in the wrong thread, anything regarding Greta should be posted in "Joke of the day" :) :)

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Because the Biased Broadcasting Corruption has long since given up being fair or balanced. The BBC spouts that it is even-handed but, adopting Adolf’s maxim, knows it needs to constantly tell that lie.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

You can't put a price on the "Words" of St.Greta von Thunberg!

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Oh yes you can....you should get change from tuppence(at least thee ha'pence).

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Be honest, it's time the beeb became independent, a state subsidised media station should not exist so free licences should be for all not just over 75's.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

You will get no argument from me on that one Less...and I think it is coming.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

hope yer right doubt it myself.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I didn't say it was imminent Cashy...just that it is coming.
After all, the young folk do not watch TV in the way we watched it for decades...they use Netflix, YouTube, Subscription services.
I really think that at some point in the future the BBC is going to have to decide to either go for commercial support, or a subscription style service.

If I am still above the sod, I won't be one of their subscribers....I think that they have lost the confidence of the general public.
They are NOT the impartial service that it set out to be....and it has lost trust.

It manipulates the news by selective reporting(which is a lot like lying).

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Maybe it's time to just stop paying for their biased garbage...…..

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...pay+tv+licence

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Cashy, you heard it first here.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...pped-hzwb9bzsx

I firmly believe that it is going to be done.....and it might just be sooner than later.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

i still doubt it Margaret,if it does occur this subscription will soon replace it im sure.it will be a con over time.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The thing is Cashy, if it goes to subscription, then those who do not pay will not view.
I would not subscribe to this service....removing the licence means that people DO have a choice, where previously it was levied on all TV owners.
If you bought a TV the retailer was forced by LAW to send your details in so that it could be checked whether you were viewing legally.
The Observer used to be full of folk hauled before the courts because they had been caught out viewing without a licence.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

agree, but i would have to subscribe even though i watch very little telly, the boss is addicted to soaps so i would have to have it.:D

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Well, if you want a happy life you have to have a happy wife....and some sacrifices are priceless.

Let's hope that when the Beeb are forced into subscription mode, there will be a tiered system of subscription...that way you will only be paying for what is watched, not the extravagance of having 13 reporters abroad in the US reporting on the elections in the US....which is important to WHO exactly...of interest to WHO exactly.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

that sort of thing is exactly what i fear, please remind me when the ordinary person has been looked after?

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

cashy...for my age...i consider I have quite a good memory...but I have thought and thought and cannot come up with anything worth a light.


there are so many repeats of dumb stuff....so much crap

the Beeb needs to realise that there are only so many times that you can watch Dad's Army, only so many times you can watch Porridge before it becomes tedious.
Yes, they WERE good in their time, but that time has passed.

They try to seem 'cutting Edge' by rejigging things like ...doing over A christmas Carol
in a way that insulted the original...they have done the same to Agatha Christie...they have not improved the story by completely changing it and to their mind making it 'modern' by adding expletives.
It just puts their integrity in question.....and there really is no honesty within the BBC.
They only represent the metropolitan bubble that is London.
or at least that is how I see it.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

So oft have things been repeated that I reckon a few of us could get together and do a stage version of a lot of programmes without the need to learn lines or rehearse.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

[QUOTE=Margaret Pilkington..they have not improved the story by completely changing it and to their mind making it 'modern' by adding expletives.

plus the usual one parent family, sex scenes that are nothing to do with the plot and the obligatory gay or lesbian couple.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

The 'other' side aren't much better either with it's pathetic brainwashing adverts designed to make us more 'accepting' to 'other backgrounds' - while totally ignoring the indigenous majority.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

[QUOTE=monkey hanger;1237406][QUOTE=Margaret Pilkington..they have not improved the story by completely changing it and to their mind making it 'modern' by adding expletives.

plus the usual one parent family, sex scenes that are nothing to do with the plot and the obligatory gay or lesbian couple.[/QUOTE]

And don't forget the mixed race couple.
All propaganda programming.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

[QUOTE=monkey hanger;1237406][QUOTE=Margaret Pilkington..they have not improved the story by completely changing it and to their mind making it 'modern' by adding expletives.

plus the usual one parent family, sex scenes that are nothing to do with the plot and the obligatory gay or lesbian couple.[/QUOTE]


Don't go forgetting the BAME, Alphabetties & trans-self-no idea what the hell I am communitys MH. ;)

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

[QUOTE=DaveinGermany;1237442]Seth McFarlane got it right NEVER apologise to them ……


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgy0EFc1N3o

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

my problem is that i do not get immotional or offended in this snowflake age when watching the box.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Me neither, I just don't watch English telly anymore & very seldom the German stuff either, think my telly is on for about 5 hours on a Sunday evening, the rest of the time the radio is on or I'm streaming music.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

[QUOTE=DaveinGermany I just don't watch English telly anymore & very seldom the German stuff either, think my telly is on for about 5 hours on a Sunday evening, the rest of the time the radio is on or I'm streaming music.[/QUOTE]

been watching loads of old films and documentaries on youtube the last few months due to finding sod all to watch on any channel especially the ones we,ll have to pay for in the future.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

call the midwife .. top gear .. antiques roadshow .. I will admit question time just to shout that its wrong :p

think the tv licence is too expensive though .. and should be cheaper .. also agree they shouldn't be charging the over 75s well really it should be over 67 the new pension age :p

but I listen to radio Lancashire all day .. even now ive got alan Beswick on the radio instead of having the tv on .. after part listening to radio 5 live the commentary Liverpool and west ham .. mainly because I have vested interest ive got a fantasy football team in a league with the spugster .. and the spugster was beating me by 2 points .. :p that's something else to think about the tv licence does go towards paying for the radio too ..

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

I never listen to the radio.(well except when we are in the car...it is forced upon my ears then)
I think that the BBC have politicised many programs....and they have downright spoiled many of them by trying to make them cutting edge....Dickens would be spinning in his grave st what they did to A Christmas Carol.
Jen, the Beeb have got used to having this huge pot of money to splash about....they have never really had to budget.
How are the folk like the irritating Gary Lineker worth the salaries that they are paid....and the Beeb encourage these folk to avoid paying tax on their wages.
No, get rid of the licence make them look at other ways of funding...subscription, commercial sponsors.....or just making programs to sell to other channels.
Maybe then they would behave differently.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Top Gear. could find a group of 17 year old car thieves that could make a better programme just for a bit of banned substances they could use. think us millions of car users and thousands of petrol heads deserve something better than that.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

We pay a Sky subscription...but that is our choice(well, his actually)...but with the TV licence you are forced to pay it even if you do not use the service.
In fact I think it was in 2005/2006 that it was changed from a 'service charge' to a hypothecated tax.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

When it was a national broadcaster then it may have been worth paying for but now it is a minority interests station it has become a pale shadow of it's former self and a one sided disgrace to democracy. Let market forces prevail and only those who want it should pay - fleecing money out of everyone to pay for propaganda that the luvvies inflict on us is an insult.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

if you do not turn the gas on or switch the electric on you do not pay. why should the bbc be any different.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Unfortunately the stifling of any critical comment against the set narrative isn't confined to the BBC. I made (what I thought was) a fairly innocuous comment on this article 'Workplaces must make room for Muslim women – starting with our toxic drinking culture' on MSN where I just mentioned how in reverse most Muslim countries do not change their culture for any incoming non-Muslim cultures only to be barred for 'Islamophobic' comment. Quite a few media outlets stifle any critical comment on such things as Islam or Greta the Goblin with valid critical posts deleted and posters barred for 'violating the posting protocol'.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Welcome to the lefterist wankeratti dystopia, wear it like a badge of honour Jimmy lad, "Banned" just means they've got no argument & you're showing them up for the muppets they are.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

Thats exactly what it is Jimmy, stuff em.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

send me a pm of the site jimmy, i will go and get banned.;) By the way if its F.B. i have been banned 3/4 times for what i call innocuous comment.pmsl.

Re: Free TV licences for the over 75's
 

There is no such thing as free speech.
We are not encouraged to think either...or to make critical comments about anything....We are all supposed to swallow the same pap and think the same thoughts.
You can see far more veiled women in blackburn than you can in Agadir...or many other cities where muslims live.
I wonder how many christian churches there are in Saudi.

The labelling of people who dissent from the politically correct norm is a fine exampleof how healthy debate is stifled.
I worked with all creeds and colours uring my working life and never had a problem...but the pernicious PC brigade have got a real good grip on things.

Jimmy I really like you description of St Greta of Thunberg...and she fits it like a glove.
Someday she may direct her attention to the countries who are creating what she sees as climate change...but for now, the UK is a soft target with lots and lots of gullible virtue signalling followers.
If we are lucky she might just get afflicted by the Covid 19....or is that not a politically correct view to hold?
We can liove in hope, even if we die in clayton