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New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

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Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#21

Post by jlgreco »

lutusp wrote: post #14
freehunter wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My question would be, how would they know you don't have a TV if you don't tell them? Calling it hate mail and taking the time to return to sender like the OP is just making life hateful for yourself.

> My question would be, how would they know you don't have a TV if you don't tell them? You may find this hard to believe, but they drive around in a high-tech van and monitor the kinds of signals that emanate from a TV set. If they detect the electronic signature of a TV set emanating from a house paying no license fee, or if they see an off-air antenna, they begin legal proceedings. What I said above was easier in…

The principle behind their operation is reasonable, basically just regular old Van Eck phreaking.

However I thought the general consensus is that they do not actually do this, and that it is simply a rather useful myth.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#22

Post by jiggy2011 »

andrewthornton wrote: post #19
cturner wrote: post #3

If they're smart they'll try to create a profit model oriented around online services, and switch their revenue stream to be funded through this. Currently they're funded through the "TV charge" which is a nasty footnote to life in the UK. Regularly I get hatemail through the letterbox telling me what a bad person I am for not paying the fee (mandatory for all owners of televisions), presuming that I have a TV. Yes,…

Can you explain a little more about how this system works? You have to pay for TV?

In the UK, if you watch any broadcast TV at all including cable or satellite you have to pay a TV license fee. This is a completely separate fee to whatever your cable/satellite service provider charges.

This license fee is paid to the BBC and used to support their programming regardless of whether or not you consume their content.

Basically this means that sometimes you can be forced to pay for stuff you simply don't want.

On the other hand , BBC programmes do not carry any advertising and are not funded by central government, so in theory at least they are impartial when it comes to coverage of politics etc. It also means they are not supported by corporate interests either, so won't scew programmes to avoid upsetting advertisers.

Whether or not they really are impartial is largely a matter of opinion, but I would personally say that they are at least less biased that other channels.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#23

Post by k-mcgrady »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #16
cturner wrote: post #3

If they're smart they'll try to create a profit model oriented around online services, and switch their revenue stream to be funded through this. Currently they're funded through the "TV charge" which is a nasty footnote to life in the UK. Regularly I get hatemail through the letterbox telling me what a bad person I am for not paying the fee (mandatory for all owners of televisions), presuming that I have a TV. Yes,…

I agree in the sense that I always feel a sense of rage every time my TV license is due for renewal. On the other hand, I don't actually mind paying money to support the BBC. As far as I can tell the system is mostly voluntary anyway since you have to actually use your TV to watch live broadcasts and I'm not sure exactly how they would prove this. So I guess scary letters might be the most effective strategy. Ironica…

Afaik they don't have to prove you watch your TV to make you pay. If your TV has a tuner you have to pay as you can receive BBC channels (even if you don't watch them.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#24

Post by arethuza »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #22
andrewthornton wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain a little more about how this system works? You have to pay for TV?

In the UK, if you watch any broadcast TV at all including cable or satellite you have to pay a TV license fee. This is a completely separate fee to whatever your cable/satellite service provider charges. This license fee is paid to the BBC and used to support their programming regardless of whether or not you consume their content. Basically this means that sometimes you can be forced to pay for stuff you simply don'…

"Whether or not they really are impartial is largely a matter of opinion"

The BBC seems to be consistently hated by governments of every party, so they are presumably doing something right.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#25

Post by takluyver »

wac wrote: post #7
cturner wrote: post #3

If they're smart they'll try to create a profit model oriented around online services, and switch their revenue stream to be funded through this. Currently they're funded through the "TV charge" which is a nasty footnote to life in the UK. Regularly I get hatemail through the letterbox telling me what a bad person I am for not paying the fee (mandatory for all owners of televisions), presuming that I have a TV. Yes,…

I felt like this for years- annoyed at the insistence that I pay the fee even though I don't own a TV. Then, in a moment of inspiration, I took 2 minutes to fill out the online form and haven't been bothered since. However, the BBC offers quality TV without the even greater annoyance of incessant commercials. Take the Olympics: NBC was criticised for their delayed and edited broadcast while the BBC broadcast nearly a…

And even without paying the fee, we get the BBC website, podcasts, the last week of programmes on demand (iPlayer), several national and many local radio stations.

No doubt the enforcement system could be tweaked a bit to improve it, but the results are more than worth the inconvenience.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#26

Post by jiggy2011 »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #23
jiggy2011 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree in the sense that I always feel a sense of rage every time my TV license is due for renewal. On the other hand, I don't actually mind paying money to support the BBC. As far as I can tell the system is mostly voluntary anyway since you have to actually use your TV to watch live broadcasts and I'm not sure exactly how they would prove this. So I guess scary letters might be the most effective strategy. Ironica…

Afaik they don't have to prove you watch your TV to make you pay. If your TV has a tuner you have to pay as you can receive BBC channels (even if you don't watch them.

Not the case any more, though I think it used to be.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ8/

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#27

Post by rjh29 »

cturner wrote: post #3

If they're smart they'll try to create a profit model oriented around online services, and switch their revenue stream to be funded through this. Currently they're funded through the "TV charge" which is a nasty footnote to life in the UK. Regularly I get hatemail through the letterbox telling me what a bad person I am for not paying the fee (mandatory for all owners of televisions), presuming that I have a TV. Yes,…

The license fee is not mandatory if you simply own a television, it's mandatory if the TV is tuned and receiving live broadcasts. I called them up four years ago, told them I only used by TV for playing Xbox, and they haven't sent me any hatemail since then. (They did threaten a visit, which never transpired)

I personally find it less hassle to call them once than to continually throw their mail in the trash, but whatever floats your boat.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#28

Post by gadders »

arethuza wrote: post #24
jiggy2011 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the UK, if you watch any broadcast TV at all including cable or satellite you have to pay a TV license fee. This is a completely separate fee to whatever your cable/satellite service provider charges. This license fee is paid to the BBC and used to support their programming regardless of whether or not you consume their content. Basically this means that sometimes you can be forced to pay for stuff you simply don'…

"Whether or not they really are impartial is largely a matter of opinion" The BBC seems to be consistently hated by governments of every party, so they are presumably doing something right.

Not really, no.

They were "hated" by the last Labour government, purely because of the BBC's anti-war stance.

On most issues, such as the EU, the environment, Israel and the Middle East etc their opinion seems to follow that of the Guardian (a left-leaning Newspaper).

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#30

Post by timthorn »

gadders wrote: post #29

As a Brit, I wish they would ditch all the "me-too" rubbish they do to ape commercial TV - Soap Operas, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice etc, and concentrate on the quality stuff such documentaries, arts etc.

I sympathise - there's nothing to beat BBC Four - but Strictly Come Dancing is a massive moneyspinner as a format and helps pay for the quality.
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