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It does, and it's every bit as ridiculous as it sounds, but I suspect it'll be discontinued within the next decade or so and the BBC will become something sane

by mrec 7y ago

It does, and it's every bit as ridiculous as it sounds, but I suspect it'll be discontinued within the next decade or so and the BBC will become something sane like a normal subscription channel. Anecdotally I've noticed a sea change in general-topic UK discussion fora over the past five years or so. It used to be the case that anyone criticizing the BBC was downvoted to oblivion, but the old reverence for it as an institution is very much a minority view now. EDIT: it's not just us, by the way; the US is actually in a small minority of countries who've never had a TV tax. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licence

goldcd 7y ago
I'm not sure I'd agree that there's been some "backlash" - on any discussion, both sides will quite happily criticize the BBC for bias, which I take to be a good thing. The funding model behind the BBC is a bit suspect - I'd prefer a direct grant from the government. Alternatives are not particularly palatable - it becomes a department of the government, or has to self fund and becomes just another commercial provider of dross.
- mrec 7y ago
  You might be replying to the wrong comment; I never mentioned "backlash". Less popular, less relevant, less trusted, yes.
  - amaccuish 7y ago
    I think they were shortening your words "It used to be the case that anyone criticizing the BBC was downvoted to oblivion" to "backlash". Also I haven't heard about the BBC becoming less popular, do you have any evidence for this? As far as I recall, BBC 1 is still the nation's favourite channel. It would be interesting to know how you voted in the EU referendum, as I tend to find this sort of anti-BBC-ness the greatest amongst Leave voters for no apparent logical reason.
    - mrec 7y ago
      No, that sentence was about a strong pro-BBC sentiment; goldcd's "backlash" is about a hypothetical anti-BBC one. I stopped owning a TV way back in 2004, specifically out of disgust at the BBC piling in to the property bubble insanity along with everyone else. If that's what "noncommercial" buys you, I don't really see the point. And I think the drift is less about the popularity of BBC TV channels versus non-BBC TV channels, than about the move to streaming and other Internet versus TV in general.

by mrec 7y ago

goldcd 7y ago

I'm not sure I'd agree that there's been some "backlash" - on any discussion, both sides will quite happily criticize the BBC for bias, which I take to be a good thing. The funding model behind the BBC is a bit suspect - I'd prefer a direct grant from the government. Alternatives are not particularly palatable - it becomes a department of the government, or has to self fund and becomes just another commercial provider of dross.

mrec 7y ago
You might be replying to the wrong comment; I never mentioned "backlash". Less popular, less relevant, less trusted, yes.
- amaccuish 7y ago
  I think they were shortening your words "It used to be the case that anyone criticizing the BBC was downvoted to oblivion" to "backlash". Also I haven't heard about the BBC becoming less popular, do you have any evidence for this? As far as I recall, BBC 1 is still the nation's favourite channel. It would be interesting to know how you voted in the EU referendum, as I tend to find this sort of anti-BBC-ness the greatest amongst Leave voters for no apparent logical reason.
  - mrec 7y ago
    No, that sentence was about a strong pro-BBC sentiment; goldcd's "backlash" is about a hypothetical anti-BBC one. I stopped owning a TV way back in 2004, specifically out of disgust at the BBC piling in to the property bubble insanity along with everyone else. If that's what "noncommercial" buys you, I don't really see the point. And I think the drift is less about the popularity of BBC TV channels versus non-BBC TV channels, than about the move to streaming and other Internet versus TV in general.