Free BBC from the licence fee?

[vetran]

A BBC-by-subscription 'would be richer', MPs told

Analysis Could the BBC be better off if it raised money through subscriptions? Last week Westminster heard that the BBC had modelled precisely this scenario and found that it would be richer than it is today. It just didn't want to tell you.

And in a strange alignment of interests, the BBC's pay-for rivals don't want you to know either - they'd rather not have their prices compared to a by-subscription BBC.

David Elstein, a strong proponent of the subscriptions, told MPs that between 10 to 20 per cent of licence fee payers would not subscribe - but most people would, and many would pay more.

"Roughly 80 per cent of people say they would keep paying for the BBC if the cost was no different to the licence fee," said Elstein. Around 40 per cent would pay double and 10 per cent of licence fee payers would pay treble.

so are you willing to pay directly for the BBC?

Currently the BBC prosecutes around almost 200,000 non-payers a year in England and Wales (2012: 193,049), an amazing one in 10 of all court cases.

this makes it attractive!

[TykeMerc]

A BBC-by-subscription 'would be richer', MPs told
so are you willing to pay directly for the BBC?

Hell no, I can't remember the last time I watched a BBC channel for more then a few minutes in a row.

[d000hg]

Would iPlayer than become subscriber-only as well, even for catchup shows? What about live sports/music broadcasts on the website?

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

I'd pay, I'm sure many wouldn't though.

How would it affect the other broadcasters who receive some subsidy from the license fee (Channel 4 at least IIRC)?

[suityou01]

You only watch Dr Who right?

[SpontaneousOrder]

The BBC pays Sky to broadcast BBC programs too.

[stek]

Basically we get it for like buttons purely because it's so good, people from abroad pay loads for it to subsidise it for us Brits (or English if Scots go their own way, their telly is shiite). Look at Swiss telly, last time I looked it was $400 a year licence fee for shiite. NAT will confirm....

Don't knock it when you've got it, make it real....

[NotAllThere]

Basically we get it for like buttons purely because it's so good, people from abroad pay loads for it to subsidise it for us Brits (or English if Scots go their own way, their telly is shiite). Look at Swiss telly, last time I looked it was $400 a year licence fee for shiite. NAT will confirm...

Confirmed. We watch the various ITV/Channel 4/BBC channels.

[vetran]

good point, the SBC? has Alex realised they would lose Sherlock and Dr Who?

[AtW]

BBC should be financed from General Taxation - this BS with small discount to blind (!) people and taxing of TVs is crazy.