Why do BBC shows have 'Producers'??

[ppppenguin]

The Licence Fee is almost a poll tax, though it's levied per household not per head. As such it's regressive. But it's such a small amount for most people at $4.50 per week that it's not going to attract any mass protest. It's simply one of the costs of living in the UK and a pretty small one at that.

And what's socialism got to do with it? Even when Mrs Thatcher was PM there was no serious attempt to move to any other method of funding the BBC. Even in the US I don't think Mrs T would be considered socialist.

For more info about this turbulent time for the BBC I suggest Jane Seaton's book: "Pinkoes and Traitors". She picks up the BBC's history where Briggs left off. Seaton's style is very different to Briggs and much more readable.

[centralradio]

I cant fuss with $4.50 a week.Probably some of us just pay that much and probably more for cable box rentals.

Now Comcast and other cable companies in the states are charging a broadcast TV fee of US$5.00 per month on the cable bill.

Why dont the stations jack up the advert fees instead of screwing the public with this BS charge.

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by ppppenguin

... what's socialism got to do with it? ...

The BBC is the very essence of Socialism; it used to be Capitalist until a brutal government takeover in 1926.

Socialist BBC radio failed to give the kids what they wanted the most in the 1950s & 60s: Rock and Roll, (due to an Anti-American bias). Entrepreneurs filled the gap with Pirate Radio stations.

Sixty years later the BBC still does not deliver the media kids (Millennials) - and people of color - want. Yet they enforce $20/month from Millennial households when they would rather use the scarce money for smartphone web media.

[ppppenguin]

Originally Posted by NewVista

The BBC is the very essence of Socialism; it used to be Capitalist until a brutal government takeover in 1926.

You'll find that the British Broadcasting Company became the British Broadcasting Corporation under the CONSERVATIVE government of Stanley Baldwin.

Suggest you also read Briggs, Volume 1 pp327 et seq for a greater understanding of this period of BBC history.

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by ppppenguin

..British Broadcasting Corporation under the CONSERVATIVE government of Stanley Baldwin..

'No True Scotsman' Fallacy