Is Netflix really killing the TV licence? Or is it naff BBC editorial policy?
According to the Mail, the “Netflix effect” is killing the TV licence, with 860,000 licences cancelled in 2017-18, an increase on the 798,000 cancelled the previous year.
The report states: “It is now believed that the ‘Netflix effect’ is leading viewers to abandon their BBC TV licences entirely.
“Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Now TV do not require any license.
“A basic Netflix subscription costs £5.99 a month (about £72 a year).”
The BBC has announced that the cost of the TV licence – needed to watch the Corporation’s shows as broadcast or on iPlayer – is to rise to £154.50, an increase of £4, in April.
But does it deserve that money?
Are people really leaving because of the cost – or are they leaving because of the content?
This Twitter users says Jeremy Corbyn’s plan for a digital licence fee could breathe new life into the BBC, funded by a tax on big businesses and broadband providers:
https://twitter.com/BenJolly9/status/1091740474296147968
“The BBC would flourish under Labour.”
But with a news editorial policy that is pro-Conservative, does it deserve to?
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I am still quite surprised the Jimmy Saville affair didn’t destroy the BBC.
Having never had a TV I’ve never suffered the embarrassment of paying the TV tax, for that is what it is, not a BBC license. Other than a few video clips shown on this blog, I’ve not seen or heard a BBC content since 2011. Feel free to join the boycott.
Ah the Tory mouth piece they brought many not to listen to their Tory drivel. Not Netflix it’s because many can’t listen to their Tory propaganda machine turning out crap not the real news
BBC and SKY no longer offer viewers big enough choice of viewing material. BBC relies on cooking programmes, quiz programmes and other low budget offerings as its mainstay with an occasional big-budget programme like Les Miserables for the more intelligent and discerning viewer.
SKY is expensive for what you get and the format is predictable.
NETFLIX is good value if you have fibre Broadband. But the variety of viewing material is incredible and gives you access to a host of great foreign language films and series broadening your tastes.
It is time the TV licence was scrapped and the BBC find other means to fund itself. like a pay to view for the BBC only
Apart from the obvious political bias in News/Current Affairs and the propaganda nature of much else the BBC is turning out low level garbage. I am shocked at the crap they broadcast. Given their funding the quality is terrible. Intellectually insulting rubbish for a dumbed-down nation.
Another possibility is that people are spending so long working and commuting just to make ends meet that they simply don’t have time to watch TV. Why would they pay the TV tax then?
“I hear the sound of marching, charging feet”! It’s heart warming to reflect that these sizable numbers voting with their feet could be television viewers ‘waking up’!
I’m sure if Jeremy Corbyn was PM the BBC would be reformed and made truly independant from government.
for years all ive ever watched is itv, usually on a sunday but only when dancing on ice or one of the drama series was on like downton abbey. 18 months ago i became 75 and therefore was entitled to a free licence…… i still did not watch anything extra. i am in the process of deciding to change my broadband/phone from virgin media because of their extortionate prices. have only had basic channels which i didnt have to pay for, plus a tivo box iver never learnt to use. recently had new aerial put on roof, and freeview installed. so i have more choice of broadband/phone suppliers. i only ever use itv/itv3/really/drams. just those 4 channels and thats only because ive had to sit with my legs up a large part of the day due to a reaction to steroids when i got a chest infection last october. had to do something between sessions of dropping asleep due to having to take more pain killers than usual. hardly been on pc at all for weeks because sitting here makes the fluid retention worse. now im told the govt are thinking about taking free licences off the elderly.(does freeview come into the list? i know computers do, even if you dont use them to watch tv. about time they were scrapped for everyone. we pay enough for broadband etc from our servers without the tv licence as well.