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[Klaus]

Last year saw the renewal of the BBC Charter and the run up to that saw some political controversy over the purpose of the BBC. Additionally, there's always constant debate about the Licence Fee and whether it has now become outdated.

The Licence Fee costs £147 per year and must be paid if you watch live TV (including Sky/Virgin/Freeview) and also now if you watch programmes through BBC iPlayer. The fee helps to fund the BBC (through its TV/Radio programming and other divisions) but it still must be paid even if you do not watch/listen to any of the BBC. With fewer people watching TV live and more preferring to watch through online platforms such as the iPlayer/ITV Hub/All 4 as well as streaming sites such as Netflix, is there still a need for license fee? If you no longer paid it, you would still be able to access all these online platforms aside from iPlayer.

If the license fee were to be abolished, this may mean adverts on the BBC. However, is there even still need for a public service broadcaster in this day and age with so many other channels and TV platforms? In the US, Trump has enacted huge budget cuts to PBS, their public broadcasting service, but this is not as dominant as the BBC is in the UK. The BBC is a GIANT, holding two major TV channels, as well as further channels including a News channel as well as numerous radio stations and other divisions. Because of its dominant position, even with the large number of alternatives, should the BBC produce more specialist programming rather than programmes that other channels can make (such as The Voice & Strictly)? These were propositions made in the run up to the renewal of the Charter but were met with opposition.

What are your opinions on the BBC and the licence fee? Should both remain in tact or should there be some changes made?