The Conspiracy of Silence

[NaRvIcK DeViL]

The Conspiracy of Silence

The mass revolt against the Licence Fee in New Zealand ( 7 years ago ) received very little coverage in the UK media, even though it was highly relevant to our own debate about the TV Licence. The human rights abuses of the TV Licence (single mothers being imprisoned, blind people having to buy a TV Licence, etc) are rarely reported or debated in the UK media. Those of us campaigning against the TV Licence are given no coverage at all, meaning that most of the British public are not even aware that we exist. The BBC takes huge amounts of money from the public purse, money that is badly needed elsewhere, and yet rarely is this criticised in the UK media. It seems that the lid is kept very tight on any form of dissent or objective reporting about the TV Licence. The question is, why.. ?

The obvious answer is that the BBC itself forms a large part of the British media, and the BBC does not report anything that's negative about the TV Licence (bang goes their reputation for unbiased reporting!). As for the rest of the media, well, perhaps commercial television does not voice dissent against the TV Licence because they know that if the Licence is abolished the BBC would have to become commercial, in direct competition to themselves (there's barely enough advertising revenue to go round as it is). A large number of the UK newspapers are owned by people who also have interests in commercial television, so no help there.

It could, perhaps, be a fact that it's in the vested interest of certain people in positions of power in this country to keep the BBC and the Licence Fee exactly as it is. You see, there's huge amounts of money involved here (and I mean huge - most of it screwed out of the British public under threat of imprisonment) and an awful lot of people have their snouts in the trough. This could, perhaps, be everyone from the lawyers who prosecute people for Licence evasion (there's 200,000 prosecutions every year, 75,000 in Scotland ), to TV Licensing , who make big bucks out of enforcing the Licence (which is why they're so ruthless against Licence evaders), to the Post Office, who did have a very profitable contract to sell TV Licences, to the BBC itself, which has more than 23,000 employees and other assorted hangers on and is deeply ingrained in the British establishment... if you dare to raise a voice against the TV Licence you're up against some very powerful people.

But voices do get raised: in March 1998 the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, NACAB, produced a social policy report called "TV Sinners"(see below). This report contained the real facts about TV Licence prosecutions, gathered from CAB's all around the country (this NACAB report received very little publicity at the time). As a result of this report, and NACAB campaigning against imprisonment as a penalty for non-payment of a TV licence, the government set up an advisory board to look into the whole issue of the TV Licence, and that's why there's been recent changes to the Licence Fee; i.e., free licenses for the over 75's, a 50% reduction for blind people, etc, etc.

The recent changes to the Licence Fee are purely cosmetic and a public relations exercise. Nothing's really changed, but what it shows is that the Government knows how much resentment there is against the Licence Fee, and they know how unjust and ridiculous it is for British citizens to have to pay to watch television under threat of imprisonment, but as long as those with vested interests manage to keep the lid on any dissent this state of affairs will continue.

Changes in public policy in the digital age

In March 1998 Citizens Advice published ‘TV Sinners’, a report based on evidence supplied by 232 CABS all over the country. It showed:

• each year approximately 200,000 people are prosecuted for non- payment of the TV Licence
• 68percent of these prosecutions are against women (this is because when the TV Licence inspectors call during the day it's usually the woman who's at home)
• out of the total of 200,000 prosecutions 98 percent result in a fine
• because TV Licence evasion is a strict liability offence these cases have to be heard in a magistrates court, and the court has no compulsion to allow fines to be paid by installments
• there is no compulsion on Magistrates to means test people who appear in court
• if you do not pay the fine a warrant will be issued for your arrest
• Over the years thousands of women have been imprisoned in the United Kingdom because they were not able to pay fines imposed upon them for not having a TV Licence. Almost all of these women were on benefits and around half of them had dependent children

Following this report, in 1999 the Government set-up an advisory board to look into the whole issue of the TV Licence (‘The Davies Review’), which identified fundamental problems with funding by a universal licence. ’’Broadcasting is a public good. The essential problem with public goods is that it is difficult to get people to pay for goods where they do not have exclusive rights to consume the good in question and when their consumption of the good does not affect the good itself. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to direct a good exclusively to the person who is paying for it.’’

The review concluded that ‘’the digital age will increasingly be one in which many or most consumers of television pay for packages closely tailored to their needs. As they become more accustomed to choice, to subscription and to pay-per-view, the licence fee will come to seem an anachronism if it isn't one already .’’

[NaRvIcK DeViL]

People without TVs 'intimidated' by licence reminders

Even in this television age, over one million Britons don't watch the box and prefer to fritter away their time on pursuits such as reading and conversation.

While not being renowned for agitation, the television refuseniks are growing restless. Not because they are bored of a life without Coronation Street or The Apprentice, but because of the "harassment" they say they are receiving from the authorities.

The TV Licensing authority (T.V.L.A), that is, which keeps sending them "intimidating" letters demanding to know why they do not have a television licence - despite living in a care home.

The letters demand an immediate response and warn of "enforcement officers", proceedings at the magistrates' court and £1,000 fines. Complaints about the fierce-sounding letters and their irritating frequency have been circulating on the internet for years. Now, MPs have finally raised the matter in Parliament with a Commons motion that demands an end to such letters - and criticises the outsourcing company Capita.

Capita, which was heavily criticised for botching the introduction of the Criminal Records Bureau, has a 10-year licence to collect the television licence fee, which must be bought by anyone with a television set. Money from the licence - which costs £45.50 for a black and white set and £135.50 for colour - generates about £3bn a year for the BBC.

Early Day Motion 1289 says householders receive "intimidating" letters without any evidence that they own a television, and refers to "many constantly reported cases of non-television owners being distressed by such threatening letters".

The cross-party motion complains that Capita is sending out the threatening letters indiscriminately because doing so is cheaper than using detecting equipment on homes.

It says television licensing should use a more "sensitive" system rather than choosing to "harass innocent non-television owning citizens by unsupportable threatening letters".

Gary Streeter, the MP for Devon South West, tabled the motion after being contacted by a constituent, Derek Cheesbrough, who has received 48 letters from TV Licensing, which he has refused to answer.

"The duress and oppression they inflict on innocent citizens, who often live alone, is causing widespread mental worry," complained Mr Cheesbrough, who lives in Plymouth.

Mr Streeter, whose motion has been signed by 54 MPs, said: "I think that he's got a very good case. I don't think this should be happening. We all understand there has to be some sort of system for monitoring who has a television and who hasn't got a television and who has paid and who hasn't... but I think people, particularly older people, are being put under pressure. When I saw Mr Cheesbrough's letters in his front room I was gobsmacked at how aggressive they became so quickly."

A spokeswoman for TV Licensing said it was duty-bound to enforce the law on behalf of the majority who paid their licence. "Unfortunately, if a licence is required, some people will only buy one when warned of the consequences of being unlicensed. It is for this reason some of our mailings contain messages that are designed to deter a possible evader," she said.

Half of householders who claimed they did not have a television set were later found to be using one, she added.

Petition to: Scrap the BBC licence fee.

Petition to: why should we pay for tv licence and also digital.

[southern]

I know I am being completely American when I ask this question...

but why do you have to pay a fee to the government each year to have a TV? Simply answer..it’s the law...I know I read about it, but is it the law if you have a TV and plug into local stations or is it if you have any equipment in your home capable? Do ya’ll have to pay for cable also?

[lordbarneth]

the bbc is excellent value for money in my opinion. it does not advertise (except it's own shows) soap powders etc. i'm quite happy to pay it. there are many who choose not to pay it and end up in jail, rightly so. these people probably do not pay council tax either. it is not a humar right breach to jail someone who has commited an offence which we are all aware of, that is just silly and you know it.

[NaRvIcK DeViL]

lordbarneth

BBC America ,BBC Canada ,BBC Australia, Hong Kong etc in these countries and others to watch the BBC you have to subscribe (i.e part of a package) if subscription is available , if it isn't there are adverts.

The BBC around the Globe is a commerialised corporation only in the uk are we forced to pay a tax to finance this company. you could say they're having their cake and eating it with candles on top and a firework to keep them amused.

Please !! Lordbarneth get informed , you have a wonderful tool at your disposal "The internet" . please ! please ! use it ............

Southern tell him if your from America ......

[NaRvIcK DeViL]

BBC launches pay-TV in India

BBC Worldwide has launched two pay-TV channels, CBeebies and BBC Entertainment, in India.

The CBeebies channel will offer shows such as Tweenies, Tikkabilla and Big Cook Little Cook.

BBC Entertainment will air dramas including Doctor Who, Waking the Dead, Cutting It, Hotel Babylon, Spooks and comedies such as Extras.

The channels will each be available 12 hours a day to Indian viewers via the Tata-Sky satellite TV service.

BBC Entertainment will be on air between 6pm and 6am local time and a dual Hindi/English language CBeebies channel will air from 6am until 6pm.

The plan to launch channels in India was raised in September last year as part of a wider strategy by BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial arm, to launch up to five channels in different countries.

BBC Worldwide's existing interests in India include a joint venture magazine deal with the Times of India Group, a TV sales business and an FM radio licence partnership to create seven stations.

"The economic growth in India has been explosive, with the media and entertainment industries playing an integral part," said Darren Childs, the managing director of BBC Global Channels.

He added that recent research showed that India would lead the Asian cable market - passing Japan next year - and that the region would be the most lucrative pay-TV market by 2015.


So it's okay to have a choice in the rest of the world while the people of the uk have to pay a tax , that's nice for us isn't it !!!!

[NovaBritannia]

Originally Posted by southern

I know I am being completely American when I ask this question...

but why do you have to pay a fee to the government each year to have a TV? Simply answer..it’s the law...I know I read about it, but is it the law if you have a TV and plug into local stations or is it if you have any equipment in your home capable? Do ya’ll have to pay for cable also?

We don't really have 'local stations' in the UK.

You have to pay for a licence if you use a television receiver to receive any sort of broadcast transmission. If you're just using it to watch DVDs, use as a monitor for computers or games consoles etc, then you don't need a licence.

But any television watching on it is a criminal offence if not licenced. And you'll likely be punished worse by the courts for this than you would for assaulting someone in the street.