The Future of the BBC

[french frank]

The parliamentary committee for Culture, Media and Sport has published its recommendations for the future of the BBC, as part of the contribution to the Charter renewal debate. Some selected points mentioned here and the whole document is available here.

Apart from the pretty much expected call for the BBC Trust to be replaced, the tone is relatively kindly - but there are issues which could be of special interest to Radio 3 and listeners.

[ardcarp]

Hearing some of this on the news this morning, I didn't like one set of ideas for the licence fee, namely everyone (whether they have a TV or not) paying a basic 'tax' to the BBC, and individuals having to pay extra for such delights as Wolf Hall. Luckily, it's not likely to happen for another 10 years, by which time......

[french frank]

Hearing some of this on the news this morning, I didn't like one set of ideas for the licence fee, namely everyone (whether they have a TV or not) paying a basic 'tax' to the BBC, and individuals having to pay extra for such delights as Wolf Hall. Luckily, it's not likely to happen for another 10 years, by which time......

Well, as one not having a TV, that doesn't worry me . The point was made that those who only have radio and who can access BBC online should pay out something. At present, I also can use iPlayer for television programmes - though that loophole is to be closed ASAP. I've no quarrel with that.

Since 96% of the population does use BBC services in one way or the other, I've also no quarrel with a universal broadcasting levy (as long as there will still be allowances/exemptions for those less well-off who find it hard to pay).

What I don't understand is why their 'preferred' system is the German one - a basic household levy - rather than the Finnish one which they also considered: a progressive, hypothecated tax on income. I think that's ideal (better than 'general taxation' which was the FoR3 suggestion: I didn't think they would buy hypothecation), but in any case they recommend a separate, independent Public Service Broadcasting Commission which would advise on the level of the funding 'requirement' of the BBC. Fine - as long as it's on the lines of IPSA which 'advises' the government on MPs' pay (advice which the government is perfectly happy to accept, as long as the award is generous enough). The BBC would then make its pitch to the PBSC instead of, as now, directly to the government.

The report, it should be said, is pretty scathing about the 2010 settlement (p 87):

"We believe that the current means of setting the licence fee is unsatisfactory. The 2010 settlement demonstrated that the BBC’s independence can be compromised by negotiations with the government of the day that lack transparency and public consultation. Irrespective of any Government pressure, the BBC Trust breached its Charter duties and often-stated commitments to reflect the interests of licence fee payers first and foremost, in agreeing the settlement in the manner it did."

[Flosshilde]

What I don't understand is why their 'preferred' system is the German one - a basic household levy - rather than the Finnish one which they also considered: a progressive, hypothecated tax on income.

Doesn't that just reflect what happens now with the licence fee? I think it's more reasonable rathert than a progressive tax in this instance. The only 'fair' progressive fee or tax, I think, would be based on the number of receivers (including computers etc) which a household has, as that would reflect the 'use', but would surely be impossible to apply.

[french frank]

Doesn't that just reflect what happens now with the licence fee? I think it's more reasonable rathert than a progressive tax in this instance. The only 'fair' progressive fee or tax, I think, would be based on the number of receivers (including computers etc) which a household has, as that would reflect the 'use', but would surely be impossible to apply.

It does reflect what happens now which I also feel is not fair. A household consisting of four adults, all in full-time work, and perhaps two children, collectively pay the same amount as one person, living alone on a pension. In the larger household, one person effectively pays the fee and all the others pay nothing at all (or they each contribute a quarter of the fee).

[ardcarp]

I hope they avoid introducing a system that is so complicated that half the cost goes on administration. Surely the present flat-rate licence is relatively easy to collect? I hope also they will consider the elderly (especially the cash-strapped elderly, of which there are many) for whom the TV is a friend and who would find online fiddling with accounts, user-names and passwords impossibly difficult.

[french frank]

I hope they avoid introducing a system that is so complicated that half the cost goes on administration. Surely the present flat-rate licence is relatively easy to collect? I hope also they will consider the elderly (especially the cash-strapped elderly, of which there are many) for whom the TV is a friend and who would find online fiddling with accounts, user-names and passwords impossibly difficult.

I don't know what fiddling with accounts would be involved: I think they mentioned collection on the lines of council tax.

The evasion rate of the licence fee amounts to quite a bit, and the collection costs (thank you, Capita!) are also quite high. The proposal to decriminalise non-payment would probably lead to even higher rates of evasion.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm not entirely sure who is meant by references to "pensioners" or "the elderly" - the scenario suggested by such vocabulary is one in which people lose all their marbles at sixty-five. People over Seventy-five (which may well be the pensionable age by the time any new funding arrangements come into force - next year, for example) don't pay a Licence fee.

[DracoM]

Now the interesting debate, which one suspects will rage for ever, is 'what does the BBC do best' that it needs to concentrate on? Phew!
I can imagine the jostling crowds of the self-propelling already in siege mode.

[french frank]

I'm not entirely sure who is meant by references to "pensioners" or "the elderly" - the scenario suggested by such vocabulary is one in which people lose all their marbles at sixty-five.

I use it to mean people who currently have a state retirement pension to live on and therefore are no longer well-off. This can be women of 61: what the pension age will be by such time as these recommendations might be approved and adopted I'm unable to foresee.

By the way, I said (somewhere ) that I thought the report was quite kind to the BBC, and it appears to have been accepted quite graciously by, for instance, the Trust. Any resemblance to what the committee wrote and the DM's report is accidental.

[DracoM]

Those DM headlines look like a pretty disgraceful, politically partisan travesty of the tone and content of the summary of the report we have to hand at the mo. What else is new, I suppose some would say?
Blimey!

[teamsaint]

the licence fee is spectacularly unfair if you watch live TV, ( since it is a legal requirement) but don't use watch or listen to BBC services.

[french frank]

the licence fee is spectacularly unfair if you watch live TV, ( since it is a legal requirement) but don't use watch or listen to BBC services.

Though, as the committee points out, 96% of the population does access BBC services of one sort or another, every week.

[teamsaint]

Though, as the committee points out, 96% of the population does access BBC services of one sort or another, every week.

That is a nonsense statistic though, isn't it.

[french frank]

That is a nonsense statistic though, isn't it.

Not really, no